39: Chapter 39 Half a year! Second rank!

The quiet room was windowless, with only a single ever-burning oil lamp emitting a dim yellow glow, casting rapidly flickering and elongated, twisted shadows upon the walls.

Suddenly, all the shadows converged into one.

Lin Tian finished his stance and stood still, the white steam rising from his body slowly dissipating, revealing his lean and well-proportioned physique.

A faint luster flowed beneath his skin, a sign that his Qi and blood were filled to a certain level. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air; his breath was long and steady, emitting a faint hissing sound in the silent room.

He sank his consciousness inward, and the panel invisible to others appeared clearly:

Name: Lin Tian

Cultivation: First-Rank Martial Artist (Late Stage)

Martial Arts:

Five Elements Stance (Major Achievement 200/1000)

Metal Element Fist (Major Achievement 203/1000)

Wood Element Fist (Major Achievement 32/1000)

Wind-Chasing Footwork (Proficient 173/500)

Water Element Fist (Introductory 96/100)

Compared to two months ago, it could be called a rebirth. The Five Elements Stance and Metal Element Fist had stepped into Major Achievement, causing his Foundation and offensive power to surge; the Wood Element Fist had also reached Major Achievement, making his defense and grappling even more dense.

The most critical Wind-Chasing Footwork, supported by the medicinal power of two Ganoderma, had stepped from "Minor Achievement" into the realm of "Proficient".

His speed, agility, and minute control over his force had reached a new level; the recently comprehended Water Element Fist had also reached the introductory stage, and his fist technique was gradually gaining a sense of flexibility and endurance.

The sense of security brought by the leap in strength did not last long. Lin Tian walked to the window and looked out through the gap he had specifically left.

Across the street corner, at a tea stall, that thin, elderly man in a dark red robe, as if nailed to the spot, was still sipping coarse tea unhurriedly, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally always sweeping towards the entrance of Sifang Pavilion.

It had been two months. No matter when he went out or where he went, this old dog followed him like a shadow.

The other party did not make a move, just watched, like a vulture patiently waiting for its prey to reveal a flaw.

This blatant surveillance felt more oppressive than an assassination—it represented the undying, relentless attitude of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, representing a continuous, silent threat.

"Being tailed by a large martial arts hall..." Lin Tian withdrew his gaze, his brows slightly furrowed.

No matter how much his personal strength increased, facing a local snake force that had entrenched itself in Heishan City for many years still seemed thin.

The other party had enough patience and manpower to wear him out, and he could not hide in Sifang Pavilion or Heishan City for his whole life.

Early that morning, an urgent message came from Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, summoning all registered Disciples to return immediately.

Lin Tian pondered for a moment, changed into the gray-blue training attire of the martial arts hall, and walked out calmly.

As expected, that dark red figure immediately followed him from a distance. He acted as if he did not see it and walked straight towards the martial arts hall.

At the martial arts hall's training ground, over a hundred Disciples had already gathered, the crowd moving and whispering, the atmosphere unusual. There were both new and old Disciples, and even some elites who had been training outside for years had shown their faces.

Lin Tian found Wang Yu and Liu Yunfeng in the crowd.

"Junior Brother Lin!" Liu Yunfeng came up and said in a low voice, "You've returned too? Do you know what happened?"

Lin Tian shook his head: "An urgent summons from the hall, I don't know the details. Have you heard any wind of it?"

Wang Yu also leaned in, his expression solemn: "Not very clear. But look, even the Senior Brother and Senior Sister who are usually out for years seem to have received the news and are rushing back. Those arrogant guys like Du Fei also arrived early; I'm afraid something big is really happening."

Liu Yunfeng looked around and affirmed: "It must be a big deal, otherwise they wouldn't make such a fuss."

About a stick of incense later, several figures appeared on the high platform in front of the training ground. Master Huang and several other instructors and Elders stood on both sides, their expressions solemn.

Walking in the middle was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, with a refined face and eyes that had a faint gleam of light when they opened and closed.

His pace was not fast, but every step he took seemed to vaguely harmonize with the Aura of the entire training ground, giving people a steady, mountain-like pressure.

"Greetings, Hall Master!" The Disciples below the stage, new and old alike, bowed in unison, the sound waves shaking the sky.

Lin Tian bowed along with the crowd, but his peripheral vision secretly sized up this master of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, whom he was seeing for the first time. The other party's Aura was as steady as a mountain, his Qi and blood far more vigorous than Master Huang and the others, as if a prehistoric beast was dormant within his body, unfathomable.

"At least Third Grade, maybe even higher..." Lin Tian felt a secret tremor in his heart.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's gaze slowly swept over the sea of heads below the stage, pausing slightly on a few people—the Hall Master's daughter Chen Xue, who had a cold temperament like a plum blossom in the snow; the Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang, who was as steady as a mountain with a thick Aura; Du Fei, who had arrogant eyes and hidden heat; and Lin Tian, who stood inconspicuously in the crowd but made his gaze pause imperceptibly.

"At ease." Chen Qingfeng's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, suppressing all the noise.

He got straight to the point: "The reason for this urgent summons is that there is a major event, which concerns your future and also the future of the martial arts hall."

The training ground instantly became so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping, and all the Disciples held their breath and focused.

"The Imperial Guard, the Emperor's personal troops, will soon be expanding their manpower, selecting and recruiting a group of elite Martial Artists from various prefectures."

