From the fusion of Tongbei Quan to the Longevity Martial Saint

Fang Qing didn't stand on ceremony and cupped his hands in greeting to the man.

"Thank you for your concession."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards room 83. This time, he knocked on the door for a long time but no one answered. Fang Qing listened carefully, but it was quiet inside.

The homeowner probably hadn't returned from training yet, or was too exhausted to stay inside and was fast asleep. Fang Qing didn't dwell on it and skipped number 83, knocking on the door of number 82.

A burly man emerged from room 82, his muscles bulging as he stretched his training clothes.

But at this moment, the man's eyes were glazed over, and he was walking unsteadily, clearly exhausted.

Upon seeing Fang Qing, he waved his hand weakly before Fang Qing could even speak.

"Fang Qing...no, I just got back, I just want to lie down right now."

The man yawned widely, his eyelids drooping.

"I give up. Go find someone else to practice on."

Fang Qing nodded and continued forward.

He kept knocking on the doors according to the room numbers, from number 81, number 80 all the way to number 76.

Most people reacted similarly: too tired to get up, they simply gave up.

The training mission to transport supplies this morning was really exhausting. Carrying heavy loads and running for dozens of miles on mountain roads would make even the strongest body go weak.

However, when we arrived at room 77, a small incident occurred.

The person who opened the door was an ordinary-looking woman wearing a faded training uniform with her ponytail neatly tied.

Her eyes lit up when she heard that Fang Qing wanted to take on the challenge.

"I heard you got first place? I'd like to see what you've got."

The woman assumed a fighting stance, her aura suddenly becoming sharp and fierce. Fang Qing dared not be careless and also focused his attention to respond.

The two exchanged a few blows in the narrow passageway, their fists and feet clashing with dull thuds. But after two moves, Fang Qing used a clever push to send the woman staggering back three steps, her back slamming against the wall.

"sharp."

The woman took a breath and readily clasped her hands in surrender.

"I lost, you continue."

Fang Qing returned the greeting, but felt a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including admiration and awe). This reserve camp was truly full of hidden talents; even an unassuming woman possessed such skill. However, now was not the time to dwell on it; he needed to seize the moment.

In this way, Fang Qing swept through the enemy lines with unstoppable momentum, easily completing the "one-through-nine" feat.

Now we only need to clear the last stage, room 75. If we can win this round, we'll get twenty Qi Gathering Pills.

Fang Qing stood in front of room 75 and raised her hand to knock.

……

Meanwhile, in the backyard of room 55 at the other end of the preparatory camp, the atmosphere was somewhat delicate.

Outside the back door of Zeng Qian's residence, Lu Jianfeng was speaking excitedly, his voice low but filled with resentment.

In front of him, Zeng Qian leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed, her face expressionless.

"Zeng Qian, don't let that kid Fang Qing fool you!"

Lu Jianfeng took a half step forward, his fingers unconsciously clenching.

"There's definitely something fishy about him going through the Bronze Men Formation at the end! I've asked around, and he has a very close relationship with Coach Ding Mingcheng, who led the team this time!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and veins popped out on his forehead.

"Ding Mingcheng is the Bronze Guard! With him providing cover, Fang Qing already knew the exact setup of the Bronze Warrior Formation! Otherwise, how could he have gotten first place?"

The person most frustrated by Fang Qing winning first place in the training mission was Lu Jianfeng.

He used his family's connections in the salt patrol to thoroughly investigate Fang Qing's background. Only then did he learn that Fang Qing had already become acquainted with Ding Mingcheng before he was assigned to the reserve battalion.

This discovery was like a lifeline for Lu Jianfeng. As soon as he finished his mission today, he secretly went around to the back door of Zeng Qian's residence, hoping to tell her the inside story.

It was obvious to everyone that ever since Zeng Qian followed Fang Qing through the Bronze Man Formation and came in second place, the way she looked at Fang Qing had changed.

Seeing that he was about to lose, Lu Jianfeng hurriedly came to find Zeng Qian, hoping to bring her back.

Zeng Qian frowned, looked at Lu Jianfeng, who was blushing, and sighed inwardly.

She had followed Fang Qing closely and witnessed his abilities firsthand; how could she not know?

Especially Fang Qing's body-refining technique, which allowed him to withstand the combined attack of two bronze statues, only swaying slightly. She later specifically asked Fang Qing if he had suffered any internal injuries, but Fang Qing acted as if nothing had happened, simply greeting her before running away.

With that ability to withstand blows, ten Lu Jianfengs couldn't match it.

