EFB Chapter 56: Thunderclap Minor Success, Stepping into the Corpse
Chapter 56: Thunderclap Minor Success, Stepping into the Corpse
Wang Chen's appearance directly completed the remaining progress of the Thunderclap Saber Technique, which was a pleasant surprise.
Wu He first went out of the city to dispose of the corpses, and then chose to use the Lesser Mastery of Knife Technique.
[Martial Arts Skill Already Received in Advance: Minor Mastery of Thunderclap Saber Technique]
[His body moved with the blade, his momentum like thunder; a single strike, and a corpse lay fallen a hundred paces away.]
[Next Stage Advancement: Mastery of the Thunderclap Blade Technique]
The blade transformed into a thunderous python, splitting the earth and parting the waves, sweeping away all evil.
It is infused with the essence of the Rolling Blade Technique.
A moment later, Wu He regained his senses and drew the Plum Blossom Knife from his waist.
As his qi and blood surged, he felt sparks flying from his nose. When he swung his sword down, his whole body was stinging, and the light in front of him twisted and rippled.
Whoosh!
The blade flashed with a sharp, cold light, stretching several meters in front of him in an instant, whistling sharply through the air, and a piece of granite rock was cleaved in two diagonally, as easily as a knife cutting tofu, destroying everything in its path.
Looking around and then back, a shallow ditch can be seen a hundred paces behind.
This single strike allowed him to instantly advance such a great distance!
Wu He was slightly out of breath, but his eyes were shining.
Xiao Cheng's Thunderclap Saber Technique is essentially a combination of footwork and saber techniques, allowing for a sudden attack from a distance of 100 paces. It still follows the explosive approach of killing with a single blow.
Such power is truly remarkable.
However, Wu He was then subjected to a series of crackling sounds, and the aching and stinging sensation made him grimace.
"The advance is fast, but the force of that instantaneous forward movement puts enormous pressure on the body."
"If I hadn't already reached the Bone Strengthening stage, that last strike would have broken several of my bones."
His mind cleared, and for the first time he understood what Li Bo had said: whatever realm you are in, practice martial arts of that realm; being too strong will damage your foundation.
"Go back!"
……
Returning to the Desire Immortal Pavilion at night, they were surprised to see another guest leaving Li Bo's room.
He was a middle-aged man dressed in black and silver armor, with a short beard, a sallow complexion, and eyes as sharp as a peregrine falcon's.
Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Judging from his armor, Wu He could tell that he was a commander of the Imperial Guard.
"Brother Qiao, this is Wu He, Li's adopted son."
"Xiao Wu, this is General Qiao of the Tiger Swift Army."
Li Bo explained from the side.
"General Qiao."
Wu He clasped his hands in a salute, while the middle-aged man named Qiao Gu nodded slightly, looked him up and down, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"With his tiger bones just beginning to grow and his aura deep and steady, he has already reached the Strong Bone Realm at such a young age, making him a promising talent."
After Qiao Gu finished speaking, Li Bo looked at him with a hint of suspicion, and then realized that Wu He's posture had changed slightly and his aura was several times heavier than before, which clearly meant that he had made some progress in his Tiger Walking Technique.
But this has only been a day!
Li Bo remembered that he had just given him the cultivation method last night. How could he have directly refined tiger bones in just over ten hours?
Even back then, it took him more than three months to go from the flesh-refining stage to the bone-strengthening stage.
Li Bo pursed his lips, asking incredulously, "Little Wu, did you force yourself to advance by taking medication?"
Wu He shook his head and laughed, "No, Tiger Walking Technique is very suitable for my physique, and I find it quite easy to practice."
"Hey, Brother Li."
Qiao Gu raised his hand and said calmly, "Your son's aura is so steady, how could he be a mediocre person who only knows how to take medicine?"
Upon hearing this, Li Bo realized that he had misspoke, but this only deepened his shock.
He had never even heard of anyone who could advance to the Strong Bone Realm in a single day through cultivation alone, without taking any medicine.
"Brother, you're blessed to have such a godson at your age."
Qiao Gu walked past the two men, put his hands behind his back, and sighed, "Boy, do your best tomorrow. My Tiger Swift Army is in dire need of a fierce general."
"General Qiao, please take care."
Wu He saw him off, and when he returned, he saw Li Bo still standing there in disbelief. He grinned and said, "Godfather, don't overthink it. Isn't it a good thing that I'm promoted so quickly?"
