Diligence System: From Servant to Martial King

Not far away.

Lin Aoshan's lips curled upward; it was the first time seeing this "Military Officer," and indeed, his elegance was indescribable. She muttered, "The show has begun." Standing with arms crossed, she was quite interested.

At the martial arts hall entrance.

The newly appointed Military Officer stood tall and handsome, different from ordinary people. Behind him was a scene of devastation, with the followers and apprentices scattered all over, collapsing and fleeing.

As soon as he appeared.

His aura was powerful, his gaze sharp as an eagle, and his presence as strong as a tiger. The hall was filled with famous and respected masters from Qingning County, who held high positions and could decide life and death with a word. Over time, they had developed a dignified air of authority.

Yet the young Military Officer was not the least perturbed. He came all the way, and his momentum only intensified, faintly suppressing the crowd's numbers.

"Where does this ignorant child come from? We're discussing important matters; why do you have anything to say!" Iron Bear scolded. He knew well that Li Xian was the Military Officer, but at this moment, he was being deliberately difficult, calling him an "ignorant child" while secretly exerting pressure through Qi.

Iron Bear was the head of Xiongpi Martial Arts Hall. Anyone capable of opening a martial arts hall must have significant strength. The competition in martial arts is brutal; without real skills, survival is impossible.

Iron Bear practiced the "Bear Gang Body Technique," which stimulates the Qi-Blood, with Inner Qi permeating the body, eventually bursting forth with black body hair, resembling a giant bear. His tall stature and every word and action have a suppressive effect on others. A single shout can scare grown men out of their wits.

Li Xian, however, was not bothered: "I am the newly appointed Military Officer; it's my duty, so how can it be considered meddling?"

He walked into the martial arts hall. Mei Rentu, Zhou Long, Hu Shengnan, and Iron Bear, their eyes as cold as arrows, all focused on him. Li Xian, relaxed and natural, walked up to Iron Bear: "Are you going to stop me?"

Iron Bear's face twitched, rage welling up inside, "Ignorant child, courting death!" About to make a move.

But then Mei Rentu from the Snake Walking Sect suddenly sneered: "Kid, you say you have a clever plan to unravel this knot?"

Li Xian replied, "Certainly."

Miao Xichun, supporting himself up, knew the situation couldn't get worse, said: "Fine, newly appointed Military Officer, if you have any opinions, please share them; I, Miao Xichun, am willing to listen."

Zhou Long coldly said: "If you don't come up with a good idea, even as a Military Officer, I won't be courteous with you."

Li Xian said, "Very well, since everyone is willing to hear me out, let me speak."

"I'm newly appointed, unfamiliar with the grudges each of you hold, but the matter at hand is quite simple, essentially a dispute over a 'Treasure and Strange Object.'"

Mei Rentu said, "I must ask you, Military Officer, to make things clear. Though there's a dispute, it's Miao Hall Master who, with magnanimity as vast as the sea, willingly offered the treasure first. We just don't know who it should belong to, hence the dispute."

"What you're saying, makes it seem like we came to rob forcibly. We're not bandits."

Zhou Long nodded: "Indeed."

Li Xian chuckled: "Let's assume that to be the case."

"What do you mean, assume?" Iron Bear sneered: "That's exactly what it is; you kid, speak without any sense of propriety."

Intentionally finding faults.

But Li Xian wasn't angry: "I won't dwell on the specifics of the truth. Hall Master Miao, since everyone came for the Treasure and Strange Object, please present it first."

Miao Xichun nodded and produced a pearl. It was azure blue, about the size of a finger joint, smooth like jade, emitting a faint soft glow.

"So this is the Treasure and Strange Object." Li Xian was amazed at first sight.

He said heartily:

"Truly, it's no ordinary treasure. If such an artifact falls into one family's hands, there will definitely be dissatisfaction. If you fight endlessly, won't Qingning County be in chaos?"

"So today, we must resolve this dispute thoroughly."

Hu Shengnan sneered: "If the esteemed Military Officer's solution is to split the treasure into four parts for everyone, then there's no need to say it."

