I am a high-level martial arts master.

"Master, why are we setting off so soon?"

Ye Li pushed open the door to the study of the gang leader's mansion and began asking questions skillfully before even stepping inside.

It's only a ten-day journey from here to Yan City, there's absolutely no need to be in such a rush.

Zheng Tong was dealing with gang affairs at the moment. When he saw Ye Li come in, he looked up and smiled, saying, "What's the rush? Sit down first." Ye Li pouted, thinking that his master was being a bit long-winded, but he still went forward, pulled out a chair, and obediently sat down.

After Ye Li sat down, Zheng Tongcai explained, "Yan City is far away, and now that you've become a thorn in the side of the Poison Wolf Gang, they might not let it go so easily."

"Coincidentally, news came from the City Lord's Mansion that Du Yuanzhou, the disciple of City Lord Li Guancai, is also preparing to go there for the competition. The two of you can go together." Hearing this, Ye Li thought of that arrogant kid from a while ago.

Zheng Tong explained, "The city lord is not as well-off as we gang members. Those at the Acquired Realm are all busy with their own duties and cannot leave their posts. Du Yuanzhou, on the other hand, doesn't have many subordinates to protect him."

"And I happen to be sending an elder to accompany you there."

"In this way, Du Yuanzhou will have someone to look after him, and you can also use the City Lord's Mansion's banner to deter the Poison Wolf Gang. Your safety on the road should be assured." Zheng Tong's words were reasonable and well-founded. After thinking for a moment, Ye Li nodded in agreement: "Disciple understands."

The next morning, as dawn broke.

A caravan of dozens of people had already assembled, with carriages and horses lined up and a cacophony of voices filling the air.

At the head of the procession, a carriage stood quietly, its two sturdy horses snorting, looking quite spirited.

Beside the carriage shaft, Du Yuanzhou, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, though his face was tense and his eyes held a complex expression as he watched Ye Li slowly approach. Ye Li, still dressed in simple white, walked calmly to the carriage.

As if he hadn't noticed Du Yuanzhou's conflicted expression, he smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"Hey, Brother Du, long time no see! You're even more dashing than before!" He greeted him with a bright smile, his tone as familiar as that of an old friend. Du Yuanzhou's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something polite, but felt awkward, and finally just squeezed out two words: "Get in the car." Ye Li shrugged indifferently and gestured for Yang Shichang to proceed.

Elder Yang nodded slightly, and with a swift movement, he silently drifted into the carriage like a falling leaf, taking up a position near the door for easy observation and protection. "Elder Yang, thank you for your hard work on the journey."

Du Yuanzhou, being a scion of a prominent family, was impeccably courteous, bowing respectfully to Master Yang with clasped hands.

"Young Master Du, you're too kind. It's my duty," Master Yang said succinctly, his voice steady.

"Giddy up!" The coachman cracked his whip and gave a light shout, and the horse neighed.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a rumbling sound, and merged into the huge caravan, heading towards Yan City.

Inside the carriage, Ye Li appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but in reality, he was mentally rehearsing the martial arts techniques.

Although visualizing in the mind is not as effective as direct practice, it is worse than nothing.

Meanwhile, in a dark room at the headquarters of the Poison Wolf Gang.

Gang leader Zou Tu sat in the main seat, listening to his subordinates' reports with a gloomy expression.

"Chief, Ye Li has already left with the City Lord's caravan. Should we move out immediately?"

"Deploy them?" Zou Tu questioned, "Zheng Tong's men are currently blocking the entrance to the Poison Wolf Gang, just to prevent one of their members from leaving the city the day after tomorrow. Try deploying one of them."

Faced with the questioning, the elder of the Poison Wolf Gang lowered his head and remained silent.

"Hmph! The City Lord's Mansion?" Zou Tu's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he slammed his hand on the armrest: "You think you can rest easy by following the City Lord's Mansion?" An elder lowered his voice and said: "It seems that the gang leader intends to take action. I know some people in the underworld. They are skilled, have clean backgrounds, and are best at creating accidents."

"No, this is none of your business," Zou Tu said coldly. "I have my own plan to ensure that Ye Li cannot reach Yan City."

"Fellow villagers, life is difficult for everyone these days, I'm sure you all feel the same way!"

"Take Guangming West City for example. It's full of corrupt officials, exorbitant taxes, and the Poison Wolf Gang causing trouble. It's hardly an environment where you can live normally!" "If you're dissatisfied, let me explain the current situation."

"Feel free to ask me anything, whether it's matters of national importance or conflicts in the martial arts world; I have some knowledge of both!"

Seven days later, during the caravan's rest period.

Du Yuanzhou spoke loudly to the caravan, but everyone around him ignored him.

For the first two days, things were fine; people were willing to chime in because of the city lord's reputation as an apprentice, but they eventually became numb to it.

Beside the convoy, Ye Li propped his head up and looked at Du Yuanzhou, thinking to himself, "This guy really has boundless energy."

[Bard], blue entry!

Singing and reciting poems and musical pieces can comprehensively enhance physical fitness.

Depending on how widely the poem is sung, the degree of physical enhancement varies, with some reaching up to 50 times!

That sounds amazing?

However, popularity is something shared by all entries for the "Bard" entry.

In other words, if other bards have sung the same song, its power will be greatly reduced if you sing it again.

This term is not uncommon; there should be over a hundred people with it within the Xia Kingdom alone.

Each battle consumes a significant amount of "Singing Points," and since these points are shared, the effectiveness of the "Bard" trait is greatly reduced. If this trait weren't protected by copyright, its strength could even reach purple rank.

Besides chanting popular poems during battle, you can also accumulate your own "rage bar" by evoking resonance in others.

"Do we evoke resonance through testimony?"

Ye Li stared at Du Yuanzhou, who was giving a speech: "No, he probably just enjoys forensic examination."

"However, this method is still too immature. To evoke resonance, you can't just talk about it; you need to have something to show." Ye Li thought to himself. Ye Li, a former anchor, had a wealth of experience before this. He knew all too well how to make people's emotions fluctuate. At this moment, Du Yuanzhou was just a complete greenhorn in his eyes.

Silently shifting his gaze, Ye Li focused his attention on the panel:

Realm: "Late Stage of Body Tempering (1+2880/4000)"

During the seven days the caravan traveled, Ye Li's experience growth slowed considerably due to the lack of time for medicinal baths amidst the desolate wilderness. However, thanks to the medicinal baths he had taken over the past month, Ye Li was now only a short distance away from achieving perfection.

Ye Li now felt that with his current strength, an ordinary Perfected being would not be able to withstand a single punch from him.

"If I can refine my cultivation to perfection within a month, the Grand Competition should already be over... Never mind, I'd better not make any promises."

Thinking of the countless predecessors who had set an example, Ye Li silently dismissed the thought.

"But...why is it suddenly so quiet?"