Li Bo's breathing became heavy, and he could only nod and say, "Very well, new talents emerge in every generation."
"Xiao Wu, there has been some change in your situation."
"change?"
Li Bo waved his hand, signaling him to go back to his room for a detailed discussion.
In the candlelight.
He held his teacup and said slowly, "I originally intended to ask Zhang Yongde to let you enter the Palace Guard and serve under the Emperor."
"But General Qiao just told me that Zhang Yongde retired due to illness five days ago, and the current commander of the palace guards is Zhao Kuangyin."
"So I changed your plans. Go to the Tiger Swift Army of the Personal Guard. General Qiao and I are old acquaintances. You won't suffer if you follow him."
Upon hearing this, Wu He felt relieved and nodded, saying, "That's fine, I'll follow my godfather's arrangements."
Whether it's the Palace Guard or the Imperial Guard, as long as they are officers of the Imperial Guard, it's fine.
Firstly, it allows one to access more advanced martial arts techniques; secondly, having a prestigious status makes anyone who wants to target one think twice.
However, Li Bo's subsequent words made his expression quite serious.
"Zhang Yongde was dismissed by the sage."
Li Bo put down his teacup and lowered his voice: "General Qiao said that the Emperor is seriously ill and unlikely to recover. He wants to lead the army on a northern expedition before his death to recover the sixteen prefectures including Youyun and achieve great things."
"Zhang Yongde had previously been rumored to be plotting to usurp the throne, which aroused the emperor's suspicion, so he replaced him with the Commander of the Palace Guards."
"Zhao Kuangyin is young and vigorous, and can serve as the vanguard of the Northern Expedition. Xiongzhou, where we are located, is the starting point."
"The Tiger Swift Army, which has recently been stationed in Xiongzhou, is one of the vanguard. If you can get in, it will be a good opportunity to make a name for yourself."
Northern Expedition.
To recover lost territory.
Wu He noticed that as Li Bo spoke, there was still a glint in his eyes, a rare sign of emotional fluctuation in him.
It's probably because they're lamenting the failure of the Northern Expedition a few years ago.
"I will do my best," Wu He replied in a deep voice.
……
The following day, at the Imperial Guard Camp.
Today is the martial arts competition, and the Imperial Guards have set up nearly a hundred competition venues of varying sizes in the wilderness.
On the summit of a small, towering hill standing in the wilderness, there were several armchairs, with imperial guards constantly stationed around it.
A moment later, several figures sat down in the armchairs. The three in the center were Zhao Guangyi, Qiao Gu, and an elderly man in palace robes with a ruddy complexion and a kind smile.
"Eunuch Meng, please forgive the humble surroundings," Zhao Guangyi said, turning slightly to the side.
Meng Changfu smiled warmly and said, "Lord Zhao, you are too kind. My purpose in coming here is only to see the fine men of the army. Such trivial matters are of no importance."
"I deeply admire Eunuch Meng's noble character and integrity."
"hehe."
Meng Changfu, the chief inspector, smiled but did not reply. He then looked down over the entire competition area and said leisurely, "It's a pity that there are quite a few who have given up in Xiongzhou. They are afraid before the battle even begins. This is not the style of the Zhenguan Army."
He was referring to the arena below, where many people had chosen to concede defeat and forfeit.
The implications are self-evident.
Zhao Guangyi remained silent, while Qiao Gu, standing beside him, said slowly, "Lord Zhao's pre-match draw has given some people an opportunity to manipulate things. It's inappropriate, inappropriate."
"If you think it's inappropriate, keep it to yourself. You've only just been appointed commander and you dare to boss me around?"
"General Zhao is truly arbitrary; does he intend to establish a one-man rule here?"
"Oh, that little fellow looks familiar, Mrs. Du. I remember he's your younger brother, isn't he?"
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly tense, Meng Changfu, who was in the middle, interrupted and changed the subject, glancing at a certain arena below.
Du Mei, who was standing next to her, was flattered by being suddenly mentioned. She quickly stood up and said with a light laugh, "That's right, Xiao Lian also wants to improve."
"Good, that's ambitious."
"You flatter me. I've always been like this since I was little..."
Du Mei was about to boast when her boasting came to an abrupt halt as someone stepped onto the stage below.
"On the Jia Shen Arena, number seventeen, the two combatants are Du Jianlian, the head of Waqiao Camp, and Wu He, the head of Waqiao Camp!"