Zhou Leng looked at Feng Wenhao and slowly said, "I've sparred with Feng Wenhao. He's competent in all aspects, with no obvious weaknesses, but lacks solidity. And his mindset is not... how to say, not firm enough. It's actually quite normal, considering he's not been tempered. I was more or less the same half a year ago."
Li Linhan nodded and said, "Indeed, that's why I've always said you have the potential to become a master. Your attacks are swift and decisive, unstoppable. He, on the other hand, is hesitant and worried about embarrassment and lack of experience, overthinking too much. As for basic skills, there's no need to mention. When it comes to his defense next, it will be even harder for him."
Feng Wenhao launched thirty attacks, and Guo Xiaohao merely took one step back.
"Now it's my turn."
Guo Xiaohao reached out with one hand, grabbed Feng Wenhao's wrist with a grappling hand, shook and flung him, causing Feng Wenhao to lose balance and stagger backward.
Guo Xiaohao took a step forward, casually tapped Feng Wenhao on the shoulder, and Feng Wenhao, already unable to stop himself, stumbled back again.
Guo Xiaohao took a step with each move, not even using True Qi, just employing simple techniques like pushing, patting, shaking, and flinging. Feng Wenhao couldn't block a single attack.
After seven moves, Guo Xiaohao withdrew his hand, gently shook his head, and silently walked to stand behind Xue Tongming.
Feng Wenhao, looking as if drunk, staggered, blushed, and cupped his fists towards Xue Tongming, saying, "I'm sorry, let you see my shortcomings."
Xue Tongming said, "Talk about your strengths and weaknesses."
Feng Wenhao thought for a moment and said, "My basic skills are lacking. Compared to Zhou Leng, I see a huge gap. He doesn't use any flashy changes of moves, just straightforward attacks and defenses, using power against enemies. It seems ordinary, but Senior Guo Xiaohao finds it challenging. My mental state is lacking too; when attacks and defenses don't work, I get anxious. Finally..."
Feng Wenhao listed many of his shortcomings, and finally said, "But I do have one strength, just like Zhou Leng—I don't give up easily. I believe, as I continue to cultivate, I can become as formidable as Senior Guo."
Xue Tongming laughed and said, "Good, accepting your shortcomings frankly, yet not backing down, that's the mark of a promising talent. Both of you should stay."
"Thank you, Uncle Xue," Zhou Leng and Feng Wenhao thanked together.
"Let's go, we'll sign the contract over there. But... your name is Feng Wenhao, right?"
"Yes," Feng Wenhao nodded.
"Your remuneration will be somewhat lower."
"As you decide," Feng Wenhao knew he wasn't in a position to negotiate, focusing instead on the two bodyguards.
The two signed the contract and left under the guidance of Li Linhan.
Xue Tongming watched their car leave and said, "Xiaoguo, what do you think of that Zhou Leng?"
Guo Xiaohao recalled the battle process and slowly analyzed.
"Much more formidable than I was back then. Whether he's lucky or whatever, he has a hope for Innate potential. That feeling is hard to describe; you see, when the two boys came in, they were a bit reserved, obviously from ordinary families without much worldly experience, incomparable to your kin."
"But in a fight, this kid wasn't afraid of me at all, attacking fiercely and directly. The key is his basic skills are too solid. It's not that I didn't want to defend; I just couldn't block him with one hand using only my Great Success level inner power, so I could only keep retreating."
"He gives me the feeling of those newly budding Martial Arts Will experts. Many people have good basic skills, and many have abundant True Qi, but young people like him with traces of Martial Arts Will are too rare."
Xue Tongming nodded and said, "This Zhou Leng now may not match up to those four elite students, but after a few trips to Demon City, he will surely surpass them. Let Xiaosong interact with him more; he's better than those friends of his who only know how to indulge."
Leaving the Pioneer Company, Zhou Leng headed to the Martial Arts Mall, exchanging for one Replenishing Essence Pill and four Qi Nourishing Pills.
He browsed the Martial Arts Mall for more than ten minutes but bought nothing else before leaving.
Zhou Leng, carrying the pills and Huang, headed straight towards the Frost Giant Tree.
Sitting cross-legged under the tree, Zhou Leng slowly opened the pill box containing the Replenishing Essence Pill.
A rich medicinal aroma wafted out.
He took one for recovery.
The Replenishing Essence Pill is one of the most important pills for a Martial Cultivator.
Towards the end of technological civilization, humanity suffered from various pollution and toxins, then faced a rampage of demons, leading to many injuries and illnesses, making newly born infants generally weaker.
"Fragile youth" became a widespread online catchphrase passed down through generations.
Even entering a martial arts civilization, young people couldn't fully compensate for their physical deficiencies despite cultivating True Qi from a young age.
Relevant pills emerged.
Compared to the Body Nourishing Pill worth millions, the Replenishing Essence Pill at ten thousand per pill is already the cheapest of this series of pills.
Research shows, as long as someone takes three Replenishing Essence Pills, they can basically eliminate ordinary physical damage and become truly healthy.
The last Replenishing Essence Pill was used for treatment, while this one is essentially the first for Zhou Leng.
"Strive to replenish three pills sooner, to restore health."
Zhou Leng swallowed the Replenishing Essence Pill in one go and activated the Mystic Tide Technique.
Under the influence of the Mystic Tide Technique, the pill's power slowly spread throughout his body.
Waves of warm currents flowed, merging into the body and healing damages.
