High-level martial arts: Start with a grueling grind for the Golden Bell Shield.

Recruiting soldiers?

The Monkey Guard is still recruiting soldiers!

Lu Lin realized that there must be details he was unaware of.

Before the arrival of the Monkey Guard, Lu Lin had already heard many legends about them.

It belongs to one of the Twelve Guards.

Soldiers begin at the Bone Forging Level.

The captain refines one filth, the captain refines three filths, and the lieutenant refines four filths.

The general undergoes a blood transfusion, the great general undergoes a blood transfusion at its peak.

The entire Spirit Monkey Guard has 32,500 members, at least half of whom are Refining-level experts, and there are also higher-level Blood Exchange masters.

It can be said that, except for the absence of a national-level martial god, the most powerful force in the entire Liang Dynasty has been mobilized.

But it has only been a short time.

It's only been half a month, and they're already recruiting soldiers!

Heavy losses? Need to reinforce with new recruits?

Lu Lin vaguely felt that the imperial court had underestimated the Three Treasures Sect, an organization that had existed for thousands of years.

Seeing the students' expectant expressions, Lu Lin felt a chill in his heart.

These lives that are still alive now may soon turn into ashes.

What Lu Lin didn't know was...

Not only conscription.

The Spirit Monkey Guard issued a call to arms to the martial arts world in the twelve prefectural cities of Qinbei Prefecture.

All martial artists, regardless of whether they are skilled in skin, flesh, or bone tempering, or even more advanced internal organ training, are welcome.

The rewards are extremely generous. Upon arrival, you will be given top-tier cultivation techniques, martial arts skills, elixirs, weapons, and even hard currencies such as gold and silver are standard gifts.

The martial arts practitioners in Qinzhou were instantly excited and eagerly signed up.

The strength of the Monkey Guard has expanded rapidly.

Also.

The Divine Stone Mine of Mozhu Academy was also reclaimed by the Spirit Monkey Guards and jointly developed with the academy.

The academy accounts for 30%, and the Monkey Guard accounts for 70%.

Having been provoked, Li Songtao was only thinking about revenge and had no objection to the profit-sharing ratio.

The entire development process was also taken over by Linghouwei.

Even more frightening is that various families, martial arts schools, and other forces within Qinbei Prefecture have all been in contact with members of the Spirit Monkey Guard, and have either openly or covertly sided with the Spirit Monkey Guard.

It took no more than half a month.

The Linghou Guard has turned Qinbei Prefecture into its own territory. Although it has not declared itself a kingdom, it is clearly becoming too powerful to control.

In the imperial court of Da'an City, there were many objections to the actions of the Spirit Monkey Guard, but His Majesty the Emperor of Liang kept them to himself.

Nobody knows how things will develop.

Lu Lin did not register.

Chen Hongzhi and Chen Hongming, however, believed this was an excellent opportunity.

Leaving Jinshan Prefecture has always been their dream.

However, their cultivation progress was slow, and they were still unable to refine their physical bodies, which made them both somewhat impatient.

The issuance of the conscription order by the Spirit Monkey Guard clearly opened a door to the outside world for the two of them.

It wasn't just the two of them.

The other students in the academy shared the same idea.

Fang Heng, He Wenzhu, Xiang Hesheng, and others all left with the belief that they would definitely make a name for themselves.

They do not need to drop out of school.

Xu Ruian took over the daily affairs of the academy and allowed them to return if they wished after participating in the conscription.

In this way, the students of the academy can also be free from worries.

Something's not right here.

Xu Ruian had spent more time at the academy than Li Songtao, had a deeper affection for the academy, and had higher expectations for its future. How could he possibly allow a student to leave the academy and go elsewhere?

Lu Lin asked, but Xu Ruian just shook his head, "If the heart is gone, you can't keep the person."

Lu Lin believed it, but not entirely.

He always felt that if you connected the events that had happened during this period, there seemed to be something hidden in them.

