From absorbing the essence of the sun and moon to achieving divine mastery in martial arts

Time flies like an arrow, passing by in a flash.

Since the beginning of spring, Shenghai has gradually shed the chill of winter, the earth has revived, and the grass and trees inside and outside the base have sprouted tender green buds, with a faint fragrance of flowers and the scent of soil filling the air.

In the private training room at the base, time seemed to stand still.

Cang Lian was a complete martial arts fanatic. During this time, apart from eating and sleeping, he locked himself here and honed his skills day after day.

Whether it's the bone-forging and body-refining "Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound," the eerie and agile "Dragon's Shocking Transformation," or the fierce and unparalleled "Eight Formations of Military Array," all have been greatly improved under his diligent study and the assistance of "Visualized Refinement." In particular, "Dragon's Shocking Transformation" has already shown signs of mastery.

On this day, the door to the cultivation room was gently pushed open.

Ning Chongli walked in, his expression showing a hint of respect.

"Young Master."

Ning Chongli strode up to Cang Lian and took out an exquisite sandalwood box from his pocket: "I went to the city and retrieved the items you ordered from Master Huang. According to Master Huang, these five steel needles were forged from 'Sword Gallant Steel' from Longquan, Zhejiang, through countless hammerings. They are not only incredibly tough but also unparalleled in their sharpness."

Upon hearing this, Cang Lian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he reached out to take the wooden box.

The moment the box was opened, a chilling aura rushed out.

On the brocade cloth lay five steel needles, each about ten centimeters long.

The needle was not polished to a mirror-like shine; instead, it was covered with a layer of fine, dark cloud-like patterns, exuding a chilling and captivating aura.

"nice one!"

Cang Lian picked up a needle, flicked it lightly with her fingertip, and the steel needle emitted a clear, resonant hum that lingered for a long time.

He nodded in satisfaction and then slipped it into a hidden pouch close to his body.

After putting away his weapon, Cang Lian raised his head and looked at Ning Chongli. His expression changed slightly: "Elder Ning, you seem to be acting somewhat differently today."

He paced around the old man a couple of times and said in surprise, "In the past, even if you deliberately concealed it, I could still vaguely sense the intense heat of your internal energy, like a furnace, thanks to my keen senses. But the one standing in front of me today seems to be just an ordinary old man who can't even kill a chicken, with no trace of any fluctuation of energy around him."

Upon hearing this, Ning Chongli shook his head with a wry smile and sighed, "Young Master has a discerning eye. Although I am only sixty years old this year, which should be the prime of my life as a Grandmaster of Dan Jin, my foundation has been damaged by the bloodthirsty energy, and my qi and blood are now showing signs of premature decline. In order to slow down this process, I have to use my family's secret method of nourishing my body to forcibly lock in my essence, qi and spirit to prevent them from leaking out."

"Oh? There is such a wonderful method for nourishing the body?" Cang Lian was surprised.

His mental strength far surpassed that of ordinary people, and his senses were extremely sharp. Even he could be deceived. The concealment of this method was simply terrifying.

If one didn't know Ning Chongli's background well, one would probably mistake him for an ordinary old man next door.

"To be honest, young master!" Ning Chongli's expression became more solemn as he lowered his voice, "My Ning family has a long history. Our ancestors were the 'Dragon Guards' of the First Dynasty, specifically responsible for guarding the imperial tombs in the underground palace. In order to survive for a long time in the dark and sunless tombs, our ancestors created this 'Hibernating Dragon Technique,' which allows the blood and qi to fall into a deep state of dormancy, thereby greatly extending lifespan. Only when an enemy disturbs the imperial tombs will the blood and qi awaken instantly and unleash a thunderous attack. I am now helpless; locking up my blood and qi in normal times is quite mentally taxing."

"I see, the First Dynasty's Dragon Guard..." Cang Lian nodded in surprise.

Just then, Ning Ke's clear voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, General Chu requests your presence in the command center building, saying it is of great importance."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Cang Lian responded, quickly washed off the sweat, changed into a neat set of casual clothes, and soon appeared in Chu Zhaoxue's office.

As soon as Cang Lian pushed open the door, he immediately sensed an unusual aura.

Besides the dashing Chu Zhaoxue, an elderly man was also sitting on the sofa in the office.

The old man had a full head of snow-white hair, a gaunt and simple face, and wore a loose robe. He looked like an old man practicing Tai Chi that you could see anywhere in the park.

