103: Chapter 103 The Path of Hidden Strength

The news that Liehuo Hall Master Lie Fentian had colluded with the Demonic Sect, was annihilated that very night by the Imperial Guard in cooperation with the two martial arts halls, and was personally beheaded by Lin Tian in front of the county office, spread through the streets and alleys of Heishan City like thunder with wings at an astonishing speed.

Initially, it was shock, horror, and disbelief, which immediately turned into overwhelming discussion, lingering fear, and awe for the victors.

On street corners and in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about that thrilling night.

"Have you heard? The Liehuo Martial Arts Hall is gone! Hall Master Lie Fentian is dead!"

"More than just heard! My home is nearby; those shouts and flames scared the life out of me!"

"The Demonic Sect! Hall Master Lie Fentian actually colluded with the Demonic Sect! No wonder so many Second Grade Martial Artists suddenly appeared under his command!"

"Thanks to the Imperial Guard and the two halls, Qingfeng and Baiyun! Otherwise, if this Devil Head had gained power, wouldn't our Heishan City have been plunged into misery?"

"Do you know who killed Hall Master Lie Fentian?"

"Who? Could it be that Centurion Shen Lian took action personally?"

"No! It was that Lin Tian from Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall! Flag Officer Lin!"

"What?! Lin Tian?! Didn't he just..."

"It's absolutely true! My great-uncle's second nephew works at the county office and saw it with his own eyes! He said that Lin Tian punched a hole right through Hall Master Lie Fentian's chest! My goodness!"

"A Rank 3 Martial Artist under twenty?! And he killed Hall Master Lie Fentian?! This... this is truly the Martial Star descending to earth!"

Amazement, admiration, fear, curiosity... various emotions intertwined. Lin Tian's name once again resounded throughout the city in an even more dazzling and shocking way, his reputation even faintly showing signs of surpassing his Revered Master Chen Qingfeng, and even Centurion Shen Lian. After all, such a record at such a young age, and such a terrifying growth speed, had already exceeded the scope of ordinary people's understanding.

For the subsequent cleanup work, the Imperial Guard showed extremely high efficiency. Counting the spoils of war, screening prisoners, sealing the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and its closely affiliated industries, pacifying the implicated small and medium-sized families, and reorganizing the county office that had become slightly chaotic due to Magistrate Zhou Wenhai's downfall... everything was proceeding in an orderly manner under the command of Centurion Shen Lian.

After experiencing a night of blood and fire, Heishan City quickly restored its superficial order, but the sense of killing intent permeating the air and the quietly changed power structure had already been deeply imprinted.

On the afternoon of this day, Lin Tian was summoned to the backyard of the Jinyiwei Company Office, to Centurion Shen Lian's study.

The study was sparsely furnished, yet it possessed a natural air of majesty.

Centurion Shen Lian sat upright behind a large sandalwood desk, dressed in casual clothes, his aura composed and heavy, his gaze as sharp as usual, though there was a hint of faint fatigue between his brows after the great battle, as well as... a certain scrutiny and expectation.

"Subordinate Lin Tian greets you, My Lord." Lin Tian entered and bowed.

"No need for formalities, sit." Centurion Shen Lian pointed to the chair below, his gaze lingering on Lin Tian for a moment as if to see through him, then he spoke slowly, his tone flat yet unquestionable: "You have broken through to Rank 3."

It was not a question, but a statement.

Lin Tian knew that this could not be hidden from him, so he nodded calmly: "Yes, this subordinate was lucky; I only just broke through recently."

"Lucky?" The corners of Centurion Shen Lian's mouth curled up imperceptibly, and he shook his head. "To step into Rank 3 before reaching adulthood, and to kill the veteran Rank 3 Martial Artist Hall Master Lie Fentian in the border city of Heishan City—if this is all luck, then ninety-nine percent of the Martial Artists in the world should die of shame."

He paused, looking at Lin Tian, his eyes revealing undisguised appreciation, and even a hint of emotion: "Lin Tian, you are not yet twenty this year, are you?"

"Yes, this subordinate is nineteen this year." Lin Tian replied.

"Nineteen... Rank 3." Centurion Shen Lian tapped the table lightly, making a "tap, tap" sound. "Remarkable. Truly remarkable. Back in the day, I considered myself to have decent talent, yet I only entered Rank 3 at the age of twenty-five. You have already left your peers, and even many Seniors, far behind. Your future... is limitless."

"My Lord, you overpraise me; this subordinate is unworthy of such praise." Lin Tian remained humble. He knew that Centurion Shen Lian had summoned him here not just to offer praise.

