Set a goal, and the system takes over the body.

The atmosphere at the scene instantly became tense.

Especially the wealthy merchants, their faces turned pale.

They were wealthy, but their fighting power relied entirely on hired guards.

When it really comes down to risking their lives, it's another matter whether the guards are willing to fight to the death.

Moreover, Qin Heilong is a bandit leader in the Minggu Realm, with countless lives on his hands. Just hearing his name is enough to scare away many people.

If they want to keep the nurses in the future, they might have to raise the price several times over.

"What kind of mess is this! We paid money hoping for peace of mind, but now we have to spend even more money to save our lives."

Some people sighed and looked full of regret.

"Should we still suppress these bandits?"

"I will report the news of the prefect's murder to the court as soon as possible. The court will then send a new prefect to take over. Everything will be decided after the new prefect arrives."

The Assistant Magistrate began to speak.

"Everyone, please leave."

After leaving the government office and returning to the martial arts school, Qi Xiuyuan had barely settled in when someone came knocking on his door.

It was the steward of the Zhang family, who were in the grain business in the city. He sent a letter asking the Qingshan Martial Arts School to send someone to the mansion to help protect the safety of the whole family, offering three times the usual reward.

Qi Xiuyuan made a guess.

Master Zhang's steward must have already visited several other martial arts schools, and offered even higher prices.

But at this critical juncture, other merchants have probably already contacted the major martial arts schools, and these schools are unable to send enough people.

Master Zhang had no choice but to send a letter to the Qingshan Martial Arts School and offer a price that was considerably lower than expected.

The current Aoyama Martial Arts School.

Although it may still retain the title of a first-class martial arts school, in the eyes of the merchants of Tianfu City, it has long been regarded as a second-rate martial arts school.

Qi Xiuyuan handed this matter over directly to Xu Yi.

Let him take his official disciples with him.

"Fortunately, Xu Yi broke through to the Inner Strength Realm, otherwise it would have been really difficult to take on this kind of guard job."

With the formal disciples sent out, Qi Xiuyuan took over the task of teaching the unregistered disciples.

On the training ground, the sun rose higher and higher, making people's backs feel hot.

A dozen or so teenagers stood in rows, practicing the Five Elements Stance Technique following Qi Xiuyuan's commands.

"Bend your knees and lower your hips, making sure your knees don't go past your toes. Hold your hands loosely in front of your lower abdomen, relax your waist and back, and let them drop downwards, as if a weight is hanging from your waist..."

Qi Xiuyuan walked back and forth in the line with his hands behind his back, correcting the posture of each person.

"Don't tense up. Remember, you're practicing a dynamic stance, not a static one. Lower your waist by half an inch, straighten your back, as if you're supporting a stone slab. Don't let your waist sag. Place your hands on your knees and hold your breath..."

"Practice this move carefully. It can tear the adhesions in your fascia. You should feel soreness. Grit your teeth and bear it. Once you get through it, you will feel the flow of qi and blood more easily."

Several disciples in the group, who had been with the group for a while, clearly showed their reluctance.

After all, it wasn't a secret in the martial arts school that Qi Xiuyuan hadn't been able to sense his Qi and blood for ten years.

A disciple dressed in gray couldn't help but purse his lips and mutter under his breath.

"Senior Brother, what you're saying...is it really true?"

Although he spoke softly, several people around him heard him. Although they didn't say anything, the suspicion in their eyes was undisguised.

Just as Qi Xiuyuan was about to speak, Qu Jiuge's face suddenly turned bright red, sweat poured down her forehead, and her muscles trembled slightly, as if she were enduring great pain.

Suddenly, he let out a loud, satisfying shout.

"Oh!!"

All eyes immediately turned to that direction.

"This is... sensing the flow of qi and blood?"

"No way? He just came to become an apprentice yesterday, and today he only drank a bowl of Qi and Blood Strengthening Soup and practiced standing meditation all morning, and he's already done it? What kind of monster is this?!"

"Wow...really? That's way too fast!"

The disciples were all dumbfounded, their eyes filled with astonishment and envy.

Qu Jiuge let out a long breath, slowly raised her head, and looked at Qi Xiuyuan with bright eyes.

"Senior Brother, thank you for your guidance!"

"I did as you said just now, and suddenly I felt a surge of heat within my body, flowing through my muscles and bones. I think I'm sensing the flow of Qi and blood, right?"

