Chapter 292

Deafening and enlightening.

Those present were all famous martial arts experts, among whom were even Primordial Realm powerhouses.

One by one, they calmed their breath and focused their minds, lost in thought.

They all tried to grasp Yuan Dingting's true intent of the Military Saint; just a sliver would be a great fortune.

But the true intent of the top ten in the world.

How could it be so simple?

In the Qinghe Enclosure camp, besides the civil officials and attendants who didn't know martial arts, only three people were indifferent to the lecture.

Naturally, they were Yuan Dingting's three foster sons.

"Fifth Brother, do you think anyone will be able to grasp the foster father's true intent this time?"

Hu Yan Ku asked with a grin.

Beside him was a lean man who looked like withered wood, yet gave people the feeling of an unparalleled fierce beast.

This person ranked fifth among Marquis Yuan's foster sons and was named Yao Zhong.

In terms of age, he was actually not much different from Yuan Dingting, and he had long since stepped into the Third-Rank Earth Immortal Realm.

Of the eight foster sons, those above him were all Earth Immortals, and those below him were all Primordial Realm.

He became the dividing line.

Yao Zhong shook his head: "I don't know."

Hu Yan Ku looked at Yuan Xiong on the other side: "Eighth Brother, what do you think?"

"I don't know either."

Yuan Xiong also shook his head.

Seeing this, Hu Yan Ku rolled his eyes: "Truly boring; if Third Brother were here, he would definitely be able to say something."

"Speaking of which, these Yunzhou people are really not much; only one Jiang Linxian is somewhat interesting."

Hu Yan Ku saw that neither of them had any intention of responding to him.

He spoke to himself.

"I think, there's no chance."

"Those so-called geniuses of the great sects, one by one like sissies, haven't even touched blood; there is absolutely no possibility they can grasp the foster father's true intent of bloody battle."

He wasn't looking down on the geniuses present.

It was just that even Third Brother, who had the highest talent among the eight foster sons, and Eighth Brother Yuan Xiong, only grasped it bit by bit after following Marquis Yuan.

'Are these people worthy of being compared to Third Brother and Eighth Brother?'

Hu Yan Ku didn't think anyone could grasp the true intent just by listening to a lecture once.

Of course.

It wasn't that one had to grasp the true intent to gain something.

Just then—

A burst of exclamation suddenly erupted in the crowd.

A young man of about seventeen or eighteen suddenly stood up, eyes wide, looking at his own body in disbelief:

"Broken through."

"I've broken through!"

Seeing the young man's ecstatic appearance, the rest of the crowd looked on with envy.

This is the power of the Military Saint; just a few words can enlighten martial artists in the world, making their thoughts clear.

However, the reason this young man could break through was that he was still only Seventh-Rank.

If a Primordial Realm martial artist listened, they could become an Earth Immortal.

Then the world's martial arts ranking wouldn't have a mere 537 people.

The young man finally calmed down, and under the signal of his sect elders, he hurriedly bowed to Yuan Dingting: "Many thanks to the Marquis for the lecture."

Afterward, he returned to the crowd.

Yuan Xiong and the other two saw this scene, their mouths curling up slightly.

The foster father is divine and martial, and they share the glory.

Just a word of enlightenment can make people break through; it is nearly a miracle.

Yao Zhong smiled slightly: "What made that young man break through wasn't just the martial arts explanation, but the foster father spreading his true qi, forming a Military Saint True Domain in the surroundings, which has the function of helping people hone their minds."

He didn't deliberately hide his words.

Everyone nearby heard it, and one by one they hurriedly closed their eyes and focused, feeling carefully, trying to take this opportunity to break through in one go.

This is a once-in-a-thousand-years great fortune.

It is highly probable that there won't be another chance to wait for the Military Saint to lecture in person at the next autumn hunt, so they must seize the time.

Marquis Yuan's words ceased.

For a time.

In the center of the camp, only long and melodious breathing could be heard.

Just as everyone was working hard to comprehend—

Exclamations erupted in the crowd again.

The eyes of Yuan Xiong and the other two also followed the direction of the sound.

They saw that in the front row of the crowd, a little old man was sitting cross-legged, and around him, a divine dragon was actually coiling and dancing, which was very miraculous.

"Dragon form, is this Li Jiaoxi Li?"

Yao Zhong quickly recognized Li Rui's identity.

There are very few people in the world with dragon forms, and even fewer who can observe the sea with a dragon form, and since he is in Yunzhou, that is Li Rui alone.

Hu Yan Ku's bell-sized eyes widened.

