30: Chapter 0030 White Jade Tower

Lin Xiao's eyes lit up. It's here! It's finally here!!

Previously, the Blood Fiend Blade required over 30 years to advance, and this Flowing Fire Blade Technique requires a full 50 years. The difficulty has indeed increased significantly.

If one were to train normally, 50 years wouldn't be easy!

"Advance!"

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host, "Flowing Fire Blade Technique" has advanced to "Heaven-Burning Blade Technique"!]

[Heaven-Burning Blade Technique: The final form of the Blade Mountain Flowing Fire Blade. After cultivating for nearly a sixty-year cycle, the blade qi is like the rising sun, hot as molten lava, capable of burning the sky and destroying the earth! Grade: Earth Grade]

[Obtained advanced skill "Scorching Fire Burning the City": The Heaven-Burning blade qi is like a raging inferno; wherever it passes, not a blade of grass remains!]

Damn! This skill looks overpowered just by looking at it!

It's not over yet!

[Ding! Obtained achievement "Earth-Shaking": Learned at least one Earth Grade cultivation technique. Earth Grade, Prestige +200]

Awesome! With this, the total Prestige on hand has risen to 590!

Lin Xiao wasn't satisfied yet!

The Spirit Snake Movement Technique can still be upgraded!

+1, +1, +1...

Another 50 years of cultivation...

[Ding! "Spirit Snake Movement Technique" meets the requirements for advancement. Advance?]

Advance!

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host, "Spirit Snake Movement Technique" has advanced to "Dragon Soaring Steps"!]

[Dragon Soaring Steps: The ultimate movement technique of Blade Mountain. The body moves like a dragon soaring through the clouds, walking on walls and roofs, a divine dragon whose head is seen but whose tail is hidden! Grade: Earth Grade]

[Obtained advanced skill "Startled Swan": Increases speed by 100% for a short time, duration 60 seconds.]

Lin Xiao's eyes went wide!

Holy crap!! 100% speed!?!

You have to know that the insanely expensive gale pill only adds 30% speed!!

If he had this "Startled Swan" back then, Bate probably wouldn't have even had time to react!!

Sure enough, whether it's aptitude or cultivation techniques, the grade is too important!

At this moment, Lin Xiao looked at his attribute panel again; it was worlds apart from a few days ago!!

[Lin Xiao, 20 years old, Commander of the Stone Fortress Border Army, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Cultivation Techniques]:

Heaven-Burning Blade Technique (50 years of cultivation) Earth Grade

Dragon Soaring Steps (50 years of cultivation) Earth Grade

Blood Fiend Demon Blade (60 years of cultivation) mystic grade

Indestructible Golden Body (100 years of cultivation) mystic grade (can be advanced)

Zhuobie Archery (30 years of cultivation) mystic grade

[Skills]:

Scorching Fire Burning the City (Wherever the blade qi passes, it is like flames burning; not a blade of grass remains!)

Startled Swan (Increases speed by 100% for a short time, duration 60 seconds.)

Blood Demon Blade Flame, Bloodthirsty Demonic Saber, Indestructible Diamond Body, Immortal Golden Body, Wind-Chasing Arrow

[Weapon 1: wolf fang cold moon blade, mystic grade]

[Weapon 2: Wild Ox Longbow, yellow grade]

[Armor: golden silk soft armor, mystic grade]

With two Earth Grade cultivation techniques in hand, Lin Xiao finally felt a bit more at ease.

He couldn't help it; he had a phobia of insufficient martial power!

"Commander Lin, what's wrong? Did I not explain something clearly enough?"

Seeing Lin Xiao not speaking for a while, Qin He thought there was something he didn't understand.

Lin Xiao came back to his senses and smiled, saying, "Old Qin, after your guidance, I feel enlightened!"

"Commander, you flatter me. I only have a mediocre grasp of it myself..." Qin He was humble in speech, but inwardly, he was quite proud.

Lin Xiao picked up his blade. "I will execute a few moves now; see if there is anything that needs guidance."

"No problem, I will definitely speak the truth," Qin He said with a hint of arrogance.

But just as he finished speaking, Lin Xiao before his eyes suddenly left behind an afterimage!?

Startled Swan!

Lin Xiao launched a sprint, so fast that Qin He's naked eye could barely capture it!

Immediately after, he jumped high up, a full three or four meters!

Lin Xiao ferociously unleashed a "Scorching Fire Burning the City"!

"Boom!!"

Blade qi surged, transforming into scorching flames, directly scorching a patch of scorched earth over ten meters long on the mud ground!!

Lin Xiao drifted down and turned to smile at Qin He.

"How is it, Old Qin? Is there anything that needs improvement?"

Qin He was dumbfounded, as if he had lost his soul.

After a full dozen seconds, he sat down on the ground with a thud, with an expression of having seen a ghost!

"How is it possible... Heaven-Burning Blade Technique, Dragon Soaring Steps!?"

