"Next is the second-tier area: the Shangyang Family estate. It's equally safe, but the compensation is a bit lower."
Perhaps because he rarely had anyone to talk to this much, Feng Xiao became unusually talkative and continued:
"As for the medicinal fields outside the city, they're secluded areas. Though Spirit Beasts sometimes cause trouble, they're fairly stable, with few casualties. The benefits are decent too, and you might occasionally get some Precious Meat."
"The third-tier areas are closer to the government's sphere of influence. We and the Bai Family often engage in open and covert struggles there. The compensation is good, but the casualty rate is rather high, and there are bounties for enemy heads."
"As for the final fourth-tier areas, they directly border the Bai Family and lie on the fiercest front line. They have the highest casualty rate, but also the best benefits. Some people stuck at bottlenecks come there seeking a chance to break through."
After hearing this, Xu Yuan fell into thought.
The best was undoubtedly the first-tier area. High pay, stable work, and virtually no commute.
The worst was the fourth-tier area. It bordered the Bai Family, where high risk brought high rewards—you were earning money with your head tucked into your waistband.
Neither of those places was within his consideration.
Feng Xiao let out a wine belch, then added:
"You Meridian Opening martial artists can ostensibly choose assignments freely among several areas, but in reality, apart from the latter few places, first-tier area assignments will never appear on your list."
Xu Yuan nodded. In great Lineages like this, the old guard and their descendants formed an immensely powerful force. All the lucrative posts had long since been carved up between them and those with connections.
In truth, he had already made his choice.
For a martial artist, the best first-tier area was unavailable. Of the remaining options, there was only the Shangyang Family estate and the medicinal fields outside the city.
The medicinal fields outside the city are not bad. Low risk, good benefits, and there's even a chance to get Precious Meat.
But...
Xu Yuan still decided to remain within the Shangyang Family estate.
Low risk did not mean no risk. What if his luck was poor and he encountered a high-level Spirit Beast?
Besides, the occasional chance to obtain Precious Meat meant it was merely a matter of probability. He did not want to gamble on it for nothing.
What I lack most right now is time to develop. I have enough silver for the moment; all I need is a stable environment.
Xu Yuan had always found the way protagonists in novels constantly ventured out and risked their lives difficult to understand, though he respected it.
After transmigrating, he understood it even more deeply. If you dared to go out and run wild, you really would die!
Across both lifetimes, Xu Yuan had lived only a little over twenty years in total. He was far from having lived enough.
"Looks like you've already made your decision."
Seeing his expression, Feng Xiao smiled knowingly.
"You needn't tell me. I'll just remind you of one thing: the Shangyang Family lets servants and Martial Students practice martial arts to fight the Bai Family, not to let them enjoy themselves."
At this point, his face turned solemn as he said seriously:
"A secret message has been circulating among the higher-ups. The Lineage has requirements for Expansion Martial Artists like you... If you cannot break through to the Second Meridian within three months, or the Third Meridian within five months, you will be forcibly assigned to third- or fourth-tier areas."
"Even the old men within the Lineage whose potential has already run dry will be transferred out one after another to be 'used up.' I've only been able to remain in this estate because I've spent a long time with the Shangyang Family and have some old ties with people here."
As Feng Xiao spoke, his tone was full of melancholy, as though he too had foreseen his own eventual fate.
"I have a question. Will the Shangyang Family and the Bai Family really keep fighting for so long?"
Xu Yuan was somewhat puzzled. Logically speaking, two Lineages of such enormous scale should sit down and renegotiate soon after any friction arose between them.
To truly wipe out the other family would take years at the very least. How many resources would that waste?
"I don't know the specific details either. I've only heard that it's over territory, though what they're fighting for isn't territory within the city."
Feng Xiao narrowed his eyes and recalled carefully.
"But that isn't something we should worry about... After all, the more war there is, the more advantageous it is for us. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been Expansion Martial Artists in the first place."
Then, seeing Xu Yuan fall silent, he reassured him:
"But you needn't worry too much. For a promising seedling like you, the higher-ups will at least wait until you've completely exhausted your potential before transferring you over there."
The Stone Platform Stance Practice that the Shangyang Family had its martial artists train in was a quick-fix version, designed to produce consumables. But for excellent consumables like Xu Yuan, naturally they would make him burn until nothing remained before discarding him.
Yet Xu Yuan's expression did not change at all after hearing this. He was not affected in the slightest.
Make my potential run dry... But there seems to be no upper limit to my aptitude improvements. Doesn't that mean my potential is practically endless?
Then he thought of something and asked, "Master Feng, this stance practice only has four realms. That doesn't seem enough to complete the Nine Realms of Meridian Opening, does it?"
Feng Xiao glanced at him and praised:
"You noticed that quickly. That's right, this Stone Platform Stance Practice is an incomplete version. The complete stance practice will be issued to you once you break through the Fourth Meridian. After all, only then will you count as high-grade consumables!"
Every sentence came back to those two words: consumables!
Xu Yuan sighed inwardly. After drinking several more cups, he prepared to take his leave.
At that moment, Feng Xiao suddenly took out three taels of silver and handed them to him.
"Master Feng, what does this mean?" Xu Yuan froze for a moment.
"Take it as a congratulatory gift for breaking through the Second Meridian." Feng Xiao waved his hand, stopping him from refusing. "Don't worry. I've been stuck at my bottleneck for a long time and haven't used precious medicine in ages. My savings are still sufficient."
"It isn't much money, just a token of my regard. I know you wouldn't accept it if there were more."
Only then did Xu Yuan accept the silver. He respectfully bowed to Feng Xiao. "Then thank you, Master Feng."
Feng Xiao accepted the bow openly, his expression returning to calm.
"Now that you've reached the Second Meridian, I needn't say much about cultivation. If you ever run into financial difficulties, come find me."
Then he sighed softly. "It'll be hard for me to achieve anything great in this life. I hope you can go farther."
At first, when he showed goodwill toward Xu Yuan, he had indeed carried some thoughts of investment.
But after spending many days together, he had grown increasingly appreciative of Xu Yuan. Everything he did now came from genuine feeling.
"All right, we've eaten and drunk our fill today." With that, he waved a hand, signaling that it was time to see his guest out.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan bowed to him once more.
Though he was not truly short of money, he deeply cherished the sincere kindness others offered him. He would only wait for a chance to repay it in the future.
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