From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

Gu Changyuan pondered for a moment, then explained:

"It is almost impossible for ordinary people to enter the immortal realm. They either need to be recommended by the official government of the Great Qian Dynasty, or they need to rely on the annual quota of local clans like the Fang family, which are salt merchants."

At this point, Gu Changyuan sighed and said:

"My Great Qian Dynasty is nothing more than a small dynasty that is confined to a corner of the world."

"What you see now is the flourishing of martial arts in the Great Qian Dynasty. Compared to those immortal sects, it's nothing but child's play."

The two are not comparable.

When the Immortal Sect was mentioned, a hopeful look flashed across Gu Changyuan's face.

After Gu Changyuan's explanation, Fang Qing finally understood.

Whether it's the Mountain and River Boxing Academy or other martial arts schools in the Great Qian Dynasty,

Most of the techniques that can be mastered are only at the Body Tempering Martial Artist level.

Once you enter the True Essence Realm, the skill levels of the Mountain and River Fist Academy and other martial arts schools become unbearable to look at.

The Salt Patrol Guard was an official institution of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Kyoto does have a collection of some advanced cultivation techniques for the True Essence Realm.

However, these so-called advanced techniques only reach the Earth-grade level at best.

To obtain a Grade 1 cultivation technique, one needs to join an organization like the Salt Patrol Guard or other official institutions of the Great Qian Dynasty.

As for cultivation techniques above the True Essence Realm, only immortal sects are qualified to possess them.

This can be considered a form of disguised knowledge monopoly.

The immortal sects have a monopoly on martial arts techniques.

Gu Changyuan continued:

"Participating in the martial arts examination and obtaining the title of Martial Arts Graduate has many benefits. For example, Lord Lin, the Salt Commissioner of Yangzhou, is my superior and was a Martial Arts Graduate who ranked third in the imperial examination back then."

As he spoke, Gu Changyuan nudged Fang Qing with his elbow and winked:

"If someone as young as you were to pass the military examination, the matchmakers from all those high-ranking officials and nobles would line up all the way to Yangzhou."

"Hey, there was a time when a martial arts graduate was chosen by a princess and became her husband, rising to the top in one step..."

Fang Qing had absolutely no desire to become a prince consort.

In ancient times, even sleeping with a princess required a prince consort to be reported to the palace matrons.

Not only do they have no freedom at all, they also have to prevent the princess from cheating on them.

Fang Qing should politely thank him.

"What a pity you joined the Mountain and River Boxing Academy."

"If I had met you a few months earlier, I would have brought you into the Salt Patrol Reserve Camp."

"If you participate in the military examination under the name of the Salt Patrol Guard Reserve Battalion, I might be able to get you some more resources."

Gu Changyuan still felt a little regretful when he said this.

The Great Qian Dynasty still placed great importance on respecting teachers and valuing the Way.

If Fang Qing joins the Shanhe Boxing Academy, he will be accused of disobeying his master and destroying the Dao if he does not participate in the martial arts examination in the name of the Shanhe Boxing Academy.

This is very detrimental to Fang Qing's future.

Gu Changyuan thought of something, then lowered his voice and said:

"When I was examining the bodies just now, I found that many of the young men you killed had traces of salt bandits on their bodies."

"We will follow up on this matter, so please don't continue to put yourself in danger."

"Anyway, you're probably on the salt bandits' radar this time, so be careful!"

Gu Changyuan patted Fang Qing on the shoulder and reminded him.

Fang Qing frowned upon hearing this.

He originally thought he was fighting a fake salt bandit.

It turns out there were real salt bandits mixed in with the group.

Did the people of Zhujiazhuang know that salt bandits were among their employees?

Fang Qing dared not think any further.

He felt the water was very deep.

This was beyond the scope of someone like him, a cook at the third level of Body Tempering, to participate in.

"My cultivation level is still too low. When I encounter salt bandits, I can only lie low and keep a low profile."

