```
Thirty-six spear techniques.
Each one with eighteen variations.
Chen Sansi pushed through and finished the first three techniques.
But at the same time, bolstered by the Breathing Skill, Song Yan also finished the Pile Work and began practicing spear technique, catching up significantly in progress.
"If only I could train harder and faster!"
Chen Sansi stopped.
He decided to take a break and bring his archery to a small achievement level.
The last time he had a breakthrough and obtained proficiency, it improved his bones and physique. If he could achieve a small achievement, the effect might be even better.
"Time to eat!"
The garrison was not too far but not too close either, about twenty miles from Yanbian Village.
To save time, he didn't go back home for meals but went to an inn in the military settlement owned by a retired old couple.
"Give me five pounds of cooked beef, a bucket of Liang rice, and a chicken."
After Chen Sansi and Zhu Tong ordered their food, before they could even start eating, someone else came over and sat down.
"Tired to death from your laziness, what do you want now?!"
Zhu Tong had no pleasant expression.
"Brother Chen!"
Xu Wencai ignored him and said to Brother Shi with a cheeky smile, "The pay won't come until next month, and I'm completely broke and starving. Can I share your meal?"
"Of course."
Chen Sansi ordered two more dishes and some more staples.
"Brother Chen is such a righteous man, you'll accomplish great things one day!"
Xu Wencai unapologetically tore off a chicken leg and started devouring it, grease dripping from his mouth.
"Shi, you're too kind-hearted!"
Zhu Tong cursed, "What's the use of feeding him? He's useless."
"Who's useless? Maybe one day you'll benefit from my presence! And besides, I don't eat for free; I can enlighten you about the state of the world, broaden your horizons!"
Xu Wencai swiftly polished off the chicken leg, sucking on the bone until nothing was left. Then, licking his lips and in a lowered voice, he asked, "Gentlemen, what do you think of the fate of the Great Sheng Dynasty?"
"Of course, it's not exhausted yet."
Zhu Tong muttered, "Although the officials are despicable, there are still more than two million military men and many generals. I heard the rebellions in the south have been quelled."
"Wrong!"
Xu Wencai continued to eat as he surreptitiously nabbed another chicken leg.
Zhu Tong glanced around to make sure no one was listening before saying, "You mean to say that the barbarians will eventually destroy our Great Sheng?"
"Completely mistaken!"
Xu Wencai shook his head vigorously, "The barbarians may seem fierce, but with Supervisor Sun, they will never really succeed."
"I'd wager that the downfall of Sheng will be at the hands of its own people!"
"You see, these rebellions may be quickly suppressed, but they keep cropping up, and with time, one of them is bound to break through."
At that moment, Chen Sansi interjected, "It's like kindling a fire, which can eventually ignite the whole plain."
"Sss—"
Xu Wencai visibly paused at these words, as if savoring them, then slapped his thigh, "What an exquisite phrase! It perfectly conveys what I mean!
Brother Chen, truly a scholar like me to be able to utter such a brilliant phrase!"
"They were not my words…"
Chen Sansi explained, "Please continue, Mr. Xu."
"Ahem!"
Xu Wencai cleared his throat, "I predict, within five years, the world will descend into complete chaos! That will be the end of the Great Sheng Dynasty's run, and the time for Mr. Wo Long to rise to greatness!"
"Give it a rest!"
Zhu Tong found it annoying, "All you do is spout nonsense. You better figure out how to master Pile Work. If you can't even do that, you won't even qualify as an Array Soldier; you'll end up caring for horses or repairing walls."
Chen Sansi looked at Xu Wencai, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Having received nine years of education, it wasn't strange for him to foresee the end of the Sheng era and the onset of chaos.
But Xu Wencai was a local, and moreover a rural one, for whom such foresight was quite impressive.
Despite the awkwardness of always bumping into the Prime Minister, it seemed he genuinely had something of substance.
After the chat, they returned to their meal with gusto.
```
Sated with food and drink.
Chen Sansi didn't continue practicing martial arts, but instead took his bow and arrows to the shooting range.
The more chaotic the world seemed to become, the more he felt the need to strengthen himself, not just in skill but in status too, to remain unscathed in the torrent.
He drew the bow and notched an arrow.
"Bang bang bang bang bang—"
On the Martial Arts Arena, a series of sounds like thunder exploded.
After more than fifty arrows, Chen Sansi's arms began to ache, but he dared not stop, continuing to aim and release one arrow after another.
"Whoosh—"
"Keep up!"
"..."
By the afternoon, a stir arose in the military camp.
A few Households Commanders gathered their soldiers, and a troop of over three hundred fully armed men hurriedly set out toward the direction of Po Yang County.
'If they're not heading to the Great Wall, then it's not an enemy invasion.'
'But what in Po Yang County could warrant mobilizing so many people?'
'Most likely it's the citywide search for barbarian assassins.'
Not long ago, Chen Sansi thought that barbarian assassins would never be his concern, but now it seemed he might well be involved in such operations in the future.
"Forget it, continue with archery."
"Bang bang bang bang bang—"
As the troops passed by the shooting range, the thunderous sound of arrows caught the attention of the Householders Commanders.
"Huh, has this kid given up? Not practicing his spear technique, but instead practicing archery."
Householder Xiong was chewing on a bamboo stick.
"Without the Breathing Skill, the pain of cultivating techniques is doubled. How many people can endure that?"
Households Commander Liu gave a surprised sound, "A two-stone bow? A hundred hits from seventy steps on the target? This kid is actually a Divine Archer!"
"Indeed he is."
Householder Xiong also showed a look of surprise.
Households Commander Liu clicked his tongue in amazement, "I wonder what he did to offend the Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy, such a pity, such a pity…"
"Yo ho."
Householder Xiong raised his eyebrows, "Old Liu, that look in your eyes, quite affectionate, eh? Feeling tempted?"
"I do indeed feel a bit sorry for the kid."
Households Commander Liu looked toward the shooting range, "How about this, I'll ask the Young Master later, what this kid did to offend him. If it's nothing serious, I'll help smooth things over.
"Deal, and you guys can't compete with me for him."
"I'm not that idle."
Householder Xiong turned to the left, "What about you, Fatty Wang?"
"I, Wang Zhi, have seen true talents in the Eight Camps, would I fancy such goods?"
Wang Zhi dismissed it with disdain, "Let's hurry on, go to the city and get it over with, then drink and visit the brothels tonight."
...
"Bang—"
On the shooting range.
Chen Sansi was alone, practicing from dawn till dusk.
To save time, he didn't even go for dinner, simply asking Zhu Tong to send over some meat and dry food.
He was drained of energy.
The two-stone bow became extremely heavy.
Chen Sansi slowly lifted his arms, hooked his trembling fingers around the bowstring and, with all his might, shot out another arrow.
"Bang—"
Once again, the arrow pierced the target.
At the same time, the panel reappeared.
[Skill: Archery (small achievement)]
[Progress: (0/1000)]
[Utility: Arms like apes, waist like bees, stunning physique; three shots in a breath, piercing Yang at a hundred steps]