Li Xian smiled: "Such a mediocre strategy, I won't suggest. Not only does it waste the treasure, but it also treats the symptoms, not the cause. My plan is more thorough, ensuring that everyone agrees sincerely and convincingly."

The crowd saw his confident oath, and curiosity filled their hearts, thinking: "Could he really have a clever strategy that will satisfy us?" Everyone fell silent, quietly watching.

Unknowingly, Li Xian controlled the rhythm of the scene.

In the distance, Lin Aoshan's eyes showed approval, her curiosity uncontainable. She asked: "Xiao Sun, can you guess what plan this Military Officer has that could get everyone to agree?"

Lin Guolong said: "I guess... he might be thinking of inviting all the factions to make a contract here. The treasure, being unique, would be managed in turns by each family."

"Really?" Lin Aoshan wondered; she felt it wasn't the case.

Within the martial arts hall.

Li Xian said to Iron Bear: "I assume this must be Iron Bear, master of Xiongpi Martial Arts Hall. You've held the hall for decades, with countless disciples, your martial arts supressing Qingning, undoubtedly formidable. Your heroic spirit is unmatched, and I admire you."

Iron Bear, pleased at the words, thought the treasure being unique meant that no matter what clever plan this young man had, it would end up with one person. Since he praised him so, could it be he assumed Iron Bear was the strongest and deemed it safest to entrust him with the treasure, to maintain control?

Iron Bear straightened his chest subtly.

The others' gazes shifted, wary of Iron Bear. Li Xian changed his tone, looked at Zhou Long, and said: "And this is the Barbarian Martial Arts Hall's Zhou Long, whose strength is as formidable as a dragon. Master Zhou's demeanor is extraordinary, and if speaking of cultivation, surely the top in Qingning County."

Everyone was quite baffled, first mentioning Iron Bear, now Zhou Long. What was the intent?

Li Xian continued:

"And this must be Hu Shengnan of the Red Copper Sect. As they say, the Hu Sect Leader truly shows that women are no less than heroes, earning utmost respect. Though a woman, how many men can't quite match her in strategy and calculation?"

"Mei Rentu of the Snake Walking Sect, who has been a dominant figure in Qingning for decades, possessing great power, and outstanding skills. Master Mei is a fierce character, no less formidable than the others before him."

"You brat, just get to the point already!" Iron Bear yelled. He was displeased with Li Xian's rounds of compliments.

Li Xian said: "Esteemed heroes, though all are highly skilled, yet... in my view, none are fit to oversee this treasure."

"Rascal, how dare you!"

The four shouted angrily in unison. Earlier, when they heard the praise, they thought, "If this lad recommends me, I will use his good words to take the treasure." But after a round, they all realized they had been played.

"Interesting, very interesting," Lin Aoshan said with a laugh.

This play was much more exciting than expected. She patted Lin Guolong's shoulder, "Look, grandson, the situation is now entirely in his hands."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry, everyone, I haven't finished speaking yet."

Their expressions were hostile, yet they unconsciously quieted down.

Li Xian walked casually as he spoke, "I know someone who is most qualified to claim this treasure pearl."

"Who?" they asked in unison.

"This person, handsome as Pan An, may not claim absolute invincibility in martial arts, but suppressing you is more than enough. In terms of talent and character—oh, you, rough and unsophisticated as you are, are far beneath him. As for status and position..."

"That person is none other than the Military Officer of Qingning County, who specifically manages Jianghu affairs. You all are people of Jianghu and are a notch below him."

Li Xian smiled as he walked up to Miao Xichun, took the "Treasure Pearl" from his hand, gently wiped it with his sleeve, and then tucked it into his clothing.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this person is far away in the heavens yet right before your eyes."

"It is I."

Instant silence, the four laughed in extreme anger. To think they had been led in such a circle only to come back to him. They had set up this situation to kill two birds with one stone. Li Xian's words were no different from slapping them in the face.

He was snatching food from a tiger's mouth.

Utter arrogance!

Iron Bear, furious, yelled, "You brat, looking for death!" His entire body bristled with black hairs as he lunged at Li Xian with both palms. His martial arts were exceedingly powerful; as soon as he struck, a rapid "pah-pah-pah" sound split the air as if shattering it.