Seeing Lu Jianfeng's exasperated state, Zeng Qian couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. The two were worlds apart in terms of their character.

"Lu Jianfeng".

Zeng Qian spoke, her voice as calm as a deep pool of water.

"I've said it on several occasions: we're just ordinary friends, comrades in the preparatory camp."

She paused, her eyes fixed on Lu Jianfeng.

"If I did anything in the past that caused you to misunderstand, then I apologize. From now on, everyone should focus on training and prepare for the martial arts examination in two months."

Zeng Qian continued in a very calm tone:

"Getting into the Salt Patrol Guard is what we should be most concerned about right now."

Upon hearing this almost blunt rejection, Lu Jianfeng's face instantly turned ashen.

He knew that saying anything more would only make him look foolish. Just as he stood there awkwardly, unsure of how to end the situation, a commotion suddenly arose from the front yard.

Lu Jianfeng listened intently, and his expression suddenly changed.

From the snippets of conversation he overheard, he gleaned a piece of news that infuriated him: Fang Qing had actually managed to "kill ten opponents at once" right after finishing training!

Moreover, the odds have already been set at 3 to 1!

Zeng Qian naturally heard the commotion ahead, and her lips twitched violently. To be honest, if Lu Jianfeng hadn't blocked her at the back door, she would have already slipped away to Fang Qing's place.

She wanted to ask him face-to-face why Fang Qing had left in a hurry after saying just one sentence when she expressed her concern that morning.

Zeng Qian has always been confident in her charm.

Even with all her confidence, she still couldn't understand it.

A man she looked up to, spoke to her once and then ran away. What was going on? Was Zeng Qian really that unattractive?

Now she understood everything. Fang Qing rushed back so urgently because he wanted to catch this "one-to-ten" betting opportunity!

Having figured this out, Zeng Qian couldn't help but raise her hand and rub her forehead.

When she looked at Lu Jianfeng again, she was even more impatient.

After finishing his mission, Lu Jianfeng didn't think about quickly resuming his cultivation. Instead, he came to block her back door and rambled on and on about a bunch of irrelevant things.

And Fang Qing? He immediately started earning cultivation resources upon his return!

How can there be such a big difference in their mindset, vision, and abilities?

Compared to this, Zeng Qian looked down on Lu Jianfeng even more.

Lu Jianfeng keenly caught the fleeting look of disdain on Zeng Qian's face. At that moment, the string of reason in his mind snapped.

"Fang Qing!"

Lu Jianfeng roared, his entire being like a raging beast. He whirled around, ignoring Zeng Qian, and slammed his fist into the wall beside him!

"Boom!"

He punched a large hole in the wall of room 56, and brick fragments fell all over the floor.

He was too lazy to go around the back door to the front yard.

Lu Jianfeng stepped through the hole into the next room, completely ignoring the owner of room number 56, who had been peeking through the crack in the door and was now pale with fright.

He rushed to the window and punched it, making a hole in the window and passing right through the front yard!

Lu Jianfeng's roar echoed throughout the front yard of the reserve camp.

"Die, you son of a bitch!"

……

At this moment, Fang Qing had just finished his "friendly exchange" with the owner of room number 75.

The homeowner was also at the training ground that afternoon and witnessed Fang Qing's winning skills firsthand. Knowing he was no match for him, he conceded defeat on the spot.

The two even chatted privately for a bit, and the other person jokingly said that he had also bet on Fang Qing to "win ten times in one".

Even if you lose face, you can still make some money, so it's not a loss.

Just as the two clasped their hands in farewell and Fang Qing put the certificate for completing the "one-against-ten" feat into his pocket, a sudden change occurred!

With a loud "boom," a large hole was smashed in the wall of room number 56 next door.

Lu Jianfeng burst out of the dust like a mad bull!

His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulged on his forehead, and he exuded a strong aura of ferocity.

"Fang Qing! You, a mere salt slave who walks on sand, dare to step on my plate?!"

"Walking on sand" is a colloquial term referring specifically to smugglers who traffic in salt.

Among the official salt of the Daqian Dynasty was a type of green salt, which had large grains and looked like sand.

"Taking over someone's territory" is a term used by the lower-level underworld, meaning to seize someone else's land or women.

As Lu Jianfeng cursed, he pointed viciously toward Zeng Qian's room.

He rushed to Fang Qing in a few steps, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his eyes bloodshot.

"Don't you even know what kind of gang I used to be in!"

Lu Jianfeng's voice was frighteningly hoarse.

"You dare touch the woman I've set my sights on? Today I'm going to challenge you!"

……