"Overpraise?" Centurion Shen Lian waved his hand, his smile fading slightly, and his expression became solemn. "I never praise people lightly. You have such talent, such strength, and even more so, a decisive and ruthless Heart-Nature; you are a rare talent for our Imperial Guard. Now that the situation in Heishan City has just stabilized, it is a time when people are needed. I called you here today to ask you... what path do you want to take in the future?"

He looked at Lin Tian with burning eyes: "I will give you two paths. The first is to stay in the Imperial Guard. I can immediately promote you to Flag Officer, acting as the Deputy Centurion, in charge of half of the open guards in Heishan City, assisting in the affairs of the office, and monitoring all forces in the city. Power, status, and resources will all be tilted toward you. In time, when I am transferred or promoted, this Jinyiwei Company Office, and even the power of the entire Heishan City, will in all likelihood be taken over by you. By then, you will be the secret king of this Heishan City, and even the new Magistrate will have to bow his head to you. But accordingly, you will be entangled in mundane affairs and intrigues, your time for cultivation will inevitably be greatly reduced, and your progress on the Dao of martial arts will likely slow down."

He described the bright future of the first path, his tone flat, yet it possessed a heart-stirring power. To hold the power of a city, with the authority of life and death—this was a position countless people dreamed of.

Lin Tian listened quietly, his expression calm. The path of power was indeed tempting. But his will was firm, and as soon as Centurion Shen Lian had spoken, he had vaguely guessed there would be a choice. He pondered for a moment and asked: "May I ask, My Lord, what is the second path?"

"The second path," Centurion Shen Lian leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming deeper, "is to temporarily leave the Imperial Guard system—at least, to leave Heishan City. I can write a letter of recommendation for you to go and Cultivate at a true School."

His gaze became distant, as if piercing through the walls to look at a wider world: "A Rank 3 Martial Artist seems powerful and can dominate in Heishan City. But you must know that Rank 3 is merely the Peak of the 'Bright Energy' Dao. Above Bright Energy, there is 'Dark Energy', and above Dark Energy, there is the mysterious and unpredictable 'Transcendent' Realm! The path of martial arts is as vast as a sea of stars; Rank 3 is just a starting point!"

"However, breaking through from Bright Energy to Dark Energy, that is, stepping from Rank 3 to Rank 4, is by no means easy. This can no longer be achieved by simple accumulation of blood and Qi or the training of Moves. Cultivating Dark Energy requires comprehending a 'Fundamental Diagram', using the method of internal vision to guide blood and Qi to refine the internal organs, generate internal breath, and turn the force from bright to dark, allowing it to penetrate the body and injure others; it is extremely profound. And this 'Fundamental Diagram'..." A cold light flashed in Centurion Shen Lian's eyes, "is the very thing that Hall Master Lie Fentian was willing to collude with the Demonic Sect and act as a lackey to plot for! We Martial Artists, without the guidance of a Fundamental Diagram, no matter how high your talent or how strong your blood and Qi, it is difficult to glimpse the threshold of Dark Energy, and you will be trapped in the Rank 3 Realm for life!"

He flipped his wrist, and in his palm appeared a tattered piece of animal skin exuding an ancient aura; it was the remnant of the "Blood Flame True Qi Diagram" found on Hall Master Lie Fentian.

"Heishan City does not have a complete Fundamental Diagram. Even if it did, it is not something ordinary people can obtain. But those Schools with long legacies and deep foundations do!" Centurion Shen Lian put away the remnant diagram, his gaze falling back on Lin Tian, carrying a hint of expectation and solemnity. "The Sect I recommend is called 'Qixia Sect', one of the few major Schools in Yunzhou. The Sect holds several Fundamental Diagrams and cultivation methods that point directly to Dark Energy, and even higher Realms. If you can use this letter of recommendation to pass the assessment and become their disciple, you will have the Opportunity to access the Fundamental Diagram, continue to climb the Peak of martial arts, and truly step onto the path of the strong!"

He paused, handing the choice entirely back to him: "Two paths. One is to stay in Heishan City, holding power, with a bright future, but the path of martial arts may stagnate. The other is to go to a wider world to pursue deeper martial arts, but the path ahead is unknown, competition is fierce, and you must temporarily lay down everything before you. How to choose lies in your heart."

After hearing this, Lin Tian was silent for a moment. The study was so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat and breathing. Power and martial arts. One was a visible, tangible, and almost within-reach glorious future. The other was an ethereal path full of unknowns, risks, and opportunities, leading to a wider world. If it were an ordinary person, they might hesitate, struggle, and weigh the pros and cons. After all, the path of power described by Centurion Shen Lian was truly too tempting. To hold the power of a city, with the authority of life and death, was the destination countless Martial Artists pursued their whole lives. Moreover, he was still so young; in the future, within the Imperial Guard system, he might not necessarily fail to reach higher heights.