"I still need to improve my cultivation as soon as possible. If I reach the level of a True Yuan Realm expert like Gu Changyuan, even the Salt Bandits would have to think twice before they hear my name!"

Fang Qing talked with Gu Changyuan for a while longer.

Gu Changyuan had other official duties to attend to and needed to return to Yangzhou immediately, so the two had to say goodbye and leave.

It was already past midnight.

Fang Qing left the rest of the work to Yang Zhi and then turned and walked towards the Shanhe Boxing Academy.

……

Fang Qing was the first to arrive at the Mountain and River Boxing Academy.

He first practiced the Undying Golden Body Refining Technique ten times.

[A crucible of martial arts, fusing all the laws of the world...]

[Practice the Undying Golden Body Refinement Technique once, cultivation level +1...]

[The Undying Golden Body Refinement Technique has achieved minor success (70%)...]

[Current remaining stamina: 210...]

……

Fang Qing knew that he could achieve mastery of the Undying Golden Body Refining Technique in the next two days.

"By then, I should be able to reach the fourth level of Body Tempering, right?"

Only by entering the military examination could one have a bright future.

Fang Qing practiced with even greater enthusiasm.

"I wonder what kind of True Essence Technique I'll create by combining my Martial Arts Furnace with the True Essence Realm cultivation technique I obtained from the imperial court?"

Thinking of this, Fang Qing's heart burned even hotter.

Then I boiled some water for myself and put the herbal bath pack in.

Then, Fang Qing sat directly into the bathtub.

This time, just as Fang Qing had predicted, there were even fewer impurities expelled from his body.

The gold-colored screen flickered slightly.

[Low-grade Body Tempering Bath, can increase constitution by +0.5... Constitution enhancement complete...]

[Currently, the stamina required for each practice session of the Undying Golden Body Tempering Technique at the minor completion stage has been reduced to 4.5 points...]

……

Fang Qing frowned as he looked at the prompt on the golden interface.

I used up both packs of herbal bath medicine I just received yesterday, and this time my constitution only improved by 0.5 points.

After using two packets last time, my constitution improved by 1 point.

It is evident that the effectiveness of this type of medicated bath pack for him is decreasing.

"We still need to find a better method for body-tempering medicinal baths."

I wonder if Brother Gu and his Salt Patrol Guard have any better body-tempering medicinal bath methods?

I can ask him about it next time we meet.

Just as Fang Qing was soaking in the medicinal bath, footsteps came from the training ground in District Ding.

Xie Yunzhou was walking in through the entrance, holding a few fried dough sticks wrapped in paper.

Fang Qing had just finished absorbing the medicinal bath and poured the water out of the tub.

The commotion startled Xie Yunzhou.

Seeing that it was Fang Qing taking a medicinal bath, Xie Yunzhou gasped for breath:

"Junior Brother Fang, I thought there were thieves in our T-zone, but I didn't expect it was you taking a medicinal bath."

I'm a timid person, Junior Brother Fang can't take being scared like this."

Fang Qing and Xie Yunzhou were about the same age. After exchanging a few jokes, Fang Qing rinsed his body with water.

When they returned, they found that Xie Yunzhou had already divided the fried dough sticks wrapped in paper into two portions.

"Here you go, junior brother, this is your share."

Xie Yunzhou came so early because he wanted to bring Fang Qing breakfast.

After all, he felt he had gained a lot from practicing on the wooden dummy with Fang Qing these past few days.

While eating, Xie Yunzhou kept asking Fang Qing how to practice martial arts on the wooden dummy to achieve the best results.

After giving Xie Yunzhou a few pointers on how to practice on the wooden dummy,

Fang Qing then continued practicing the Undying Golden Body Refining Technique on the spot.

[A crucible of martial arts, fusing all the laws of the world...]

[Practice the Undying Golden Body Refinement Technique once, cultivation level +1...]

[The Undying Golden Body Refinement Technique has achieved minor success (90%)...]

……