He planned to do what he had done back in Jeju.

Open a Martial Arts Hall and teach Martial Arts.

However, his time was limited—a week or two at most.

Hearing Zhao Rui’s words, Zhao Jinze was slightly taken aback, but he still carried out the order without hesitation.

Soon, twenty young, suitably-aged Martial Artists were gathered from the entire county.

Most of them were students.

When they heard that a Grandmaster Realm expert would be their master, how could any of these students possibly refuse?

Even their parents, upon receiving the news, were ecstatic.

This was a Grandmaster! The entire county had never seen one before.

The news instantly caused a sensation in the small county.

The gazes of various influential groups immediately focused on them.

Fortunately, having gone through this once before, everyone was mentally prepared.

But the undercurrents in the shadows were still difficult to calm.

Zhao Rui didn’t care about any of this, though.

All he wanted were people!

The twenty students were assembled quickly, and Zhao Rui, wasting no time on pleasantries, began teaching immediately.

The Martial Arts he taught was the same one he had taught on Qingcheng Mountain: the Taixu Qi Refining Technique.

He instructed them to practice diligently day and night, and if they achieved some success, they could go to the Qingcheng Sword Sect on Qingcheng Mountain for advanced training.

Hearing this, the youths became even more excited.

’Doesn’t this mean if we perform well, we might become Sect disciples!’

Although some recent policies from the Court had complicated the future prospects of Martial Arts Students, the Court’s established policy of valuing the Martial Dao had not changed.

A Sect remained a hallowed hall of dreams for many students who yearned for High-tier Martial Arts.

It was even more enticing than getting into a top-tier academy.

Besides, this was a recommendation from a Grandmaster.

"Yes, Master! We disciples will certainly train and study hard, so as not to fail your teachings!"

The group of youths bowed deeply, their somewhat immature voices echoing through the rented Martial Arts Hall.

The week or so wasn’t long, passing in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Rui’s purpose in teaching them was the same as when he taught those Martial Artists on Qingcheng Mountain.

They were all to serve as Outer Disciples.

That was why he didn’t teach them for very long.

But Zhao Rui had mastered the arts of a hundred schools, his knowledge all-encompassing. Even after just one week, teaching a group of teenagers was enough for them to benefit for several years.

What’s more, he had imparted to them a pure Inner Power Martial Arts.

"Third Uncle, the situation in the future might get chaotic. If there’s any sign of trouble back home, you must notify me... Be careful with everything."

After giving his instructions, Zhao Rui left the county and returned to Lincheng City.

Having not been home for a long time, Zhao Rui returned to this third-tier city with its relatively simple pace of life. Looking at the familiar streets and the busy office workers, he felt a momentary sense of dislocation.

He had been in Qing City all this time, dealing only with matters of the Martial Arts Realm.

It almost made him forget that his own dream had once been to simply practice Martial Arts well and find a good job later.

Earn some money, buy a house and a car, find a pretty girl, and spend the rest of his life with her.

Unfortunately, in the blink of an eye, such a life now seemed like a luxury.

No matter how the Gui Xu invasion developed in the future, the peaceful and easy times of the past were gone, never to return.

In that instant, Zhao Rui felt something new weighing on him.

’How could I bear to let this way of life be destroyed!’

"Bro?"

As Zhao Rui opened the door to his apartment, his younger brother, Zhao Ke, came up to greet him with a look of pleasant surprise.

"Yeah. Where are Mom and Dad?"

"They’re not off work yet!"

Zhao Rui grunted in acknowledgment, changed into slippers, and sat down lazily on the sofa.

"Bro, is there really a war going on now? Is it going to be dangerous? Why is everyone saying that Martial Artists will have to go to the battlefield in the future?"

Zhao Ke leaned in with a gossipy expression and asked curiously.

"Yeah, more or less. It’s not just Martial Artists; ordinary people will have to go to the battlefield too. But it’s not that serious for now. Just focus on your studies."

Zhao Rui said casually.

"Okay, I know."

Zhao Ke nodded. Most of the information his classmates had came from the internet.

Even those with Martial Artist friends didn’t know much.

In all of Huaxia, Zhao Rui was among the handful of people who knew the most.

However, he didn’t want to tell his brother and the others just yet.

The future was still uncertain, and telling them would only cause unnecessary worry.

After a short rest, he checked the time. It was still early, so Zhao Rui got up and left the house.

He headed for Jimin Pharmacy.

Looking at the antique-style gate and courtyard walls, Zhao Rui couldn’t help but remember how he once said he would renovate the eaves for his master once he earned enough money.

’I wonder if Master took it seriously.’

Before he even pushed the door open, the crisp, synchronized shouts of training already reached his ears.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Rui greeted his fourth senior sister, who was teaching the students.

"Zhao Rui, you’re back? Is it winter break?" his fourth senior sister asked in pleasant surprise.

