Prefecture City Forces

"Secondly, there's the Level 2 area, which is within the Shangyang Family grounds. It's also very safe, but the benefits are lower."

As if surprised that someone was chatting with him so much, Feng Xiao's spirits lifted and he continued:

"As for the medicinal fields outside the city, they belong to a secluded zone. Although there are Spirit Beasts that cause trouble, it's relatively stable with few casualties and decent benefits. Occasionally, you can get some Precious Meat."

"The Level 3 area is closer to the government's forces. We and the Bai Family often have covert conflicts there. The benefits are good, but the casualty rate is quite high, and there's a bounty for kills."

"The final Level 4 area is directly bordering the Bai Family, on the most intense front line. The casualty rate is the highest, but the benefits are also the best. Some people who are stuck at a bottleneck come here seeking opportunities to break through."

Xu Yuan pondered after listening.

The best, of course, would be the Level 1 area – high salary, stable, and almost no commute time.

The worst would be the Level 4 area, bordering the Bai Family. High risk, high reward, just earning money with your head on the line.

Neither of these places was within his consideration.

Feng Xiao let out a drunken hiccup and said again:

"Your family's Martial Artists can openly choose tasks in several areas, but in reality, except for the latter few places, Level 1 areas won't appear on your task list."

Xu Yuan nodded. In these big families, the old guard and their cronies formed an extremely powerful faction. The lucrative tasks were long ago divided up by them and their connections.

He actually already had a choice in mind.

For Martial Artists, the best Level 1 area was unavailable. The remaining options were essentially the Shangyang Family grounds and the medicinal fields outside the city.

'The medicinal fields outside the city are good – low risk, good benefits, and occasionally Precious Meat.'

But...

Xu Yuan still decided to stay within the Shangyang Family grounds.

Low risk didn't mean no risk. What if he got unlucky and encountered a high-level Spirit Beast?

Besides, the occasional Precious Meat meant it was just a probability event. He didn't want to gamble his life for it.

'What I need most right now is time to develop. I have enough silver for now, I just need a stable environment.'

Xu Yuan didn't understand why protagonists in novels often went out adventuring and risking their lives, but he respected it.

Now, after transmigrating, he understood it more profoundly: if you dare to mess around outside, you'll really die!

Xu Yuan had only lived a little over twenty years in total across both lives, and he certainly hadn't lived enough yet.

"It seems you've already made up your mind."

Seeing his expression, Feng Xiao smiled knowingly:

"You don't need to tell me. I'll just remind you of one thing: the Shangyang Family allows Laborers and Martial Students to practice martial arts to counter the Bai Family, not for them to enjoy."

As he said this, his face grew serious, and he said with caution:

"There's a secret message circulating among the higher-ups. For you 'Expansion Martial Artists,' the family has requirements... If you can't break through to the Second Meridian within three months, or the Third Meridian within five months, you'll be forcibly assigned to Level 3 or 4 areas."

"Even the old members within the family whose Potential has been exhausted will be sent out one by one to be 'consumed.' I've only been able to stay in the Shangyang Family grounds for so long because I've been here a while and have some connections."

Feng Xiao spoke with a hint of melancholy, as if he had foreseen his own future.

"I have a question. Will the Shangyang Family and the Bai Family really fight for that long?"

Xu Yuan was a bit confused. Logically, two families of such scale, even with friction, should sit down and renegotiate quickly.

If they wanted to truly annihilate each other, it would take years, wasting so many resources?

"I don't know the specific details. I've only heard it's about territory, but it's not the territory within the city they're fighting over."

Feng Xiao narrowed his eyes, recalling carefully:

"But this isn't something we should worry about... After all, the more war there is, the more beneficial it is for us. Otherwise, there wouldn't even be Expansion Martial Artists."

Then, seeing Xu Yuan's silence, he comforted him:

"But you don't need to worry too much. For a good seedling like you, they'll at least wait until you've completely exhausted your Potential before transferring you."

The Stone Platform Stance Practice that the Shangyang Family had the Martial Artists practice was an accelerated version, positioned as expendable material. But for excellent expendable material like Xu Yuan, they would naturally let him burn out completely before discarding him.

Xu Yuan, however, remained expressionless, completely unaffected.

'Let my Potential be exhausted... But my Aptitude seems to have no upper limit, it's practically boundless Potential?'

Immediately, he thought of something and asked, "Master Feng, this Stance Practice only has four realms. It doesn't seem enough to complete the Nine Realms of Meridian Opening, does it?"

Feng Xiao glanced at him and praised:

"You noticed quite quickly. Not bad. This Stone Platform Stance Practice is an incomplete version. The complete Stance Practice will be given to you after you break through the Fourth Meridian. After all, by then, you'll be considered high-grade expendable material!"

Every word revolved around "expendable material"!

Xu Yuan sighed inwardly, then drank a few more cups and prepared to take his leave.

At this moment, Feng Xiao suddenly took out three taels of silver from his person and handed it to him.

"Master Feng, what is the meaning of this?" Xu Yuan was stunned.

"Consider it a congratulatory gift for your breakthrough to 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 any precious medicine, so my savings are sufficient."

"It's not much money, just a token of my regard. I know you wouldn't accept more."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan accepted the silver and bowed respectfully to Feng Xiao, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Feng."

Feng Xiao accepted the bow calmly, his expression returning to its usual placid state.

"Now that you've reached the Second Meridian, I don't need to say much about your cultivation. If you encounter any financial difficulties, you can come to me."

He then sighed softly, "I don't expect to achieve much in my lifetime. I hope you can go further."

Initially, his kindness towards Xu Yuan was somewhat motivated by investment.

But after spending many days together, he grew to admire Xu Yuan more and more, and his actions were now from genuine sincerity.

"Alright, we've eaten and drunk our fill for today." With that, he waved his hand, signaling for Xu Yuan to leave.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan bowed to him again.

Although he wasn't short on money, he cherished the good intentions sincerely offered by others, waiting for an opportunity to repay them in the future.

If you find this book enjoyable, be sure to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose track of it.