Becoming a Saint Starting with the Chasing Wind Leg Technique

Zhou Xingyun was taken aback, then nodded, his tone tinged with helplessness and感慨: "You don't even know this? No wonder, you're an outsider, just starting out, and your family hasn't passed down any knowledge in this area."

He patted Song Jing on the shoulder and patiently explained, "The martial arts examination is a grand test called the 'Three Stages of Martial Arts' established by the imperial court to select military officers. The so-called 'martial arts examination' is not a written test, but is specifically designed to select warriors who can truly fight on the battlefield and defend their country. The three stages refer to the speed test, the strength test, and the combat test. Each stage selects the best of the best, making it a truly rigorous and bloody trial."

"What are the conditions?" Song Jing pressed, his gaze intense.

"Only young people under the age of twenty-five, and who have broken through to the third stage of the Skin Forging Perfection Realm—the Copper Skin Realm—are eligible to apply." Zhou Xingyun paused, his tone solemn. "The Copper Skin Realm means that the skin is like copper, impervious to knife cuts and punches, and is the true elite of the martial arts school."

You're now at the level of a charlatan, having entered the hall but not yet the inner chamber.

Song Jing's eyes lit up: "From bragging to bragging rights... isn't it possible that with some effort, there's still some hope?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingyun raised the corners of his mouth slightly, looking at him with a half-smile: "Theoretically, yes."

He paused, his tone turning serious: "But if you want to break through to the Bronze Skin Realm, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven. Firstly, you need not only talent, but also a massive amount of resources."

For example, common skin-tempering ointments, skin-shedding pills, and refined meat products all cost money.

A bottle of premium skin-tempering cream weighs almost five ounces and can only last for half a month.

Not to mention the molting pill, which is worth a hundred taels of silver.

The cost of just the tempering process alone requires at least ten taels of silver per month.

Breaking through to the Bronze Skin Realm requires consuming more than ten bottles.

"Do the math, it'll be at least three or four hundred taels."

Song Jing was startled.

"Secondly," Zhou Xingyun continued, "you have no connections, no one to recommend you, and it's difficult to even qualify for the application. Our martial arts school only has three spots each year, and it all depends on the head of the school's recommendation."

Without genuine talent and skills, or without a strong network of connections, you simply won't get a chance.

However, martial arts schools also value skill above all else. After all, achieving a ranking in martial arts competitions is very beneficial for the school owner; it not only brings prestige to the owner but also enhances the school's reputation.

He gazed into the distance, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes: "Last year... I just participated."

Song Jing was startled: "Senior brother, it's you?"

"Hmm." Zhou Xingyun smiled wryly, "I was stuck at the Copper Skin Realm for three years, and finally broke through last year, catching the last train."

But in the end... I stopped at the "force barrier". When I drew the bow, I only used 70% of my strength and released it before ten breaths were up.

There are countless geniuses in Tianshui City, and I can't even rank in the top 500. Only those who pass the first two rounds can enter the third round, the real combat test.

In the end, they didn't place at all, and were far behind.

He shook his head: "Do you know Senior Brother Li Wei and Second Senior Brother Zhuo Bufan?"

They went last year too; both of them are highly capable and have a strong foundation, and they both passed the first two rounds.

In subsequent practical exercises, they were eliminated in the first or second round.

The eldest brother stopped at the top 200 of the "Battle Pass", while the senior brother Zhuo made it into the top 300, which is far from being "on the list", that is, the top 100.

This is their last year, and their chances are very high. The deadline is 25 years old; after that, they'll have no more opportunities. They've participated many times before, and this is their final chance.

"I wonder what the benefits of this martial arts course are? Why is everyone so eager to participate?"

He said in a low voice, "So this year, everyone in the martial arts school is keeping a close eye on them."

Whoever stands out in the martial arts training will be the next successor of the martial arts school.

This is not just a competition for rankings, but also a matter of the future of the martial arts school. Everyone feels that this approach is fair.

Take the first-generation founder of the Chasing Wind Leg Technique, for example. Back then, he only managed to reach the bottom of the list of the top 100 martial arts students.

Later, he went to the prefectural city for a year of advanced studies in order to gain the qualification to join the sect.

Although he was ultimately eliminated due to a lack of talent, he eventually returned to his hometown.

