New Martial Arts

There were a lot of things that Jihoon learned by talking with the chief.

First, the Ravestone Kingdom, which is part of the Four Pillar Alliance is recruiting soldiers to fight at the frontlines, and people like him are especially sought after because he was practically guaranteed to become a cultivator or to be more precise have the qualification of one.

Apparently, people who reach the Innate Grandmaster realm are basically guaranteed to have the qualification to cultivate whereas First Rate Warriors have a one-tenth of a chance to be able to cultivate. It is generally believed that the younger the person reaches the realm the higher the chances are of awakening cultivation qualifications.

Secondly, the qualification is having a Dantian, which is the cultivation organ responsible for storing and refining energy. It is said that by strengthening the body's latent potential a Dantian is formed.

He was also told that there are some people who are already born with a Dantian. These were the real monsters. Even without training, their bodies would naturally be as strong as a First Rate Warrior. Maybe even stronger.

And if they trained in cultivation?

They would be demons on the battlefield. Imagine meeting a twenty-year-old decimating Innate Grandmaster thrice his age with absolute ease.

Lost in thoughts kept walking towards the barracks.

The strength of a Cultivator is awfully similar to a Hunter. Isn't a newly awakened Hunter also as strong as a First Rate Martial Artist?

And a Low F Rank Hunter is probably as strong if not stronger than an Innate Grandmaster.

However… to start their training in their childhood… they should have more than a decade of experience even if they start at 6. A Hunter normally awakens at the beginning of their 18th year alive.

Imagine having a more than ten-year advantage… scary… Wang Jun said the first realm is called Qi Gathering Realm, I wonder if they are done with it at 18? How strong would they be?

However, Jihoon's thoughts were interrupted as he arrived in front of a building.

The barracks consisted of multiple buildings. There was an inside and outside training hall, a cafeteria, and an administrative office. Officially there was no sleeping place for guards here since the village was small and the guards could simply sleep at home.

However, there was a small area with tents where some guards slept either as punishment for being late or on their own accord.

Jihoon went inside the administrative building and walked by the outside training hall where a couple of guards were training right now.

Inside the building, Wang Jie was pacing beside a table with a couple of books wrapped in leather.

Upon seeing Jihoon his eyes light up before they slightly darkened as he remembered something.

He bowed and slowly said,

"My great uncle… he did not… right?"

Wan Jie said with uncertainty.

Hearing and seeing Wang Jie acting like this, Jihoon broke out into laughter.

"There is no need to worry, I told him we came to an agreement."

Wang Jie visibly relaxed at this before quickly moving on.

"Ah! Yes! Here are six Martial Arts, three are from our family while the other three are from the guards."

Jihoon looked at each book one by one. Starting from the breathing techniques.

Slow Turtle Breathing:

Second Grade Breathing Technique

Focusing on strengthening the muscles and skin while enhancing blood.

This was the guard's breathing technique. Next was the Wangs one.

Floating breath:

Second Grade Breathing Technique

Focusing on improving speed and coordination while enhancing blood.

Jihoon noticed that breathing techniques all focused on enhancing blood. However, it made sense since blood was like the 'energy' Martial Artist use.

While they strengthen the whole body they mainly focus on specific parts. At least the low-ranking ones, he did not know how it would be with Innate Grandmaster techniques.

He then looked at the guards next Martial Arts. Which were also second-grade techniques.

Thrusting Snake:

Second-Grade Spear Technique

A thrusting technique that allows for a fast stabbing motion like a snake.

Next was something he hadn't seen before.

Gliding Steps:

Second Grade Movement Technique

A Technique that allows fast and smooth movement.

Even though these Techniques looked simple, they were actually not that bad. So Jihoon wondered how simple villagers acquired these.

"Brother Jie, how did you get these Martial Arts? Even though they seem simple, they are not bad and easy to understand."

Jihoon, still playing the strong young master of an unknown family, asked with confusion.

Wang Jie, almost expecting this question, immediately answered.

"It may not be that well known in bigger cities and towns but for the last couple of years bandit activities have not only risen but also have become more organized."