Li Xian neither dodged nor avoided, lifting a hand to meet the strike. Though Iron Bear was massive, standing over two meters tall with great strength and power, Li Xian caught his attack with ease.

Li Xian narrowed his eyes, sending a kick flying. Iron Bear thought, "Not good," and moved his Qi to block. However, he underestimated Li Xian's brute force. The kick rearranged his insides, sending him flying several meters...

He crashed right out of the martial arts hall.

In an instant, Li Xian's fierce might erupted, starkly contrasting his amiable, chatty demeanor from moments before. His gaze was cold, and an indescribable pressure enveloped everyone.

Hints of an overwhelming military presence began to emerge. Li Xian sneered, "I am well aware of your thoughts. As you're all here, let's settle this one by one."

He took a step forward, drawing a black blade that slashed a streak of dark light towards Mei Rentu.

Mei Rentu immediately blocked, not daring to be careless. With Inner Qi rapidly circulating, he attempted to resist Li Xian's majesty, his shoulders glowing with rainbow hues and his chest drumming like thunder.

Li Xian sneered, cutting horizontally and slashing vertically, without need for complex changes. The Perfect Saber Technique—a simplicity that defies solution.

In moments, Mei Rentu was streaked with colors, roaring, "This kid is formidable; break him together!" They realized Li Xian's words weren't just braggadocio; his abilities seemed godlike.

Hu Shengnan and Zhou Long had grim expressions. Sharing a glance, they attacked from the left and right. Li Xian, handling them both, raised a palm to strike through the air...

The Qi waves mingled with water mist, crashing like a true tidal wave. Hu Shengnan was swept several meters away, in awe, finding it hard to believe that this martial prowess belonged to a mere sixteen-year-old.

What he displayed, at least, reached perfection.

"Rascal, die!"

Iron Bear's chest caved, a shoe imprint clear. His Qi-blood surged like a rainbow, shoulders erupting with rainbow streaks. Tearing off his hair, he executed a precise technique, casting them out.

Bear Gang Technique was truly fearsome. As an Entry Martial Art, its practice involved frequent medicated baths to grow the bear hair. During combat, the hair's slickness deflected forces and served as a defense.

If faced with defeat, plucking the hairs to shoot them out as weapons could catch the opponent off guard. The bear hairs, secretly poisoned and as fine as needles, shot forth, covering the sky. Who could dodge them?

Li Xian laughed, "Well-timed!" Wielding his saber with one hand against Zhou Long and Mei Rentu, he reached out to those falling hairs with his other hand.

Though the heavy pupils were not evident, his vision was sharp, the black needle's trajectory clear. Li Xian used "Probing Clouds and Mist," his fingers long and dexterous, to pinch, take, grab, and brush, capturing all the flying needles.

Not a single one more, not a single one less.

This composure struck awe into the hearts of the many arrogant martial arts hall masters and sect leaders, their eyes wide in disbelief.

Beyond underestimating the enemy.

It was simply like an ant trying to shake a tree, overestimating themselves, courting death.

Li Xian laughed, "Here, have it back!" Launching the black hairs from his hand, with a whoosh, two stabbed into Iron Bear's eyes. Iron Bear howled as his eyes went blind.

Li Xian incorporated the essence of "Clear Wind Leg" into the "Daluo Saber." One perfected, one at its peak. Their combination was even more unfathomable.

The Daluo Saber Technique, in its open and closed movements, possessed the airy quality of the Clear Wind, leaving one defenseless and unaware of being struck.

"Rip-rip," came several sounds.

Wounds appeared continuously on Zhou Long and Mei Rentu, as they faltered step by step, unable to resist.

Li Xian leapt high, descending with his saber in mid-air. The two found it even harder to block, each receiving three slashes across the face.

In the end, they were kicked away, crashing heavily against the walls, remaining conscious but unable to muster any Qi, with no strength to fight.

A rainbow shone from Li Xian's shoulders, his momentum unstoppable. He suddenly noticed a fish that slipped through the net, throwing the black blade.

Hu Shengnan, seeing the situation was unfavorable, attempted to flee. But a few steps out, a flying blade pierced her right arm, pinning her to the wall.