Chapter 9: Firm Path of the Martial Artist

"Jiang Tian has already been beaten into such a state by you, what more do you want!"

The students from First High School turned around indignantly; if not for the fact that they couldn't win, they would have chosen to fight Jiang Qin with everything they had if there was even the slightest chance.

Taking advantage of this moment, Zhang Le had already executed all those dying long-armed monkeys.

The Mortal Realm First Stage is worth 1 point, the Second Stage is 2 points, and so on.

Just from this one wave, he had obtained 63 points; even if it couldn't compare to that S-grade talent from First High School, at least it wouldn't be lower than those A-Class Talent Martial Artists.

Jiang Qin stabbed his blade into the ground and lifted his chin: "That long-armed monkey was crippled by me through my own hard work. My demands aren't high: leave behind all the valuable things on you, such as weapons and Liaoshang Danya, and also the boys' clothes and pants—leave them all for me."

He even left them a pair of underpants; hmm, he was truly too merciful!

"What did you say! This is impossible!"

"Don't go too far!"

One of the students couldn't help but roar in anger. The next second, an Invisible Slash grazed past his ear, and the two large trees behind him crashed down with a boom.

"..."

10 minutes later.

Wearing only underpants, the First High School boys clutched their arms in shame and fled the scene without looking back, terrified that this great demon would call them back again.

Stripping them of even their clothes, he was simply a bandit!

Zhang Le grinned as he took stock of the loot. These students were all elites from First High School; their weapons and equipment were all self-supplied, and they even carried many Liaoshang Danya. Although the price wasn't high, they were great in quantity.

This group of people were truly gift-giving boys; what good people!

"Hehehe... Brother Qin, we're rich, we're rich!"

"These weapons and armor have almost no wear and tear; taking them outside can fetch a good price. But the most expensive thing is the blade in your hand—a First-Order Spirit Weapon that can significantly boost a Martial Artist's strength. It can sell for at least 2 million on the outside market."

But Jiang Qin had no interest in this blade and tossed it to Zhang Le, telling him to hold onto it and find someone to sell it after the assessment ended.

He had his Slash Domain and didn't need a weapon at all.

Besides, the material of this blade was too trashy; it couldn't withstand his power at all.

The assessment time was gradually drawing to a close, but this so-called practical tempering had no meaning for Jiang Qin.

It was just like a wolf breaking into a sheep pen; the Fierce Beasts inside couldn't put any pressure on him at all.

The only harvest was the armor, weapons, and the rare materials from the Fierce Beasts, which could also fetch a decent price if sold outside.

Students emerged from Ten Thousand Beast Mountain one after another, their expressions ranging from dejected and fearful to excited.

Of course, a small number of students remained in the mountain forever, turning into nourishment.

"I announce that this assessment has concluded successfully!"

Li Wei's rough voice reached everyone's ears.

As his voice fell, the tallied leaderboard appeared on a screen not far away.

【Jiang Qin: 977 points (Tianyun No. 3 Middle School)】

【Li Yunyan: 423 points (Tianyun No. 1 Middle School)】

【Zhang Le: 247 points (Tianyun No. 3 Middle School)】

【Wang Dali: 246 points (Tianyun No. 1 Middle School)】

【...】

Although everyone had guessed that Jiang Qin's points might be very high—after all, he was the first SSS-grade Talent since the founding of Tianyun Shi—they didn't expect the gap to be this absurd.

Even S-grade Li Yunyan didn't have half as many points as Jiang Qin.

Seeing the leaderboard, Zhang Le was overjoyed and hurriedly took out his phone to take a picture.

"Hahaha, I never thought I, Fatty, would have a day where I'd rank third. Must take a picture; I'll go back and squeeze some gold coins out of the old man. Let's see if he dares to look down on me in the future!"

Jiang Qin looked at the blue sky and white clouds in the distance.

Jiang Ma, did you see? I took first place.

After the rankings were announced, the next step was the distribution of rewards.

Although the practical assessment was held jointly by five schools, the rewards came from the Military Department, and the Military Department also chose what the specific rewards would be.

The rewards were mainly Liaoshang Danya, which could more quickly improve the students' strength.

However, in addition to Liaoshang Danya, the top three could also choose one cultivation technique or Spirit Weapon at will.

