Chapter 7: Tomorrow, Leaving the City

The Azure Lord Eagle circled in the sky, its gaze sharp and sinister as it stared fixedly at its prey below.

Jiang Yan had no long-range attacks, and for the moment, he truly had no way to deal with the beast.

Time passed minute by minute. Jiang Yan realized that the Azure Lord Eagle’s endurance was indeed as formidable as recorded in textbooks—after one failed attempt, it refused to attack recklessly, adhering strictly to the principle of a single, decisive strike.

Textbooks had documented that the Azure Lord Eagle could circle the sky for three days and nights without rest; the so-called “eagle-wearing tactic” was derived from this creature.

“Tsk, bugs really aren’t that easy to find,” Jiang Yan thought helplessly. He had initially believed he could rely on the invincibility of [Heaven Rewards Diligence] to slowly grind down the wild monsters in the Battle Space, but he hadn’t expected these beasts to be so cunning, fully inheriting the habits of Fierce Beasts from the outside world.

“I need a movement-type Martial Skill, preferably one that allows temporary hovering in the air.”

With this thought, he exited the Battle Space and re-entered the Study Space.

[System Log Updated]

You diligently practiced “Basic Saber Technique,” Proficiency slightly increased, Physical Body slightly enhanced.

You diligently practiced “Basic Saber Technique,” Proficiency slightly increased, Physical Body slightly enhanced.

You diligently practiced “Basic Saber Technique,” Proficiency slightly increased, Physical Body slightly enhanced.

…

The daytime passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Yan checked his panel.

[Host]: Jiang Yan

[Realm]: Body Tempering Late Stage

[Martial Skills]: (Unranked) “Basic Saber Technique” – Perfection

(Yellow Grade Low) “Wild Bull Strength” – Mastery.

[Traits]: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Destined) Truth of Desperation (Blue) Haste (Blue)

In a single day, he had pushed “Basic Saber Technique” to Perfection, and with each practice session, his Physical Body had grown slightly stronger, loosening the constraints of the Body Tempering Late Stage Realm.

An astonishing speed.

“At this rate, getting into a top university won’t be a problem.”

The only thing troubling Jiang Yan now was the Azure Lord Eagle in the Battle Space. That creature was far too clever, refusing to engage him at all, so he couldn’t gain any combat rewards from it.

A movement-type Martial Skill was urgently needed.

Liu Hairen had a point: ordinary people, without education, would have no chance at the Martial Way.

Expensive Martial Skills and training equipment were only provided by schools; outside, they required substantial amounts of money.

Jiang Yan had no money, but a dangerous idea formed in his mind.

“Why not try the Wilderness? I’ve heard Wilderness Hunters earn extremely high rewards, though it’s admittedly dangerous.”

Jiang Yan was a man of action. He exited the Divine Martial Space and began searching online for related strategies.

Armor, maps, weapons—all this equipment needed to be purchased by Jiang Yan himself, as items from the Divine Martial Space couldn’t be brought into the real world.

In the evening, when Uncle Wang returned home, Jiang Yan mentioned his plan to leave the city.

Unsurprisingly, he met with firm opposition. Uncle Wang’s face flushed red with anger, his neck taut.

“The Wilderness is teeming with Fierce Beasts. How can a mere Body Tempering Martial Artist like you survive out there?”

“Uncle Wang, I can guarantee I won’t run into any accidents.”

“Fine. Since you’re so eager to hunt Fierce Beasts in the Wilderness, I’ll give you a chance.”

He led Jiang Yan to the rooftop.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse, and the pitch-black night cloaked Uncle Wang in an air of mystery. He stood tall and straight, his military decisiveness and solemnity filling the rooftop.

Wang Zhong’s expression turned grave as he spoke word by word, “I don’t want to raise you as a hothouse flower, but I also don’t want to watch you throw your life away for nothing.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Although my strength is far from what it once was, dealing with a kid like you is still more than enough.”

“If you can defeat me today, I’ll allow you to leave the city to hunt Fierce Beasts.”

With that, Uncle Wang’s Aura erupted abruptly. His body tensed like a drawn bowstring, radiating an unyielding and domineering presence from within. His eyes sharpened like a hawk’s, and a wave of Killing Intent Jiang Yan had never seen before spread from his body.

Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes. This was the first time he had seen Uncle Wang with such a frenzied Aura—completely different from the amiable uncle he usually knew.

This kind of presence could only be forged amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood. It naturally inspired awe and fear, as if it could suppress all evil and petty villains.

Jiang Yan didn’t idle either. He activated the refined Wild Bull Strength and charged toward Uncle Wang, a powerful surge of force erupting within him with a resounding roar.

His figure was swift as the wind. Under the enhancement of the 【Haste】 Trait, his speed increased by at least thirty percent. Not only that, even his movements were accelerated, far surpassing ordinary Body Tempering Late Stage Martial Artists.

This move had already reached the level of Body Tempering Perfection.

“Good lad!”

Wang Zhong offered praise without hesitation, but if this was all Jiang Yan had, he still couldn’t rest easy letting him leave Linjiang City.

His eyes focused, fingers clenched tightly, and his body bent slightly. In an instant, Wang Zhong transformed into a cannonball, launching forward with a sweeping hand aimed directly at Jiang Yan’s vital points.

Only by thoroughly subduing this kid could he dissuade him from leaving the city.

Clang!

Wang Zhong’s expression tightened as he sensed something off with the impact. His grip could shred even steel. Although he had held back slightly, Jiang Yan shouldn’t have emerged completely unscathed.

“Could it be his Aperture Opening Talent?”

Sharp intuition told Wang Zhong he could no longer afford to be greedy with his offense. He immediately made a decision, pushing off the ground with force and rapidly retreating backward.

In the spot he had just vacated, Jiang Yan threw a punch that sent tremors through the air.

Wang Zhong’s eyelids twitched as he cursed angrily, “You brat, you really went all out, huh?”

“Hahaha, in battle, one should give their all!”

Jiang Yan laughed heartily, his assault unrelenting as he continued to press toward the retreating Wang Zhong.

“Fine, then I’ll match you.”

Wang Zhong laughed heartily, no longer holding back. Instead of retreating further, he charged forward, meeting Jiang Yan head-on.

Boom!

Their fists collided but quickly separated, each testing the other.

“Huff… huff…”

Wang Zhong gasped heavily for breath.

In contrast, Jiang Yan appeared full of vigor, showing no signs of fatigue.

“Sigh… forget it. Uncle Wang is old. I shouldn’t hold back you young folks anymore.”

Even before the match had concluded, Wang Zhong surrendered first.

Without employing battlefield killing moves or unleashing his Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills, it seemed he had realized something mid-fight. He chose to let go, facing Jiang Yan—the son of his comrade—with acceptance.

Wang Zhong’s expression was complex. His eyes, flickering uncertainly in the darkness, glanced at Jiang Yan once more before he finally said nothing further.

There is a kind of love called letting go. Young people, after all, can’t be held back forever. Hadn’t he been the same when he chose to join the military back then?

Jiang Yan stood in place, watching Uncle Wang’s slightly hunched back disappear from sight. The soldier brimming with killing intent from moments ago seemed like nothing more than an illusion.

“I lost.”

Old Wang gave a self-deprecating smile, yet there was no sorrow in it; instead, his face bore a genuine grin.