However, when Canglian's gaze fell upon the other party, he felt a vast aura, like a gentle spring breeze and a silent, nourishing rain, wash over him.

He was unassuming and unassuming, yet he seemed to blend into his surroundings, creating his own world just by sitting there.

"Cang Lian, come here." Chu Zhaoxue stood up, her tone filled with rare respect. "Let me introduce you. This is my mentor, He Baiweng. He usually protects my father in the Eighth Army camp, rarely seen. I've long wanted to introduce you to him, and today I finally have the opportunity."

This is a true terrestrial deity...

Cang Lian's heart skipped a beat. Not daring to be negligent in the slightest, he immediately stepped forward, bowed, clasped his hands, and performed a standard junior's greeting: "Junior Cang Lian greets Senior!"

"Hehe, no need for such formalities."

He Baiweng slowly raised his head, and a glimmer of starlight suddenly flashed in his seemingly cloudy eyes.

He stretched out a withered hand and gently placed it on Canglian's shoulder.

This seemingly casual strike felt like a mountain pressing down on Cang Lian's shoulders, yet he remained perfectly still, his muscles and bones working together to withstand the force.

"Not bad!" He Baiweng smiled gently and patted his hand lightly. "I've heard Zhaoxue mention you before, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary for your age. Your physique is as strong as steel, and your foundation is so deep that you can rival the direct descendants of the world's top sects! You are a formidable young man."

"You flatter me, senior," Cang Lian said humbly.

Seeing this, Chu Zhaoxue smiled slightly: "Canglian, Teacher will be setting off with us for Nanzhou tomorrow. This trip will be filled with great events; are you ready?"

Upon hearing this, Cang Lian replied in a deep voice, "General, rest assured, Cang Lian will go all out to establish the reputation of our base and will never let you and your predecessors down!"

"Good! Very energetic!" Chu Zhaoxue nodded in satisfaction.

The old crane standing to the side also smiled, stroked his beard, and nodded, his eyes full of expectation.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

The three boarded the express train bound for Nanzhou.

The train, like a giant green dragon, roared across the vast plains, the scenery on both sides rushing past, turning into a dazzling, blurry blur.

After a six-hour journey at breakneck speed, the train slowly pulled into Nanzhou Terminal.

As soon as I exited the station, two black sedans were already waiting.

Beside the car door stood a middle-aged man, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his temperament as steady as a mountain, his eyes gleaming with sharp light, and his every move exuding a refined strength—he was clearly a master of internal energy transformation.

However, this person, who was influential enough to establish a school of thought in the outside world, immediately stepped forward to greet He Baiweng upon seeing him emerge, bowing slightly and displaying utmost respect.

"I am Zhao Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nanzhou. Welcome Elder He! The Palace Master has instructed us to wait here for a long time. Please get into the car."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble." Old Man He Bai still had that otherworldly and smiling appearance. He nodded slightly and got into the first car with Zhao Gang's help.

The middle-aged grandmaster then turned to Chu Zhaoxue, his tone still respectful, but with a hint of business: "Vice Hall Master Chu, please take the car behind with this friend."

"Okay." Chu Zhaoxue nodded slightly and led Cang Lian into the back car.

With a deep roar from the engines, the convoy slowly started moving.

The scenery outside the window gradually changed, from a bustling commercial district to a forbidden area on the outskirts of Nanzhou City.

Before long, a magnificent architectural complex came into view.

It was a concrete fortress that was even larger and more oppressive than the Sheng Hai base.

It sits quietly on the earth, its entire body a solemn iron gray.

This is the famous martial arts holy land – the headquarters of the National Martial Arts Hall.

Before even entering, Cang Lian felt an overwhelming sense of solemnity and awe.

Those entering and leaving the gate moved with agile steps and sharp eyes. Even an ordinary guard had bulging temples, clearly indicating that he had mastered external martial arts to the extreme.

This place is a true den of dragons and tigers, teeming with powerful figures.

The convoy quickly stopped in front of the main building.

"Elder He, the other nine elders have already gathered in the 'Tian Shu Pavilion' on the top floor. I will take you up there now." The middle-aged grandmaster respectfully led the way.

"Okay." Old Man He followed him up.

Chu Zhaoxue and Cang Lian were led to their respective areas by the staff.

……

At this moment, on the top floor of the National Martial Hall headquarters, in the Tian Shu Pavilion.

This is an extremely spacious circular hall, with clouds and mist swirling outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, making it feel like a fairyland.

As He Baiweng pushed open the door and entered, the once quiet hall instantly became lively.