After a long time, Zhou Leng opened his eyes, picked up a pre-prepared roll of paper, and headed straight for the forest.
Huang hurriedly followed.
After a burst of artillery and machine-gun fire, tranquility returned.
Zhou Leng covered up with leaves and told Huang, "Remember this spot, no random digging or eating."
Huang tilted its mouth and glanced sideways at Zhou Leng.
Zhou Leng walked while flexing his joints.
An indescribable comfort spread throughout his body, like having slept a deeply fulfilling sleep or having spent a whole day relaxing at a favorite seaside or forest.
From body to mind, clear and comfortable.
Zhou Leng stood by the Frost Giant Tree, practicing the Overlapping Waves Palm.
At first, there was no difference, repeating it over and over again.
Slowly, Zhou Leng discovered errors in his palm technique that he hadn't felt before.
Shoulders raised too high, too quick to retract power, arms floating, True Qi too abundant, posture too rigid, moves deviating...
Zhou Leng changed things one by one, becoming more fluent the more he practiced.
It felt like changing to a different body.
Like measuring with a ruler, without the slightest error.
After finishing his external skills, Zhou Leng began cultivating the Mystic Tide Technique.
The flow of True Qi sped up once more.
True Qi flowed more cohesively, whereas before it was too scattered.
Zhou Leng swallowed a Qi Nourishing Pill and continued cultivating...
Rucheng lies close to the northern bank of the Yangtze River.
Across the Yangtze, in a large area near Tai Lake, because it overlaps with multiple worlds including the Demon Prison World, a Shuizhou Demon City has formed.
To prevent the spread of demons, the Dragon Country built the Shuizhou Exploration Base in the area where the space barrier of the Shuizhou Demon City is weakest.
The Seventh Division of the Sea Suppression Army guards this place.
The Exploration Base is like a small county, complete with all facilities.
Soldiers, pioneers, workers, and studying students come and go.
Green military vehicles passed in front of the "Exploration Hall" main entrance avenue, and a team of seven slowly walked down the steps of the Exploration Hall.
Two women and five men.
The leader, a fair-skinned young man, wore a camouflage uniform and carried a large black backpack.
The young man wore a lazy smile, leisurely surveying the Shuizhou Base.
Zhou Leng and six others, all in camouflage uniforms and carrying black backpacks, stood behind the lazy young man.
About a dozen meters away from the seven, two adult men wore the same attire, with one carrying a bow and the other a crossbow.
The surfaces of the two crossbows were imprinted with blue light patterns.
Demonized weapons.
"Captain, do we prepare a bit, or head straight into Demon City?" Feng Wenhao asked the lazy young man.
The lazy young man, the captain of this martial arts study team, was Xue Chengsong, the only son of Xue Tongming.
In the signed contract, the six were to protect Xue Chengsong's safety as much as possible and follow his orders.
"First, secure the War Merit Token. When I first entered the Demon City, the Pioneer Captain told me this is the most important," Xue Chengsong turned to look at the others.
"Some of you are in Demon City for the first time, let me say a few words..." Xue Chengsong raised his War Merit Token.
Size of a lens, silver octagonal shape, densely covered with blue patterns on the surface.
"Place it in the inner pocket of the camouflage shirt's chest. If an enemy attacks your heart, this thing might save your life. Of course, its main function is to detect the aura of a demon's death and calculate war merits."
Zhou Leng and the others all followed suit.
"Previously, at school, we didn't feel it deeply. As we walk the martial path ahead, whether studying in Martial Arts Academy, joining a Martial Arts Hall, becoming a pioneer, or entering the military or police, war merits are the most important thing, bar none, remember that, bar none."
"I once saw an elder, clearly on the verge of death, with three days to live, exchange war merits for a pill. Not only did they become lively and energetic, but their strength also improved."
"I also saw a big boss, normally so mighty that he ignored even my father, deplete his war merits to save a child, begging my father to borrow war merits to exchange for a pill. On Blue Star, as long as you have enough war merits, you can even wrestle with a Martial Clan, or rather, you become a Martial Clan!"
The six-team members listened intently.
Then, Xue Chengsong sneered at himself and said, "Unfortunately, my talent is really poor, coupled with not working hard, so that's the way it is... However, if I don't get supplementary admission to West Sea Martial Arts Academy, it'd be worse for me. So..."
Xue Chengsong glanced at everyone and said, "As long as you all help me with one heart, once I enter West Sea Martial Arts Academy, each person will receive ten thousand gratitude money. The one who helps me the most, I will cover all four years of tuition. Also, when you're looking for a career path after graduation, I can help with introductions."
Everyone's heartbeat quickened.
With this money, they'd no longer have to endure others' scrutiny, and could train peacefully for four years.
The Xue family's connections far exceed that of the average family.
Zhou Leng observed everyone secretly; each had been moved, including Feng Wenhao, who originally came just to pad his study resume.
He himself was no exception.
After all, it's four years of tuition.
"But... everything is based on you guys working together to complete this martial arts study. So, I hope that no matter what personal intentions you have, what thoughts, hold off until the study ends. However, Demon City is treacherous, and human hearts are more treacherous."
Xue Chengsong showed a faint smile and said, "I'm actually a soft-hearted person, after all, I've never experienced great storms, but my dad is the harshest person I've ever seen. If any of you do what you shouldn't, he will do what shouldn't be done. Also, the contract is clearly written. If I die, you all won't get a penny."
The six fell silent, seemingly intimidated by Xue Chengsong's words.