Li Wei brought the top three of the assessment to the Logistics Department of the Military Department.

It was a pavilion with a strong sense of history; the left side was for Spirit Weapons, and the right side was for cultivation techniques.

The Military Department rewarded based on merit; any Martial Artist who contributed to the city could use Contribution Points to exchange for cultivation techniques and weapons at the Military Department.

"Everything on the first floor consists of First-Order Spirit Weapons and C-grade cultivation techniques. You two may choose freely."

The two referred to Li Yunyan and Zhang Le.

As for the first-place winner, Jiang Qin...

"Catch."

Li Wei took out a cultivation technique that had been prepared long ago and handed it to Jiang Qin.

"I watched your battle against the Fierce Beasts; in terms of attack power, no one within the Spirit-Drawing Realm is your match. Your only shortcoming is your movement technique... This B-grade movement technique, Wind-Riding Steps, is something I chose specifically for you; it is a castrated version of an S-grade cultivation technique."

His gaze was full of appreciation, and he was even more satisfied with Jiang Qin's ruthless methods of hunting Fierce Beasts.

"With your talent, you will surely enter the Four Great Academies. By then, you might be able to come into contact with that S-grade cultivation technique, and having practiced the Wind-Riding Steps, you will be able to master it faster."

"Of course, this is just my opinion."

"If you don't like this cultivation technique, I can take you to the second floor to exchange it for another one."

Hearing this, Jiang Qin shook his head and accepted the B-grade cultivation technique.

"Many thanks..."

"My name is Li Wei, the person in charge of the Tianyun Military Department; you may call me Minister Li."

"Many thanks, Minister Li. There is no need to change it; I trust your judgment."

This unexpected flattery made the smile on Li Wei's face grow even brighter; he found the little fellow before him more and more pleasing to the eye, even wanting to snatch him away to the Military Department for cultivation.

However, he abandoned this thought.

Tianyun Shi is just an inconspicuous little city among the many cities of Huaguo, and in terms of resources, it cannot compare to the Four Great Academies in Modu, Dijing, Zhenling, and Bianse.

Doing so would only delay the little fellow before him.

Not long after, Li Yunyan was the first to walk back.

In her hand, she held a silver spear, and her gaze toward Jiang Qin was filled with fighting spirit, though she ultimately held it back.

She could sense that Jiang Qin had broken through to the Spirit-Guiding Realm, while she was still only at the ninth level of the Mortal Embryo Realm.

Once she breaks through to Spirit-Guiding, she will definitely have a battle with Jiang Qin.

"Minister Li, I have also made my choice."

Zhang Le walked back happily, clutching a cultivation manual; it looked like he had found a technique to his liking.

A moment later, they walked out of the Military Department building.

The assembled students had already set off on the return journey under the guidance of their teachers, with only Principal Deng and Principal Wang still waiting under a tree not far away.

Li Wei crossed his arms and asked, "You three are all good seedlings of this generation. I want to know, why did you become Martial Artists?"

The path of a Martial Artist is full of setbacks, and one's realm determines the level of one's strength.

But the only thing that can keep a person walking on this path is conviction!

Li Yunyan did not hesitate, her voice cold and clear: "To become stronger, to be able to see a wider world."

Zhang Le chuckled: "Becoming a Martial Artist is, of course, so that others won't dare to look down on me. Besides, my dad usually offends a lot of people; as long as I become a powerful Martial Artist, I can protect him."

As his voice fell, the three of them looked at Jiang Qin in unison.

Jiang Qin lowered his eyes, "Someone once asked me this question before. Her answer was to protect this country, but I don't have such lofty ambitions. The only thing I wanted to protect was that small home, but now she is gone, so I want to take her place and help her finish this path."

Although the youth's tone was immature, his eyes were resolute.

"I will protect this country that she wanted to protect and continue her path as a Martial Artist."

"Regardless of whether there are mountains, rivers, seas, or peaks ahead, or demons, monsters, gods, or ghosts, as long as they stand in the path of my advance, I will surely slay them!"

This answer filled Li Wei with surprise and a trace of pleasant astonishment.

What a pure heart!

What a 'I will surely slay them!'.

This is the true model for the younger generation of Martial Artists, the hope of the Huaxia martial path!!!