Martial research master

The guard looked at Long Tao and started to analyze his opponent. He was a Qi general level 1 practitioner and had the experience of fighting in many regions for the military before his brother used his connection to get him allocated into the royal guards. He was thankful to his brother for this and would have to take action in his support. But the opponent in front was special. The rumors about the new vice-general being a Qi master was true. But the reason for him getting the position was because of his insane strength. The news was that Lin Bao, the former vice-general died in his hands.

Being in the royal guard for such a long time didn't allow him to back off once the stage is set. He had to proceed no matter the consequences of doing so. "Then I would like to invite the vice-general for a fight. I hope you will care to follow me outside; we shouldn't ruin this location." Long Tao followed him, so did the black-buck squad. The royal guard was the pillar of confidence for these people. All they could do now was to hold back and see how the situation progresses. The fight needs to be won to establish their status.

The two people stood confronting each other. The first challenge was the general fistfight. A sudden attack arrived before Long Tao. How could he say no to that? He replied in kind. The fight continued. The Qi general had a little bit of advantage at first, but as the fight progressed the scale began to tip-off from their place. The fight shifted to being in favor of Long Tao, finally reaching a one-man show. A punch in the chest pushed back the man to a distance, making him spill blood from his mouth. He was surprised by the bout. He had given the fight his all, but Long Tao seemed to be playing. Even his breathing was stable.

He had made a difficult opponent this time. The royal guard decided to use his weapon. The weapon was a saber. One had to look at it carefully to notice the beauty of this weapon. The craftsman who managed to make this is quite talented at the very least. The saber was a level 4 weapon, one for a QI king. Long Tao knew that his life weapons are only good against the nearest realm. Hence level 3 weapons were not a bother. But level 4 was different. He decided to take out one of the weapons he got from the Heaven Cleaver sect. It was also a blood-red saber.

"Let's make a deal. Since I can take your life in this battle, I will take the weapon you are holding." The royal guard was surprised at first, but he soon organized his emotions. This spear was a gift from his master to him. He asked the guard to come to find him after he reached the QI King level. He was training arduously to reach that stage. "You should rather take my life, but this saber Is not for placing a bet." Long Tao understood that the weapon was a collection of some attached sentiment of this guard. He didn't' press on the issue any further.

The second clash occurred. Specialized techniques that the royal guard had obtained during his training were being used. Either one of them was having some hidden cards. Long Tao was playing defensive at the moment. All he did was to defend against the attacks at the most crucial points. He escaped injury by seconds, but that also showed his skill level. The same scenario continued for a while until the royal guard finally got the gist of the matter. At this rate, he will suffer from Qi exhaustion. Long Tao was stalling for time while provoking him to attack. This was humiliation at it speak.

A sudden attack arrived, hitting the royal guard in his stomach portion, slicing through the layers of human tissue. He didn't expect Long Tao to change the tide so soon. He managed to switch from offense to defense at such high speed, that it astonished the royal guard. The injury incurred was a fatal one. He couldn't continue the fight. Long Tao proceeded, saber in his hands, towards the royal guard. He decided to kill this guy, as the final step of conclusion and make it clear to the capital, who was the backer of the black-buck squad. ��Would sir Long be kind enough to let him go on my account?". Jiao Sheng spoke out.

Long Tao wanted to conclude the matter to avoid future conflict. " I would rather root out any future problem while it is still in its initial stage. I am not capable enough to satisfy his majesty's request." Long Tao lifted the saber. But just then, Jiao Sheng released his aura. Long Tao's gut feeling was right. The first time he had seen Jiao Sheng, he was a top Qi master practitioner yet now, he is a Qi general level 4 cultivator. He must have used some kind of equipment to conceal his cultivation from the rest of the group. "His true cultivation is shown now brat. What will you do?" the keeper was asking from within the Artifact.

"Is your majesty trying to make a point from his offensive aura. I hope you haven't forgotten who the initiator of this problem was. I am just concluding the matter according to the terms agreed by this guy." Jiao Sheng was in a tight spot. Although he knew his cultivation surpassed Lin Bao, whom Long Tao defeated by 1 level, he couldn't gather the confidence in a fight against him. " I won't make the same mistake again." The royal guard was pleading for his life at the moment. Long Tao looked ta him and said in a low tone" Rats hide in their hole, every time they are let go and when the time is right, they strike at the most vulnerable point. DO you think I am naïve enough to pardon your activity?"

"I Will pay for the inconvenience caused by my disciple here. I hope vice-general Long is merciful and let him go." Long Tao was accustomed to this familiar voice. It was none other than the guy who recruited him in the military. Jiao Bo was a cultivator of level 6 Qi general. Long Tao bowed in respect and sheathed his saber. "I will await the arrival of the payment in my military dwelling in Tamar. "He looked at the black-bucks" Let's go." The black-buck squad left along with Long Tao. The party has lost its true star. This was happening while Jiao Mingue was trying to study Long Tao. She was amazed by the decisiveness.

4 days later-

Long Tao's cultivation had entered the 9th level of Qi master. The completion of Blood tempering art provided him with the benefit of a faster cultivation speed for the other arts. 3 more levels and he could enter the QI general level. Long Tao trained day and night within the crimson world's arena with puppets. Today was the strategic meeting for the trip to Chu country. The soldiers and representatives who were going to accompany the princess had arrived and assembled in the palace.

Long Tao went on to showcase the map marked with their travel route. "The general information has already been provided to you. Until we reach the very end of the Jiao country, we wouldn't be facing problems publicly. There is still a chance of assassins attacking covertly on the convoy. The real danger starts after we reach the Chu country. The problem lies in the terrain. The forest between the two countries is the dwelling of powerful level 4 beasts. If we are going to pass through this, we are to be careful to not disturb them. No causality is tolerated in this mission."

He then looked at the princess' my first priority is me and my team. You come second. If there occurred a situation when I had to choose between the team and princess, iwi l chooses my team." These words shocked the group present. Even the minister and Jiao Sheng were shocked. How dares this guy? "You are just one of the many descendants of the Jiao. We can go on with one less if it were to occur, but my team is one of a kind, trained by me. SO, they are my top priority. You have your own guard to look after the personal safety. DO you accept?" Jiao Mingue agreed.

He next phase was the discussion about the terrain and the various powers present in that region. Long Tao listed out the strategy to be followed and then declared that the joint training of the troops will start from tomorrow. Their objective is to learn how to coordinate with each other in a fight. "We will leave after three days, one day before the schedule. We will have another set of discussions at Tamar, our first checkpoint." The meeting was adjourned.