After Wei Feng left, Lu Chang’sheng explained to Liang Yun, "The situation is dire—for most people, that’s bad news, but for so, it’s an opportunity. Those who get into the military camp early will have a much greater chance of promotion with the coming expansions than usual!"
"Right now, I bet there are plenty of eyes on these slots. We were able to get fifteen, thanks to Wei and the fact that I’m a ninth-grade scholar!"
When Lu Chang’sheng finished speaking, Liang Yun looked a little embarrassed.
Lu Chang’sheng comforted him, "In politics, you have to see the whole ga. If you don’t have the mindset to survey all the mountains, Mr. Liang, there’s no way to really take control!"
Liang Yun gave a bitter smile. "Don’t bother comforting —my abilities are what they are!"
Then he asked, "What do you want these slots for?"
"Scatter so seeds! Maybe they’ll be useful in the future!"
Lu Chang’sheng chuckled.
Just a mont ago, a thought popped into his head—if he turned the Martial Artist Council into sothing like the guilds from his previous life, what would happen?
All he’d have to do is put in so small early investnts, and the mbers of the council would go out and struggle on their own.
If they succeed, he gets a favor. The more people he helps, the more he gains.
Of course, he might run into so ingrates, but that’s the risk of investing—the investor’s eye for people gets tested. If he really picks a white-eyed wolf, that’s just his own lack of skill.
"Mr. Liang, what do you think—if our Martial Artist Council keeps going this way, what will it turn into?"
Liang Yun thought for a mont. "Maybe sothing like the Nujiang Gang?"
Lu Chang’sheng nodded, "The Nujiang Gang is about as big as a gang can get—any bigger, and you’d throw off the balance in Black Mountain Prefecture, bring trouble on yourself!"
"So I’d rather scatter the mbers out, turn them into individual units. When gathered, they’re a mighty dragon—apart, they’re stars spread across the sky!"
When Lu Chang’sheng explained his vision from his previous life about building a guild, Liang Yun was amazed, looking at him like he was so kind of genius.
Of course, that kind of structure definitely can’t be managed as easily as a typical gang, but Lu Chang’sheng is after longevity anyway—he doesn’t have to sweat the details.
The next day, he personally gathered all the council mbers and put the opportunity out there.
By evening, fifteen mbers had been chosen.
Lu Chang’sheng was surprised to see Zhao Hu among them.
The group ca out to see them off themselves.
"The military camp’s not what it used to be—lots of rivalry now. You all need to keep your heads down and act carefully!"
Lu Chang’sheng warned them.
"Thank you, Gang Leader!"
The group bowed together.
Everyone knew how rare this was, especially a chance to walk the path of a military official.
With all the prefectures in turmoil, as long as soone can make a na for himself in the military, his family’s days at the bottom are over.
Lu Chang’sheng watched Zhao Hu and the others leave, then went ho and focused on martial arts training.
His scholar’s role is really a cushy job with nothing much to do, so most of his ti is spent shuttling between the governnt office and Jixia Academy, and sotis he visits the dical hall or martial arts hall.
In a flash, half a year went by.
His dical technique officially reached mastery. He could handle any common illness with ease, and even tough cases weren’t a problem for him.
His natural talent for dicine let him extrapolate and figure out treatnt formulas just from various dicinal als.
Mastery of dicine also gave him a much deeper understanding of human ridians.
And that, in turn, broadened his knowledge of martial arts.
"Training in pile skills for martial arts actually damages the body to varying degrees—the higher the level, the greater the damage. So the dicinal als needed are more rare and complicated!"
"dicinal als are for repairing the damage from pile skill training, refueling the body, stimulating the ridians, and restoring stamina!"
"For , that ans higher-level pile skills aren’t always better!"
At the martial arts hall and Jixia Academy, people were working on their pile skills every day.
Lu Chang’sheng observed closely and found that the higher-level pile skills were all about explosive force.
Take the Divine Power Stake—for brutal fighting, it’s outstanding. Lots of nobles train in it and often unleash strength way beyond ordinary pile skills.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good fit for Lu Chang’sheng.
"No matter how much you recover, you’re still left with so injuries. When they pile up, it takes a toll on your lifespan. It’s just that people here can’t see their lifespan ticking down the way I can—so they ignore it."
So Lu Chang’sheng didn’t bother stressing about not being able to train in the Divine Power Stake anymore.
Before, he’d been hung up on it—now, there’s no ripple of emotion at all.
"If I want more power, I can make up for it with ’technique’!"
The ’techniques’ naturally an blade, spear, sword, and archery.
The next day, Lu Chang’sheng headed for Jixia Academy and found Guan Fu.
"Scholar Lu, here’s the academy’s martial arts manual!"
Lu Chang’sheng flipped through it. "I don’t see any True Qi Realm martial arts—is there so restriction on those here at the academy?"
"There is! Martial arts for the True Qi Realm are much rarer than pile skills. To get one, you have to pass the academy’s tests within nine years—then you can ask the dean for it!"
"For everyone, training at the Martial Artist Institute is nine years. After nine years, no matter what, you can’t stay—unless you’ve passed the tests, then you can continue advancing inside!"
Lu Chang’sheng nodded—he’d already figured all that out.
At the institute, there’s an assessnt every three years—three rounds total. The final goal is pile skill mastery.
Like Guan Fu said, once you pass, you can apply to learn True Qi martial arts.
Lu Chang’sheng got up to leave, and paused as he passed the training grounds.
Nobles were scattered about, practicing martial arts, while a few armored instructors coached them seriously.
Xu Zhuqing was there, too.
But she was off in a quiet corner, training spear technique with a long spear in her hands.
Soon, Guan Fu ca over, holding a martial arts manual—Hundred Battles Spear Technique.
Seeing Lu Chang’sheng watching, he said, "Miss Xu is training in the Hundred Battles Spear Technique, which is required for every student at the institute. It’s got a heavy killing edge and, in battle formations, gives a trendous advantage!"
The institute grooms martial officers, so the skills they pick are chosen with care.
"Miss Xu Zhuqing’s spear technique is close to mastery now, and her Divine Power Stake too. I’d guess she’ll be training in True Qi martial arts within a few years!"
Guan Fu gave an admiring nod.
"Impressive!" Lu Chang’sheng smiled, but wasn’t too concerned inwardly.
He’s playing the long ga—there’s no need to race anybody for a quick win.
He took the Hundred Battles Spear Technique into a quiet room and started reading carefully.
From then on, whenever he wasn’t training Flood Stake, he was working on the Hundred Battles Spear Technique.
If he hit sothing he couldn’t get, he’d go seek out an instructor at the institute for guidance.
The instructors weren’t thrilled, but with Lu Chang’sheng’s status, they didn’t say much and directly helped him out.
After enough visits, they told him to just co to the regular monthly class for Hundred Battles Spear Technique.
That way, he could learn right alongside the other nobles.
Half a month later, he checked his Light Curtain Panel—
"Hundred Battles Spear Technique: (Skill)"
"Entry requirent: 0.5 years (Entry)"
"Minor Achievent: 1.5 years (Minor Achievent)"
"Great Success: 3.8 years (Great Success)"
"Both spear and blade root bone are genius-level. So I’ll reach mastery in a little over three years! And that’s without going all out with my variables!"
Lu Chang’sheng was delighted.
"Once I’ve trained pile skills to their daily limit, any more is a waste—so I’ve got plenty of ti to work on other martial skills."
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