"However, that was not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is the increase in strength of each bandit. From the information we received the majority of bandits may have begun Martial Arts training."

Wang Jie's eyes suddenly became a lot more serious.

"This incentivized the Kingdom to disrupt Martial Arts that normally only guards from cities and towns use. Usually we would have to rely on techniques passed down inside the village. Now almost every village uses the same Martial Art."

"The only condition is to have a Veteran from the Ravenstone Army as a village chief."

"This is also the reason why my great uncle became the village chief five years ago and replaced the old one."

Jihoon listened to everything as Wang Jie explained everything to him.

Hmm… So normally bandits don't use Martial Arts? So how did I meet five-second rates? Also, the Iron Draw technique is not bad… that previous village chief… shouldn't be a problem right?

How did that proverb go again? The friend of my enemy is my enemy too or something like that…

Anyway.

I need the Wang family here…nobody can doubt my identity here, especially after the reaction of the bandits.

To make sure, Jihoon asked Wang Jie directly.

"Brother Jie…"

He said seriously.

"The previous village chief… he…?"

Understanding what Jihoon was hinting at Wang Jie answered in the same serious tone.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother."

He continued in a sad tone but Jihoon could see that he was being sarcastic.

"The previous chief…hah he was killed by the bandits."

Good…

"Ah, what a shame…"

Jihoon answers with the same tone before quickly changing the topic.

"Ah now that I remember… before I came here I was ambushed by five Second Rate bandits inside the Emerald Veil Forest."

Wang Jie's eyes widened in shock, not because he wondered how Jihoon defeated them, no, that was expected but rather that there are so many strong bandits outside.

After all, inside the guards they only had 10 Second Rate Warriors with one First Rate. Yet the bandits had at least five just roaming around? No, something was not right…

"This is… weird. The bandits should not be that strong, at least not the ones that roam around."

His serious face returned. One that was worthy of being a Vice-Captain.

"I need to report this to the village chief. Please look through Wang's Martial Arts in the meantime."

He bowed deeply till his body was parallel to the ground and left quickly.

Hmm looks like there is more to it than I thought…

However, Jihoon did not dwell on things that did not matter right now and looked at the rest of the books and what he saw shocked him slightly.

Royal Swordsmanship: Part 1: Stab

First Rate Sword Technique

Designed for the Elites from the Ravenstone Army.

Royal Swordsmanship: Part 2: Slash

Designed for the Elites from the Ravenstone Army.

This old man…

Jihoon smiled slightly.

Looks like he wasn't just some war veteran…I made the right decision by befriending the Wang family. Now that I think about it… Do martial Families have even better Martial Arts?

Is this why Wang Jie is so obsessed with Martial Arts?

Suddenly everything made sense and immediately an idea sprang into Jihoons mind.

No… I need to be sure first… but if it works…

He whistled before moving on and taking the books with him.

It was time to train.

Jihoon first started with the Breathing Techniques, however even after training both for a couple of hours nothing changed except that his skin got a little bit harder.

It makes sense since speed and precision are my strong points it wouldn't make sense to improve there.

He quickly discarded Wang's breathing technique and focused on the Slow Turtle Technique.

After another hour in Jihoon noticed another minuscule improvement but he stopped since he knew second-grade techniques were not worth his time. He just wanted to test if he could still improve.

It looks like I can optimize my weaknesses but second-grade breathing techniques are not worth it, I should find a first-grade one… No an Innate one, that way I could come in contact with Cultivators earlier.

Maybe I should create one myself?

Jihoon knew he should focus on finding Cultivators and their techniques but he could not help and optimize his own strength especially since he knew how important it is to be stronger early on.

It would be even more important without any resources. After all, dungeon raiding would be a lot easier if he was stronger than normal F Ranks.

He also did not know if Qi would be compatible with Mana but since they both used different organs he hoped that it would work.

However the biggest reason why he did not move onto the next town and immediately search for Cultivators was caution.

He did not want to be seen as an Invader again. He needed an identity and friends.

He also did not know how strong Cultivators were, what if he met one and got killed immediately? So he needed more information.

However, he stopped himself from thinking about all these things and moved on to Royal Swordsmanship.