Lin Xiao looked surprised. "Oh? Is this what you were talking about, that advanced blade technique and movement technique? It seems I really have some talent for martial arts."

"More than just some..."

The way Qin He looked at Lin Xiao no longer had any jealousy, only pure admiration and awe.

Because the gap had become so large that it was impossible to catch up, so comparison had lost its meaning.

"Commander Lin, you might... be the legendary 'Martial Dao Saint Body'!!"

"Martial Dao Saint Body? What is that?"

"It is... an aptitude better than Earth Grade, Immortal Grade! The most suitable aptitude for practicing martial arts among the Immortal Grades!"

Qin He sighed with emotion. "If it weren't for the Martial Dao Saint Body, I really cannot believe that you could achieve such accomplishments in such a short time!"

Lin Xiao looked at the "yellow grade" aptitude on his attribute panel and felt it was somewhat ironic.

"Don't go around talking about this; I was just lucky."

Lin Xiao then took out the Blood-Drinking Saber he had retired and handed it to Qin He.

"You didn't dare to take the mystic grade saber, so take this yellow grade one. Don't decline; after all, we have to fight a bloody battle together later."

Seeing this, Qin He accepted it. "Many thanks, Commander Lin!"

Lin Xiao spent another 10 Prestige from the mall to buy a cheap strength pill and gave it to Qin He.

"You've worked hard too. Eat this pill, and let's set off."

Qin He just assumed Lin Xiao had captured the pill from the barbarians, and after thanking him, swallowed it in one gulp.

Before setting off, Lin Xiao didn't forget to loot the corpses of Luo Shaohong and the others.

Besides some tokens that could prove their identities, there were also important gold and jewelry; after all, everything could be exchanged for supplies.

More than two hours later, Baishui City.

The three of them took off their Border Army armor and changed into the attire of martial artists, but they were still stopped by the city guards.

Lin Xiao stuffed some broken silver into the captain's hand, and the other party immediately beamed with joy and didn't block them much.

After entering the city, Qin He looked indignant.

"These guards, we are fighting bloody battles on the front lines, yet they are here extorting the people and neglecting their duties! Despicable!"

Yao Gang was also filled with righteous indignation. "Wasn't the Vice Commander Chen Zhou that Commander Lin killed earlier also this kind of person? These people all deserve to die!"

"Heh, you can't blame them entirely. Even the imperial court officials can't tell who they should be loyal to now. What else can low-level soldiers do besides grab money?"

Lin Xiao wasn't surprised at all; after all, having read Chinese history, he was all too familiar with the rise and fall of dynasties.

The Great Gan Dynasty had lasted for over 300 years, the imperial power existed in name only, taxes in various places were carved up by the nobles, and large numbers of common people were displaced and starving.

The order to cut down the vassal states was the Emperor's last-ditch effort, and it was also the fuse that ignited the ambitions of the various kings!

There was still some time before meeting up with Leng Bingyan at nightfall.

This was the first time Lin Xiao had entered a medium-sized city.

So, after asking around, he came to the best "Baiyu Pavilion" in the city, intending to treat his two struggling brothers to a good meal.

Thinking that their lives might be uncertain tonight, Qin He and Yao Gang didn't stand on ceremony.

As soon as they entered Baiyu Pavilion, the exquisite decoration, rockeries and fish ponds, and various literary masterpieces opened the eyes of the three of them.

"Three guests, do you have a reservation?" A waiter greeted them.

"Need a reservation?"

Lin Xiao took a look; there didn't seem to be any seats on the first floor. He frowned. "Is the upper floor full?"

"There are still empty seats on the second floor, but we only accept reservations," the waiter smiled.

"What about the third floor?"

"I suppose you are visiting Baiyu Pavilion for the first time, right?"

The waiter introduced, "Our Baiyu Pavilion, the lowest floor requires no reservation, anyone can sit, and the prices are affordable."

"The second floor serves more expensive dishes and only accepts reservations; usually, rich gentlemen come more often."

"As for the highest third floor, you can eat the best dishes, and it doesn't require a reservation."

"It's just that... our manager sets a question every day, and guests need to compose a poem. Only if you pass can you go upstairs!"

Lin Xiao found it novel. A restaurant playing the game of scholars and literati?

Qin He and Yao Gang on the side were very depressed; this was not something they could do.

"What is the question? I'll give it a try!" Lin Xiao said.

Qin He and Yao Gang's eyes lit up; they almost forgot that this Commander was a scholar before!

The waiter reached out and said, "For every attempt, you need to pay one guan of money first. If you pass, it will be returned in full."

"What!?" Answering a question requires paying money first!?"

"But, you also have to lose a guan of money if you fail!?"

Qin He and Yao Gang were dumbfounded. Is this a black shop!?!

Lin Xiao was also amused. Just to eat a meal, and they come up with such tricks?