He felt as if his eyes were playing tricks on him, and he couldn't help but rub them.

Looking closely.

He saw that dancing along with his divine dragon was actually a long spear; Hu Yan Ku couldn't be more familiar with this spear—it was Marquis Yuan's own spear, Wave-Breaker!

"Damn!"

"Damn it, is there really someone who can grasp the foster father's true intent?!"

Yuan Xiong also narrowed his eyes slightly:

"It's an epiphany."

As if triggering some invisible mechanism, the words "epiphany" kept ringing out in the crowd.

One by one, they looked at Li Rui with envy.

Epiphany.

This is an epiphany!

A person is lucky to have one epiphany in their life, and Li Rui not only had an epiphany, but it was within Marquis Yuan's Military Saint True Domain.

The effect is doubled!

If he could grasp a sliver of the Military Saint's true intent, that would be an even greater fortune.

Envy, and even jealousy, had already taken root.

There were many red-eyed people, but not a single one dared to interrupt Li Rui's epiphany.

Who didn't know that Lord Li of Qinghe was an instructor in Marquis Yuan's prefecture, and had even been called onto the carriage to ride together for half an hour? What great fortune!

Ordinary people wouldn't even dare to think about it.

Marquis Yuan was sitting right there.

Who would dare to disturb Li Rui's epiphany?

It is estimated that only that City Lord of Donghai City would dare to do so; if anyone else went up, they would surely be slapped to death by Marquis Yuan.

The Military Saint is just another way of saying God of Slaughter; did they really think Marquis Yuan had a good temper?

A full hour passed.

Only then did Li Rui slowly open his eyes.

Afterward, he stood up and bowed to Marquis Yuan: "Many thanks, Marquis."

In fact, what he just had wasn't an epiphany, but it was similar.

But his ability to comprehend something was related to his aptitude, yet it couldn't be entirely attributed to aptitude.

Although his aptitude was high, it was impossible for him to grasp the true intent of Yuan Dingting, one of the top ten in the world, in just one day.

It had to be attributed to the Hundred-Battle Killing Intent.

The Hundred-Battle Killing Intent and the Military Saint's true intent were originally from the same source, both belonging to Marquis Yuan; Li Rui tempered his body with the Hundred-Battle Killing Intent every day, so as soon as he came into contact with Yuan Dingting's True Domain, he inexplicably felt familiar.

Yuan Dingting looked at Li Rui with appreciation:

"Not bad."

Praise from the Military Saint!

For a time, the eyes of the red-eyed people completely turned into the appearance of rabbits.

Li Rui's expression was calm, unperturbed by favor or humiliation.

He sat down slowly.

Grasping the Military Saint's true intent is a great fortune.

Although it wouldn't lead to an immediate boost in combat power, it pointed out the direction for future cultivation; not to mention anything else, at least an Earth Immortal was in sight. Otherwise, why would the people around him be envious?

Earth Immortals in the world can be counted; there are 537 in total, and who wouldn't want to become one of them?

Li Rui had already caught a glimpse of the Earth Immortal's gate.

The lecture lasted for three full days.

Although others broke through one after another, no one else could grasp the Military Saint's true intent like Li Rui.

For a time.

Li Rui's fame soared.

The world finally knew that Lord Li of the Qinghe Peace Guard was a true dragon among men, with extraordinary aptitude.

Li Rui didn't care about this.

Because he had originally planned to do so; this Military Saint's altar opening was just a good opportunity.

Aiming to climb high.

Not a single word, not a single line, not a single error, not a single content missed!

It is impossible to always walk in the dark in silk robes; one must appropriately reveal one's potential.

Otherwise, what will happen when he becomes a Primordial Realm martial artist?

Rather than waiting until then to be suspected of harboring strange treasures, it is better to reveal his talent in advance, making things less abrupt.

Moreover.

He is no longer the old groom who could be bullied as a child; he has quite a few backers.

As long as it isn't too heaven-defying, no one will dare to move against him easily.

Hiding one's light too much is not a good thing.

Doing things according to one's position is the royal road; otherwise, wouldn't this official position be served in vain, and wouldn't so many connections be climbed in vain?

After the lecture.

There was a three-day rest.

Three days later, it was the inspection of the martial competition; the fasting in the camp was over, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.

"Brother Li, you are a person of great ability, with a boundless future."

"Brother Wang, you are teasing me again, aren't you?"

Li Rui looked at Wang Li with a smile.

Wang Li was naturally referring to the epiphany in the enclosure yesterday, which had long since spread.

