From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

As for the five Qi Gathering Pills that Fang Qing obtained, Ding Mingcheng was not particularly envious.

This Qi Gathering Pill can be bought as long as you have silver.

However, these merit points are the hard currency within the Salt Patrol Guard.

Many items that cannot be bought with silver can only be exchanged with merit points.

Fang Qing only found out after communicating with Gu Changyuan.

This time, the Salt Inspector Lin personally supervised the operation and successfully eliminated the main force of the salt bandits near Tiger Beach.

Following that, they obtained more intelligence from the salt bandits at Tiger Beach, and in doing so, they wiped out all five large and small salt bandit dens along the waterway from Yancheng to Yangzhou.

For the Salt Patrol Guard, this was a huge victory.

As he was leaving, Gu Changyuan patted Fang Qing on the shoulder with a rather complicated expression.

"Brother Fang Qing, no matter how your martial arts cultivation progresses in the future..."

Even if you can't participate in the martial arts examination, don't be discouraged.

"If you're unhappy with what you're doing at the Fang family's place, you can dedicate yourself to the Salt Patrol Guard Reserve Camp."

"The Salt Patrol Guard Reserve Camp. As long as you pass the assessment, you will at least be able to enter the Salt Patrol Guard and become an Iron Guard in the future."

The Salt Patrol Guards were clearly ranked, with those holding the rank of Bronze Guard or above required to have passed the Imperial Examination for Martial Arts.

After comforting Fang Qing for a few more minutes, Gu Changyuan left his residence.

Although Fang Qing didn't know why Gu Changyuan said those things to him in the end, he vaguely guessed what it was.

Thinking that he couldn't expose his martial arts furnace, Fang Qing just smiled and didn't say anything more.

However, Gu Changyuan's concern for him still warmed Fang Qing's heart.

……

The next day, Fang Qing arrived at the Shanhe Boxing Academy early as usual.

As usual, he started practicing his boxing routine. Xie Yunzhou had also brought him breakfast: a few fried dough sticks and soy milk.

While Fang Qing and Xie Yunzhou were having breakfast, Fang Wansan walked over with a frown on his face.

Fang Qing also noticed that many of his fellow disciples in the training areas of Zone A and Zone B were dressed in their finest attire and had arrived outside the Shanhe Boxing Academy, boarding carriages embroidered with the Fang family's name.

Fang Wansan lowered his voice at this moment.

"Junior Sister Fang Chulan contacted the Fang family and applied to open the Fang family's medicinal bath."

"Many of my fellow disciples from Shanhe Boxing Academy will be going with us this time."

In addition to their business in salt fields, the Fang family, salt merchants, were involved in multiple other fields.

As far as Fang Qing knew, the several pharmacies in Yancheng that were second only to Wanbaoge, as well as the weapons shop, were all established with funds from the Fang family.

Therefore, it's understandable that the Fang family has their own body-tempering medicinal bath.

"Logically speaking, since you, Junior Brother Fang Qing, have already reached the fourth level of Body Tempering, it is reasonable for you to enjoy the Fang family's medicinal bath at a low price."

"However, it seems that Junior Sister Fang Chulan has some reservations about you. When I brought up this idea just now, Junior Sister Fang Chulan said that the Fang family's medicinal bath cannot be open to you for a long time."

"At most, you can use the silver a few times."

"I've used the Fang family's medicinal bath before, and it's much more effective than the jade-made body-tempering medicinal bath that we received at the Mountain and River Boxing Academy."

"Junior Brother Fang Qing, I'm very sorry, this is all I can do."

Fang Qing thought Fang Wansan was feeling embarrassed for some reason.

Fang Wansan's involvement was actually related to the Fang family's medicinal bath.

Now, Fang Qing only needs to contribute some contribution points to use the special medicinal bath provided by the Salt Patrol Guard at Wanbaoge.

Even if Fangjia medicinal bath is of the best quality, to be honest, it is far inferior to the special medicinal bath supplied by Xunyanwei.

Fang Qing immediately told Fang Wansan not to worry, as he had even better body-tempering medicinal baths.

Hearing Fang Qing say these things, Fang Wansan was still somewhat puzzled, but he was clearly relieved.

Before leaving, Fang Wansan seemed to remember something and then spoke in a low voice.

"By the way, Junior Brother Fang Qing, recently, all the senior brothers in our Shanhe Boxing Academy will probably have to go out together."

Master Zheng plans to have Junior Sister Fang Chulan take the path of seeking enlightenment before the martial arts examination.

Upon hearing the words "the road to the pass," a look of confusion flashed across Fang Qing's face.

As if sensing Fang Qing's confusion, Fang Wanshan then lowered his voice and said.

"The so-called 'Path of Attainment' is to send Junior Sister Fang Chulan to challenge the elite disciples of all the martial arts schools in Yancheng, and even Yangzhou Prefecture."

"Treat each martial arts school's elite disciples as a 'barrier,' and break down doors along the way until no one dares to close them again. This is the path to becoming a prodigy."

"Master Zheng hopes to hone Fang Chulan's spirit through this challenge, so that she can break through to the sixth level of Body Tempering before the martial arts exam..."

As he said this, a look of longing rose in Fang Wansan's eyes:

"Of course, at the beginning, Master Zheng will definitely use his connections and even spend a lot of money to bribe a few martial arts schools or gyms that have a good relationship with Shanhe Boxing Academy."

"After all, it's not like the elite disciples of those martial arts schools would accept challenges from others before the martial arts exam for no reason."

After Fang Wansan's explanation, Fang Qing finally understood what he meant by the "Path of the Prodigy's Ascent to the Gate".

Zheng Shanhe used his connections and money to find elite disciples from several familiar martial arts schools and had Fang Chulan challenge these elite disciples.

After successfully completing the challenge, Fang Chulan not only gained combat experience, but also continuously honed her competitive spirit and sharpness.

In martial arts training, techniques are one aspect, but mental state is also a very important one.

A confident martial artist can achieve twice the results with half the effort in their training.

Even if a martial artist who lacks confidence practices the most advanced techniques, their progress in martial arts will be very slow if they lack confidence.

Zheng Shanhe planned to focus on both Fang Chulan's mindset and cultivation in martial arts, continuously building his confidence.

Therefore, Fang Qing guessed that Zheng Shanhe would not choose any particularly powerful martial arts schools among these familiar ones.

First, let a few victories build Fang Chulan's confidence and hone her practical combat skills.

By the time Fang Chulan had made a name for himself in the martial arts school and boxing academy community,

After that, Zheng Shanhe was no longer needed to do anything.

Wen has no first, Wu has no second.

When Fang Chulan, carrying this sharp edge, went to challenge other martial arts schools...

Out of respect for the prestige and reputation of martial arts schools, these schools will also allow their elite disciples to accept challenges.

As long as Fang Chulan wins more battles than he loses in actual combat, his confidence can be gradually built up.

Breaking through to the sixth level of Body Tempering will be a natural progression.

It seems that Master Zheng truly values ​​Fang Chulan highly.

They actually spared so much effort and resources to help Fang Chulan reach the sixth level of Body Tempering.

Watching Fang Wansan leave, he also got into the Fang family's carriage at the door.

Fang Qing was deep in thought, though.

Cultivators like Fang Chulan naturally need to navigate the Path of Prodigies, a network of connections built upon such relationships.

Fang Qing doesn't need that. He only needs to practice diligently, and the Martial Arts Furnace can help him reach the sixth level of Body Tempering.

With this in mind, Fang Qing continued to bury himself in his training.

……