However, Lin Tian had almost no hesitation. He raised his head, his gaze clear and firm, cupped his fists toward Centurion Shen Lian, and said in a deep voice: "My Lord, this subordinate... chooses the second path. This subordinate wishes to pursue the Dao of martial arts."

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear and decisive.

A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in Centurion Shen Lian's eyes; it seemed he had not expected Lin Tian to make a choice so quickly and without hesitation. He gazed at Lin Tian and said slowly: "Lin Tian, have you thought it through clearly? I am only giving you a recommendation quota; whether you can pass the entrance assessment of the Qixia Sect remains an unknown. Even if you enter the Sect, geniuses gather within, and competition is cruel; whether you can obtain the Fundamental Diagram and whether you can Revered Master Dark Energy is even harder to predict. But staying in Heishan City, with your current achievements and talent, my position will sooner or later be yours. This promise is by no means empty words."

He emphasized the differences and risks of the two paths again, seemingly wanting to see if Lin Tian was truly determined.

A calm smile appeared on Lin Tian's face, and he cupped his hands again, his tone still not shaken in the slightest: "This subordinate is deeply grateful for your great kindness and patronage, My Lord. But this subordinate's heart lies in the Dao of martial arts. Although power is good, it is not what I seek. Even if the road ahead is fraught with dangers, this subordinate is willing to try. Please, My Lord, grant this."

What a joke? He had the Proficiency System! Any martial art, no matter how obscure or profound, as long as he could Cultivate it and practice it over and over, he could stack up the proficiency and eventually Revered Master its essence! No matter how hard the Fundamental Diagram was to comprehend, could it be harder than "Four Elements in One"? Could it be harder than "Wind-Facing Slash" from entry to proficiency to Major Achievement? For him, perhaps it just required more time and sweat! With this reliance, not pursuing a higher martial arts Realm, but instead being trapped in a city and playing with power, would be a true waste of a heaven-sent gift, failing this Heaven-Defying Opportunity! As for competition? Risks? When had the path of martial arts ever lacked these? He, Lin Tian, had walked this path all along; when had he ever been afraid?

Looking at the unquestionable firmness in Lin Tian's eyes and the sharp glint that faintly shone through, belonging to a true seeker of the Dao, Centurion Shen Lian was silent for a long time. Finally, he nodded slowly, and a genuine smile, filled with gratification and relief, appeared on his face.

"Good! Good! A good 'heart in the Dao of martial arts'!" Centurion Shen Lian said the word 'good' three times, the look of appreciation in his eyes becoming even stronger. "I truly did not misjudge you! If you had really chosen the first path, although it could ensure the temporary stability of Heishan City, for you, it might truly have been casting pearls before swine, a dragon trapped in shallow waters. This world is very large, and Heishan City... is too small."

He said no more, reached into the desk drawer, and took out a pre-prepared black envelope sealed with wax. On the envelope, a faint seven-colored rosy cloud pattern was embroidered with silver thread, looking extraordinary.

"This is a letter of recommendation written by my own hand; you may take it to the 'Qixia Sect' in Yunzhou. The letter contains a brief description of your background, experience, and achievements, as well as my seal. Every three years, at the time of the Autumn Equinox, the Qixia Sect opens its gates wide to recruit disciples. There are three months until the next opening. You must arrive at Qixia Mountain in Yunzhou within this time limit. Whether you can pass the assessment and become a disciple depends on your own fortune."

Centurion Shen Lian handed the envelope to Lin Tian, his tone solemn: "Remember, leaving the Imperial Guard is only temporary. If one day you achieve success at the Qixia Sect, or feel the time is right, you can always use this letter, or come directly to see me, to return to the Imperial Guard sequence. By then, the world will surely be even broader."

Lin Tian took the heavy envelope with both hands; it felt slightly cool to the touch, and he seemed to be able to feel the expectations contained within and the Opportunity leading to a new world.

He bowed again and said solemnly: "This subordinate thanks you, My Lord, for your fulfillment! I will certainly not disappoint your expectations!"

"Go. Handle the trivial matters in Heishan City and say goodbye to your Family, friends, and teachers. Depart within a month." Centurion Shen Lian waved his hand, sat back in his chair, and closed his eyes, as if he had expended a lot of energy.

Lin Tian said no more, carefully put away the letter of recommendation, bowed to Centurion Shen Lian's back once more, then turned and gently exited the study.

The door closed, separating the inside from the outside. Inside the study, Centurion Shen Lian slowly opened his eyes, looking at the sunlight gradually slanting westward outside the window. The expression in his eyes was complex, finally turning into an almost inaudible sigh and a hint of faint expectation.

"Qixia Sect... A true Dragon entering the sea—will he remain hidden in the abyss, or will he soar into the sky? Lin Tian, do not let me down..."