"They're just colluding with foreign enemies."

Upon arriving at Mr. Hou's courtyard, Lu Lin voiced his doubts.

Mr. Hou casually gave the answer.

This is also the answer Lu Lin is unwilling to admit.

"Lu Lin, that's what happened to my master. He saw through the Great Liang Dynasty, so he chose to live in seclusion."

"Back then, I was just like you, I didn't believe it either, so I traveled to all fifteen prefectures of Daliang and finally chose to come to Qinbei Prefecture."

"After all, relatively speaking, the imperial court does not have complete control over Qinbei Prefecture. Resources are not abundant here, and the people here are not very intelligent."

"In the past hundred years, not a single blood-changing level expert has appeared in Qinbei Prefecture."

"Lu Lin, the Great Liang Dynasty has been established for 1,200 years. It's time."

Mr. Hou slowly recounted some of his experiences and observations in various parts of Daliang.

In some places, people exchanged children to eat.

Some local governors declared themselves independent.

In some places, corruption is rampant.

The myriad aspects of life were vividly displayed in Daliang at this time.

"Do you know why the Three Swords Pavilion has disappeared from the public eye in recent years and is no longer as renowned as it used to be?"

"This is the result of the joint efforts of the imperial court, the twelve officials, and the three major sects."

"I know you want to join the Three Swords Pavilion, but the Three Swords Pavilion is just a name now."

"The appearance of the fog has blocked communication between various prefectures and hindered the Liang Dynasty's control over them."

"Strengthening the trunk and weakening the branches—this was the choice of the Emperor of Liang."

"For nearly a hundred years, among the fifteen prefectures, there has been no one to take charge of the new bloodline, and no one to master the five internal organs. This is the reason why."

This topic is still a bit too heavy.

Lu Lin listened, but he only took it as an opportunity to broaden his horizons.

Mr. Hou finally fell silent.

He looked at Lu Lin and said, "So, how is it? Are you disappointed with the real Liang Dynasty?"

Lu Lin shook his head.

He wasn't from this area, so what happened in Daliang was none of his business.

He only needs to live a good life and cultivate diligently with the stone.

If one day Stone grows up and has his own life, then Lu Lin will have repaid the debt of gratitude Stone owed him for saving his life. From then on, he can live a carefree life, exploring the mysteries of martial arts.

Whether you're disappointed or not, you'll have to make a trip to Da'an City eventually.

"The follow-up techniques of the Four Sacred Arts are still there."

"By the way, you said you wanted to refine your bones, how's that going?"

In Mr. Hou's opinion, Lu Lin's aura had become stronger, but he didn't have the feeling of entering the Bone Refining level.

Lu Lin shook his head, "I haven't refined my bones yet."

"That'll be soon," Mr. Hou said, pouring himself a cup of hot tea. Looking at the empty dessert plate, he suddenly said, "You little rascal, you used to buy me desserts when you needed my help, but now that I'm no longer of any use, you don't even send me any desserts."

Lu Lin scoffed. Who said he wouldn't buy it for Mr. Hou?

He's not the type to use people when he needs them and discard them when he doesn't; it's just that things have been chaotic lately, and he hasn't been back to Jinshan Prefecture.

"Alright, I was just kidding. You took it to heart," Mr. Hou said with his usual expressionless face, showing no sense of humor whatsoever. "Since you haven't succeeded in refining your bones, why don't you come with me to see your master sometime? Maybe you'll succeed after a few more tries. But I might not have time to take you then."

Mr. Hou looked up at the sky; the sun was setting, and a sliver of afterglow still lingered on the horizon. "Shall we set off now?"

Lu Lin was stunned for a moment.

Didn't you say you'd find some free time? Why are you in such a rush all of a sudden?

"I need to go back and settle Stone in. How about we eat in the cafeteria first, and then we can leave?"

Lu Lin paused, realizing he had never seen Mr. Hou cook before, only eat snacks, so he asked, "How about I get you some too?"