However, the Chasing Wind Martial Arts School, which he founded, enjoyed a glorious history in Xiushui Village for a century, occasionally producing a few talented individuals who would become prominent figures in the martial arts world.

Song Jing listened silently, deeply moved.

It turns out that these three trials are not only tests for martial artists, but also watershed moments in their destinies.

One step to heaven, one step to burial.

"Which three levels?" he asked again.

"First challenge: Speedrun - A 1000-foot sprint, time limit of one incense stick."

If you cannot complete the entire course before the incense burns out, you will be eliminated. Wind speed, cadence, and breath control are all essential.

Of course, the faster you are, the higher your score; one incense stick's time is just the minimum requirement to enter the third level.

"Second challenge: Strength challenge - draw an iron bow weighing at least 300 jin (150 kg). Of course, the higher the weight, the higher the score."

However, it's not about lifting, it's about pulling! The bowstring needs to be drawn back to a full moon shape and held for ten breaths without loosening.

This test assesses the ultimate combination of explosive power and endurance; a slight mistake could result in a torn ligament.

"The third stage: Battle stage - arena battles, two people per team, life or death is irrelevant, but in critical moments, one can concede to save their life. The winner advances, the loser is eliminated. However, even if one concedes, people often have their limbs broken, or even their cultivation destroyed. Over the years, no fewer than a hundred people have been crippled."

Song Jing was deeply moved and his blood was boiling.

It wasn't that he wasn't afraid, but rather that he understood—this was the true way of martial arts!

Zhou Xingyun looked at him earnestly and said, "If you have ambition, you should first take steady steps."

Although the Wind and Thunder Leg Technique is powerful.

However, without a solid foundation, practicing this technique could lead to qi deviation and even hinder your progress in cultivation. It would be putting the cart before the horse and would be a losing proposition.

Song Jing nodded, but his gaze inadvertently drifted back to the book "Wind and Thunder Leg Technique".

He knew that this skill was feared by the world, but for him, it was a godsend.

With the Heavenly Rewards Diligence System in hand, even from incomplete scrolls, one can comprehend the true mysteries of the cultivation technique.

It can also make up for shortcomings, comprehensively improve strength, and enable a qualitative leap in strength.

In the future, they will not only have more self-defense capabilities, but also be able to turn the tide when facing the enemy, giving them an extra trump card.

But now… he touched his empty fanny pack and smiled bitterly.

Two hundred taels was still an astronomical figure for him.

"Is this the only option?" he muttered to himself. "No, I can't let go of this technique."

He walked slowly forward, his gaze resolute, and whispered to himself:

"This 'Wind and Thunder Leg Technique'...it seems I'm determined to have it, I'm not going to let anyone else have it."

"But first, we need to figure out how to raise these two hundred taels."

"Perhaps... it's time to find an 'angel investor'."

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Song Jing walked towards the market in the east of the town, his feet wet with dew.

Butcher Wang's stall remained in the same old spot, the chopping board gleaming with oil, the blade snow-white, several pieces of fresh pork hanging on it, blood dripping into the wooden basin with a splattering sound.

Butcher Wang looked up and saw a figure appear; it was Song Jing.

His expression changed slightly, then he forced a smile: "Oh, it's Little Song! What a rare guest!"

This attitude is completely different from what it was six months ago.

At that time, Song Jing was still a trial disciple, dressed in tattered clothes. Butcher Wang wouldn't even look at him, always shortchanging him by two ounces when weighing meat, and would sneer, "Poor kid, can you afford meat?"

Now, Song Jing wears a jade pendant on his waist and receives monthly tributes. Even Zhang Wu looks at him differently. Wang the Butcher, with his status, naturally knows his own worth and dares not be negligent.

"How much do you want today? Top-quality tenderloin, freshly slaughtered, so tender!" Butcher Wang said enthusiastically.

"Half a pound of pork, plus three ounces of horse meat," Song Jing said.

"Alright!" Butcher Wang deftly cut the meat and weighed it, then laughed, "Little Song, pork prices went up again yesterday, one tael of silver for four catties now. Horse meat prices went up too, two taels of silver for four catties. This half catty of pork of yours will cost one hundred and twenty-five copper coins."

Three ounces of horse meat, three hundred coins. That's four hundred and twenty-five coins in total. I'll give you four hundred. Come again next time, I'll give you a discount.

Song Jing was taken aback: "So expensive?"