Suddenly, Zhan Bei took a step back. Just at that moment of confusion, he suddenly remembered Yuan Lei's words - "The artistic conception can make your martial skills more agile and more in harmony with the laws of the universe."
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and allowed himself to fully immerse in that wonderful feeling.
At that moment, he seemed to merge with the universe, feeling the force of the wind, the flow of the air, and even the swaying of the leaves in the distance.
When he opened his eyes again, his gaze had changed completely.
His eyes shone with brilliant light, as if they could perceive everything in the world.
"Wind, serve me!" Zhan Baide shouted, his legs suddenly pushing off the ground. His figure seemed to be floating erratically like a leaf in a strong wind. Each time he kicked, it seemed as if he could influence the surrounding wind, making the attacks of that dark figure sluggish and clumsy.
"Kid, you really have some skills. But unfortunately, you still have to die here today." The dark figure finished speaking, then his body suddenly surged forward again. This time, he no longer held back his strength; instead, he threw himself with all his might towards Wan Bei.
Zhan Bei let out a cold growl, his figure gliding through the night like a ghost. Each of his kicks was extremely precise, and the attacks of that dark shadow kept failing.
"You can't escape!" the dark figure roared, and its figure suddenly accelerated, rushing towards Zhanbei like a black lightning bolt.
However, just at that moment, Zhanbei suddenly stopped and turned around to face the dark figure.
"Zhang Yan, do you know a saying that goes 'The clouds follow the dragon, and the wind follows the tiger'?"
Zhang Yan thought that Zhan Bei was deliberately delaying the situation.
He didn't respond; he just kept attacking.
"Let you see my newly-learned move, Feng Hu Xiaohao!"
Zhan Baide shouted loudly, then his legs suddenly pushed off the ground, and his body shot towards the dark figure like an arrow leaving the bowstring.
At that moment, his speed seemed to reach its peak, even surpassing the speed of the wind. His legs, like two sharp blades, sliced through the air, creating a series of sharp whistling sounds.
At that moment, the dark figure's expression changed drastically. He had never expected that Zhanbei could display such astonishing strength and speed.
"No!" That man shouted in terror. However, his voice was completely drowned out by the fierce attack from the enemy.
There was a deafening "bang" sound. That tough body was kicked away like a rag by the warrior, crashing heavily onto the distant rocks.
His figure traced a parabolic path through the air, and finally, he collapsed onto the ground, lifeless and unknown.
Zhanbei stood still, panting heavily. His eyes were filled with exhaustion and determination.
Just then, Yuan Lei's figure suddenly appeared behind him.
As Yuan Lei arrived at the scene, he immediately saw Zhan Bei defeating Zhang Yan.
He looked at Zhanbei's exhausted yet determined figure, and a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes.
"Kid, you did a great job," Yuan Lei said.
Zhanbei nodded upon hearing this. He was well aware that there were still many things he needed to learn, but he also believed that as long as he kept working hard and continuously grasped the essence, he would eventually become a true strong person.
As the night deepened, Zhanbei and Yuan Lei returned to their residence together. They sat by the candlelight, silently enjoying this rare moment of tranquility and peace.
"Mr. Yuan, has Zhang Yan died?"
Zhanbei suddenly said.
Yuan Lei's gaze slightly darkened. He sighed softly and said to Zhanbei, "Yes, Zhang Yan's meridians have been completely damaged. His path as a warrior has come to an end. But this is his own fault. After all, in this world, every choice has its consequences."
When Zhanbei heard this, a complex expression crossed his face.
However, Zhanbei was not a person who was indecisive. How could he sympathize with someone who was planning to kill him in the dark?
"Master Yuan, if Zhang Yan dies, will the quota for Qingyan Town be gone?"
"Yes, if no warrior volunteers to go to Qingyan Town, it's likely that the town will no longer be eligible for this for a long time."
"By the way, I also found something from Zhang Yan."
Yuan Lei's voice interrupted Zhan Bei's deep thought. He handed over an ancient-looking box, which was engraved with intricate totems and exuded a mysterious aura.
Zhanbei, full of curiosity, took the box and gently opened it. A pill emitting a warm and lustrous glow came into view.
The surface of the elixir was shimmering with a faint ethereal glow, as if it contained some kind of life force.
"This is Xiaohuadan, an extremely precious healing potion that can quickly restore internal energy and nourish the body." Yuan Lei explained beside them, his eyes conveying his great respect for this potion.
When Zhanbei heard this, a hint of concealed excitement flashed across his eyes. He knew very well that in this world where strength is paramount, any resource that could enhance one's power was extremely valuable.
"Master Yuan, will there be any problems if I take this now?" Zhanbei's voice contained a hint of anticipation.
Yuan Lei smiled and nodded: "You just went through a fierce battle. Your internal qi has been completely depleted. Taking the Xiaodai Dan at this moment will yield the best results. Maybe it will even bring you unexpected gains."
Hearing Yuan Lei's affirmation, Zhan Bei didn't hesitate for a moment and swallowed the small Yaodan pill.
The elixir dissolved in his mouth, transforming into a warm current that rushed through his limbs and every pore of his body. Instantly, he felt an unprecedented force surging within him.
As the internal qi continued to condense, the martial crystal on Zhanbei's chest began to emit a dazzling light, as if a brilliant star was shining in the night sky. The light grew brighter and brighter until it reached its peak, and then gradually subsided.
"Congratulations, lad! You have successfully surpassed and become a first-class warrior!" Yuan Lei's voice was filled with joy and appreciation.
Zhanbei was ecstatic. He felt the surging power within him, as if the entire world was trembling beneath his feet.
However, after the joy had passed, a sense of doubt arose in his heart.
"Master Yuan, I haven't practiced any martial arts techniques. How could I have become a first-class warrior?" Zhan Bei's eyebrows slightly furrowed. He was well aware of the significance of martial arts techniques for warriors. Without the guidance of martial arts techniques, the cultivation of internal energy would become extremely difficult.
When Yuan Lei heard this, a mysterious smile appeared on his face: "Zhanbei, do you know that everything in the world has its own way? Just like how martial artists train. However, this little Re-Dragon Pill can only help you break through to the first level of a martial artist, but it cannot help you achieve further promotions."
Zhanbei nodded, indicating that he understood.
This night passed quickly and Zhanbei slept very soundly.
Tomorrow, we will set off for Shuofang Wudao College, the location of the Shuofang Martial Arts Academy, and the capital of the Shuofang Kingdom - Shangcheng City.