"No, I just came back to visit. Is Master around?"

"He is!"

Zhao Rui nodded, then said, "I’m going to see Master. I’ll talk with you later, Senior Sister."

"Okay, go ahead. I actually have a lot of things to ask you, too."

Zhao Rui grunted in acknowledgment and went into the rear courtyard.

There, on a recliner behind the courtyard’s folding screen door, his master, Li Cunxin, was lying back and basking in the sun.

His little junior sister, Xia Siyun, was holding a horse stance nearby.

It looked like she was being punished.

"Master!"

Zhao Rui called out in a clear voice.

Hearing his voice, Li Cunxin’s eyes widened slightly, and he shot up from the recliner with a WHOOSH.

"You..."

"Did you miss me, Master?"

Zhao Rui said with a smile.

The little junior sister, who had been holding her punishment stance, instantly broke her horse stance and trotted over to Zhao Rui, giggling. "Senior Brother, you’re back!"

She winked at Zhao Rui as she spoke.

"What trouble did you get into this time? If Master is punishing you, I wouldn’t dare interfere!"

Zhao Rui said with a laugh.

"When did you get here?"

Li Cunxin asked, his brow furrowed.

"Just now. I came right over to see you, Master."

"You, come with me!"

After speaking, Li Cunxin turned and entered the training room at the front.

Zhao Rui shrugged at his little junior sister and quickly followed.

Seeing this, his little junior sister tried to follow them to watch, but when she reached the entrance, Zhao Rui casually shut the door on her.

"Master, what’s with all the mystery?"

Zhao Rui asked curiously.

Li Cunxin remained silent, then suddenly launched a Cloud Hand technique at Zhao Rui.

"Let your master test your Martial Arts!"

Seeing this, Zhao Rui easily dodged the attack and used the same Cloud Hand technique to spar with his master.

The two went back and forth, using the exact same techniques and routines.

Before they knew it, they had exchanged forty or fifty rounds.

Seeing that they were at a stalemate, Li Cunxin’s True Qi suddenly surged. A wisp of cloud-like mist, almost tangible, gathered around his hands as he struck at Zhao Rui.

Zhao Rui casually countered with a Seven-Star Divine Palm, blocking his master’s Cloud Hand Star-Picking Palm Technique.

"Master’s Divine Skill is unparalleled! This disciple was a step behind and had to use another sect’s Martial Arts. I am ashamed! Ashamed!"

He had to give his master some face.

Zhao Rui could now easily perceive his master Li Cunxin’s Realm.

A veteran Martial Artist at the Tenth Level of the True Transformation Realm.

The kind of level where one could potentially comprehend the Dao and advance to the Grandmaster Realm.

In Lincheng City, this level of strength was quite impressive.

"Stop feeding me that Enchanting Soul soup. You... have you advanced to the Grandmaster Realm?"

Li Cunxin hesitated for a moment before asking, still uncertain.

After all, Zhao Rui was too young.

"Yes."

Zhao Rui nodded.

"Really?! The heavens have eyes!"

Hearing this, Li Cunxin was so excited he pressed his palms together, though it was unclear which Immortal he was thanking.

"You’re not bad either, Master. You’re almost catching up to me!"

Zhao Rui said with a cheeky grin.

"You brat, teasing me. Sigh... looking at you, I realize just how old I’ve become."

Li Cunxin said with emotion as he sized up Zhao Rui.

In his youth, he had been considered a genius. After learning this Cloud Hand Star-Picking, his progress was extremely fast, and for a time, he was unrivaled.

He had fully expected to break through to the Grandmaster Realm before he turned thirty.

But in the end, that wait had lasted for most of his life.

Now, at sixty, he still hadn’t advanced.

"Master, you’re not old at all."

Zhao Rui said, then walked up to his master. "Master, in the cultivation of the Martial Dao, what do you think is more important: face or strength?"

"You brat, what are you trying to say?"

"Well, Master, with your current strength, you could actually try to make a push for it."

"You mean..."

"I can act as your Guardian!"

Zhao Rui said a little cautiously. His words were a bit presumptuous. For a disciple to offer to be his master’s Guardian was somewhat inappropriate.

If his master couldn’t get over the pride issue, he would surely storm off in a huff.

Zhao Rui was hesitant precisely because he was worried his master wouldn’t be able to accept it.

"Do you take your master for a fool? Face, substance... if you can help me advance to Grandmaster, I’d even call you master."

Li Cunxin was not a rigid or conventional person and spoke his mind directly.

Hearing this, Zhao Rui couldn’t help but smile. "Then I know what to do!"

With that, Zhao Rui walked over to Li Cunxin and began to directly inspect his physical condition.

’The Ren and Du Meridians are clearly blocked, making it difficult to break through to the next level!’

After his inspection, Zhao Rui gently shook his head.