"Old men like us, why think of the future? Living well in the present is what matters."

Wang Li couldn't help but feel melancholy.

"Brother Li need not belittle yourself."

Martial artists have long lives, far exceeding mortals; he estimated that in another ten years or so, he would become a handful of yellow earth, while Li Rui... would still be in his prime.

Otherwise.

Why has the Yu Kingdom always valued martial arts?

Civil officials are merely appendages of the imperial house; by comparison, military officials can have much more backbone.

To say he isn't envious would be a lie.

But for the path of a martial artist, most people have it decided before the age of forty; not everyone can embark on the martial path at seventy like Li Rui, and he is destined to have no possibility.

"In two days, it will be the day of the inspection competition; youth is good indeed."

Wang Li sighed.

Born into the Wang clan, he understood many of these rules and rituals.

Autumn hunt competitions, although they don't restrict age, generally speaking, they aren't too old, and the realm is usually below the Fourth Rank.

Those with too much strength are all Grand Elders of sects, or even sect-level powerhouses.

Once they take action, there must be a winner and a loser.

Winning is fine.

But if they lose, they lose all face, and in the future, they have to lower their heads to others when they meet; who can stand that?

Although it is said that there is no second in martial arts, to avoid such embarrassing things happening too often, they usually let their disciples take action; as long as they don't take action themselves, it cannot be counted as losing.

This has almost become an unwritten rule in the Jianghu.

It is roughly the same principle as leaving a way out for others in officialdom.

Therefore, the higher the martial arts, the fewer the times one takes action to kill.

That is why Wang Li felt this way.

Li Rui smiled slightly.

He naturally wouldn't participate in the autumn hunt competition; firstly, he was a bit old, and going would lower his status, and secondly, he had already taken the greatest treasure of this autumn hunt, so there was no need to continue attracting hatred.

'Better leave it to the young people.'

He thought to himself.

Wang Li smiled and looked at Li Rui: "Brother Li, why don't you go up and show off your skills when the time comes, and just take a top three spot."

Li Rui waved his hand:

"I'm old, and these old bones can't handle the tossing."

The autumn hunt, the day of the competition, arrived.

Three arenas were set up in the center of the camp.

The rules were very simple.

The people who could still stand on the three arenas at the end were the top three of the competition, unlike the martial examination which ranks them.

The top three would be able to receive rewards from Marquis Yuan.

The camp was very lively at this time.

Young people with flushed faces wanted to go on stage and make a name for themselves in the world.

If they could take the top three in the Qinghe Enclosure arena, although it couldn't compare to the Tiannan Enclosure, making a name for themselves across several provinces wouldn't be a problem.

For these disciples of sects and clans.

Fame is equivalent to resources.

A sect master or family head certainly wouldn't give resources to someone who is unknown and has never been heard of; the same principle applies to the Yu Kingdom imperial court.

Otherwise, why would these people rush to the arena as if they were full?

It is precisely because they want to be favored by nobles.

Not just Marquis Yuan before them; after their fame goes out, it could also be other powerhouses.

Sword lights and shadows, various qi-form phantoms bloomed on the arena.

The scene was very spectacular.

Ning Zhongtian also looked eager to try; his age among martial artists was still that of a fledgling, so it was a good time to take the stage.

Watching Ning Zhongtian rush onto the stage.

Li Rui and Wang Li, the two little old men, sat on a small hill in the distance, watching with smiles.

They looked like they were staying out of it, carefree and leisurely.

It was completely out of place with the scene over there.

"Damn, it seems my Fourth Brother is going to lose."

Ning Zhongtian's opponent was a disciple of a great sect.

Even though Ning Zhongtian was talented enough, he was, after all, only a talent of a prefecture, and there was still quite a gap compared to these great sect disciples.

He was already at the end of his strength.

After five moves, he was kicked off the arena.

Well, a bit embarrassed.

This is the reason why people like Li Rui, who already have some fame, are unwilling to go on the arena; face is also a big deal, otherwise, wouldn't he be laughed at every time he drinks with colleagues in the future?

"Poor Fourth Brother."

Li Rui cracked melon seeds while feeling sorry for Ning Zhongtian.

Next time he drinks with Ning Zhongtian, he can fully maintain an overwhelming advantage.

"Not bad, not bad."

Just as Li Rui and Wang Li were watching with great interest—

Two people slowly walked toward them.

Yuan Xiong looked at Li Rui and spoke slowly:

"Yuan Xiong, here to ask for a fist."

(End of chapter)