Nine elderly men of different appearances were already seated around the round table.

Some of them were resting with their eyes closed, while others were playing with jade. Each of them exuded an unfathomable aura, as if nine majestic mountains were suppressing them.

"Old Crane, you old codger, you've finally come!"

The speaker was an elderly man with a red face, whose voice was as loud as a bell, making the air buzz.

He laughed loudly and slapped the table: "According to the old rules, now that everyone's here, let's begin! We'll still bet on the champions of the Dark Force, Transformation Force, and Core Force groups. This time, everyone needs to bring out their best stuff, don't try to fool us with some junk!"

"Haha, since you're in such a hurry, Old Monster Fiery, then I'll start by throwing out a brick to get the jade!"

An elderly man dressed in a Tang suit stroked his beard and laughed. With a flick of his hand, a fist-sized, purplish-gold metal piece appeared out of thin air on the table.

The metal surface seemed to have flames flowing across it, and the surrounding air temperature instantly rose.

"This is 'Purple-Veined Crimson Gold Iron,' which I obtained in the cave of an ancient alchemist. This iron is indestructible; if incorporated into a weapon, it could be forged into a divine weapon capable of cutting through iron like mud!"

"Hmph, is a piece of scrap metal something to brag about?"

An elderly man in white sitting opposite him snorted coldly.

This man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. Although he was old, he still exuded a fierce and unparalleled sword intent, as if he himself were a sword drawn from its sheath.

He was Tao Xuanzheng, who was famous throughout the world for his "sword control technique".

With a flick of his sleeve, Tao Xuanzheng sent a piece of blue ore radiating a chilling aura onto the table, instantly causing a thin layer of frost to form on the surface.

"What a coincidence, what I've brought out this time is the 'Ten Thousand Year Deep Sea Frost Crystal.' I unearthed it after riding the wind for thirty thousand miles on my sword, venturing deep into the North Sea Abyss, and slaying a guardian behemoth. Using this to forge a sword will imbue the sword's aura with the power of frost, making it a peerless material suitable for crafting divine weapons."

Upon seeing this, everyone nodded in agreement; these two items were indeed rare and precious natural treasures.

"Cough cough..."

At this moment, an old man in a Taoist robe, holding a whisk, smiled slightly and said slowly, "What you're all arguing about are just external things. A few days ago, I was traveling in the South China Sea and accidentally stumbled into a peach grove on a small island shrouded in mist all year round. There, I found three reclusive masters living in seclusion."

At this point, he pulled a yellowed ancient book from his robes and placed it on the table: "Those three masters discussed the Dao with me for three days, and before parting, they gifted me this method, 'Lingxu Ferry.' This method is extremely subtle, capable of maximizing the efficiency of internal energy utilization. After mastering it, one can walk on air as if on flat ground. Although one cannot, like Old Monster Tao, control a sword through the heavens with spiritual power, it is enough for ordinary people to soar through the skies!"

"What?! A method for flying?!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the elders present instantly lit up with fervor.

At their level, they have long regarded worldly money as dirt. Only secret manuals that can enhance their strength and even approach the methods of legendary immortals can tempt them.

"It seems that the old Taoist priest has really gone all out this time." Tao Xuanzheng couldn't help but take another look at the ancient book.

Everyone's attention immediately turned to He Baiweng, who had just taken his seat.

"Old Crane, I heard you once killed a troublesome 'Black Water King Serpent'? That beast is about to transform into a dragon, right? All its essence is in its gallbladder. Why don't you... take out that gallbladder as a prize?" The red-faced old man urged with a wicked smile.

He Baiweng glanced at the expectant gazes of the crowd, shook his head helplessly, and chuckled, "You old fellow, you're certainly well-informed. Well, since everyone's so interested, it would seem petty of me to keep anything to myself."

After saying that, he took out a specially made jade box from his sleeve and gently opened it.

In an instant, an extremely rich life essence spread out, and the entire Tian Shu Pavilion seemed to be filled with the fragrance of grass and trees.

Inside the jade box lay a fist-sized, emerald-green snake gall, with faint golden threads visible moving within, as if it were alive.

"Very well! I'll grant your wish." Old Man He Bai pushed the jade box towards the center of the table, his gentle voice carrying a hint of magnanimity. "My wager this time is this King Serpent's Gallbladder!"

（感谢天星一尘、我要爆炸了、书友2019…1112、逐梦彩虹海、书友2021…4029、书友2018…7024、卓加康、墨武门的月票！）

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