Chen Qingfeng paused, looking at the countless eyes that had widened instantly below the stage, and continued, "Our Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall also has one direct recommendation qualification."

Imperial Guard! These three words were like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, instantly detonating the training ground!

"Imperial Guard?! The Emperor's personal troops?!" "The Imperial Guard that monitors the world and can execute first and report later?!" "They are actually recruiting?!" "What a huge Opportunity! Join the Imperial Guard, power, resources, status... one step to the heavens!"

Exclamations, excitement, and unbelievable discussions exploded. Who doesn't know the Imperial Guard? They are the sharp sword hanging over the officials and Jianghu, with a transcendental status and immense power.

Being able to join them not only means having the imperial court as the biggest mountain of support, but also means unimaginable cultivation resources and promotion channels.

But some Disciples were calmer and asked suspiciously: "Hall Master, the Imperial Guard has always had a very high threshold, and the selection is strict and mysterious. Why is there a sudden large-scale expansion this time?"

An Elder snorted: "Go if you are told to go, why ask so much?"

Chen Qingfeng waved his hand, his gaze slightly deep, and said slowly: "This matter is not strictly confidential. According to some rumors from the palace, it may be related to... the remnants of the Demon Cult returning from the ashes. Expanding the Imperial Guard may be to deal with possible future turmoil. However, this is hearsay and has not been verified, so just listen to it and do not spread it."

Demon Cult! This word made the faces of some older Disciples and old instructors change slightly, while the younger Disciples were more curious and excited.

But in any case, the news of the Imperial Guard's expansion had already made everyone's blood boil.

"Quiet!" Chen Qingfeng shouted, suppressing the sound waves. The training ground became quiet again, but countless gazes had become extremely scorching.

"Why the Imperial Guard is expanding is not something you need to delve into right now." Chen Qingfeng's gaze swept over the young and eager faces, "Your current goal is how to get this recommendation quota from our Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall and finally pass the Imperial Guard's selection!"

"Hall Master, how many quotas do we have?" A Disciple couldn't wait to ask the question everyone cared about most.

Chen Qingfeng extended three fingers: "Three."

Everyone's breathing hitched, three! Although not many, there was a chance!

"However," Chen Qingfeng changed the subject, "two of the quotas have already been decided. They are obtained by my daughter Chen Xue and Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang."

A sound of realization and admiration rang out below the stage, and there was not much objection. Senior Sister Chen Xue, the Hall Master's daughter, was exceptionally talented, and her ice-type Cultivation Technique was superb; Senior Apprentice Zhao Tiegang was the first to enter, his Foundation was as deep as a mountain, and his "Mountain-Shaking Fist" was unparalleled in its ferocity. Both were solid Second Grade Martial Artists, and their strength was the best among the young generation of Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall. No one was unconvinced by their obtaining the quotas.

"That is to say, there is one last quota left." Chen Qingfeng's voice sounded again, like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart, "Who this last quota is given to has not been decided yet. All of you have a chance."

Hope was rekindled, especially for those Disciples who considered themselves elites, their eyes instantly becoming sharp.

"How to compete for it?" Du Fei couldn't help but ask aloud, his fists already clenched.

Chen Qingfeng looked at him, then slowly scanned the crowd, saying word by word: "Half a year. I will give you half a year. After half a year, whoever can break through and step into the realm of a Second Grade Martial Artist will have this last recommendation quota."

"Half a year? Second Grade Martial Artist?" "This... this is too difficult!" "I am only at First-Rank Early Stage, to reach Second Grade in half a year? Absolutely impossible!" "Even if it is First-Rank Late Stage, wanting to break through the Second Grade Bottleneck requires Opportunity and a lot of accumulation, half a year... is too short!"

The crowd was in an uproar, and many Disciples looked desperate. Martial arts cultivation gets harder as you go; First-Rank to Second Grade is a significant threshold that has stuck many people. For most people, half a year is tantamount to a fantasy.

"Difficult?" Chen Qingfeng's voice suddenly turned harsh, and an invisible Aura spread, pressing on everyone's hearts, "It is precisely because it is difficult that this quota is precious! The Imperial Guard selection gathers top elites from various prefectures, various martial arts halls, and various families! If you don't have Second Grade strength, even if I give you the quota, you will only be embarrassing yourself if you go, and you may even lose your life in fierce competition and cruel missions! Second Grade is the lowest threshold! Only by stepping into this realm do you have the qualifications to compete for that glimmer of Opportunity!"

His words were like ice water poured over heads, extinguishing the fluke of many people, but also making the flames in the eyes of others burn even more intensely.

Du Fei's chest heaved, his eyes shot with light, his teeth clenched, clearly having regarded this quota as something he must obtain.

And in the crowd, Lin Tian's heart also jumped wildly at this moment, an uncontrollable heat and determination surging through his whole body.

The threat of Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, like a maggot on the bone, was like a sharp sword hanging over his head, making him dare not slack off at all for these two months, but he also felt that it was difficult to support it alone.

Join the Imperial Guard? Become a member of those powerful and fearsome imperial court hounds? If he could really succeed, let alone a Liehuo Martial Arts Hall, even the Lord of Heishan City would have to be polite to him! At that time, all threats would naturally vanish!

This path is dangerous and difficult, but it is the fastest and most effective ladder to break the situation before him!

"This quota... I must get it!" Lin Tian took a deep breath, suppressing his surging Qi and blood, his eyes becoming like a deep pool, and beneath the calmness was unprecedented determination. Half a year, Second Grade.