He looked at Qi Xiuyuan with anticipation.

Qi Xiuyuan nodded slightly, a smile on his face.

Qu Jiuge, with her swift movement, is definitely the protagonist template!

Fourteen years old!

Superior physical constitution!

Both parents are dead!

And she brought her younger sister along!

With so many labels, he's definitely the protagonist destined for greatness.

We can only befriend others, not antagonize them.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Qu. From today onwards, you are a formal disciple of Qingshan Martial Arts School. Tomorrow, I will formally teach you the Five Animal Fist. Once you have mastered the form, I will teach you the killing techniques," Qi Xiuyuan said with a smile.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Qu Jiuge bowed deeply in excitement.

When the other disciples looked at Qi Xiuyuan again, the doubt in their eyes vanished instantly, replaced by complete trust. They all focused their minds and earnestly followed Qi Xiuyuan's teachings in cultivation.

"Junior Brother Qu, come with me."

Qi Xiuyuan shouted and turned to walk to the other side of the training ground.

Qu Jiuge quickly responded and followed along with anticipation in her eyes.

In the backyard of the martial arts school, a patch of shade was provided under an old locust tree, but unfortunately there was no wind, and it was still quite hot.

Qi Xiuyuan stopped and looked at Qu Jiuge, who was standing in front of him with a face full of expectation.

"Set goals to increase Qu Jiuge's sense of belonging to the martial arts school!"

[Target detected: Increase Qu Jiuge's sense of belonging to the martial arts school]

[Method 1: Preach and teach, use both kindness and strictness, promise benefits, and allow him to bring his sister to live at the martial arts school. This can greatly increase Qu Jiuge's sense of belonging to the school.]

[Method 2: Offering a large amount of cultivation resources as a reward can significantly increase Qu Jiuge's sense of belonging to the martial arts school.]

Please select a method to complete the objective.

"Is that so? Obviously, method one is more suitable. Qingshan Martial Arts School can't afford to reward him with a lot of resources right now. Solving his worries is the best choice."

Choose Method One!

[The system has taken over the body and is beginning to enhance Qu Jiuge's sense of belonging to the martial arts school!]

Qi Xiuyuan's body was instantly taken over by the system, and he looked at Qu Jiuge with a solemn expression.

"The path of martial arts is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Countless predecessors have proven this with their own experiences. I hope you will keep this in mind and not repeat the mistakes they made."

Qu Jiuge quickly straightened her back and nodded emphatically.

"Yes, Senior Brother, I will remember it!"

Qi Xiuyuan nodded and continued, "You have excellent physical attributes and good talent. Martial arts are very suitable for you. As long as you are willing to work hard, it will be no problem for you to reach the Minggu Realm and become a master in your field."

"It's not impossible that he might even break through to the Minggu Realm in the future and become a Core Formation Realm expert, influencing an entire province with his own power."

Qu Jiuge felt a surge of warmth in his heart upon hearing this, but then scratched his head a little shyly: "Senior Brother, I... I don't quite understand the division of martial arts realms yet. Could you explain it to me first?"

Qi Xiuyuan nodded: "The martial arts realm begins with sensing qi and blood. Once you've entered the initial qi and blood realm, you can be considered a formal martial artist."

"The Qi and Blood Realm, also known as the Ming Jin Realm, trains the skin, flesh, tendons and bones. Every punch and kick relies on the opening and closing of tendons and bones and the exertion of Qi and blood. It is fierce and direct. When it hits a person, it will tear the skin and flesh, break the bones and tendons, and injure the external body."

"As long as a martial artist in the Qi and Blood Realm is willing to work hard and supplement their training with pills and herbal soups, even if their aptitude is average, they can still achieve perfection through persistent effort."

"Therefore, this realm requires not only comprehension but also extremely high levels of elixirs and nutritional supplements. If one's nutrition is inadequate and one insists on accelerating cultivation, it will only deplete one's body and damage one's foundation."

Upon hearing this, Qu Jiuge's face clearly showed some difficulty, her head unconsciously lowered, and her hands hanging at her sides quietly clenched.

It was already difficult enough for him to raise enough money for tuition; where would he find the extra money to buy elixirs to nourish his body?

Is the path of martial arts truly not for the poor?

Unwilling!