Friendly Match

Jiang Yuan stared fixedly at the mouthful of blood he had spat out.

The blood had already turned a dark, bloody black. It sizzled against the floorboards, seemingly corroding them.

After a long silence, Jiang Yuan entered meditation once more. This time, rather than breathing in spiritual energy to strengthen his exotic bone, he followed the method recorded in the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture and circulated the power of his exotic bone.

A humanoid outline appeared in Jiang Yuan's mind. Within that silhouette, a fiery red glow shone from its chest.

Great Sun Blazing Fire Bone!

According to the records in the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture, Jiang Yuan's exotic bone was currently a Fourth-grade Spirit-Absorbing Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone.

Fourth grade referred to its rank, while Spirit Absorption referred to its realm.

Exotic bones were divided from first grade to ninth grade. First grade was the highest, and ninth grade the weakest. This strength and weakness referred to talent, not combat power.

A Heavenly Gifted warrior with ninth-grade exotic bones and high cultivation could still defeat a Heavenly Gifted warrior with first-grade exotic bones and low cultivation.

As for realms...

Jiang Yuan only knew of this so-called "Spirit Absorption."

He did not even know which Martial Dao realms it corresponded to.

Still, Jiang Yuan's fourth-grade exotic bone was among the finest of the mid-grade exotic bones. It was already quite formidable.

Jiang Yuan did not care about that. It was uncertain whether the Hundred Cities Domain even still had any Heavenly Gifted Martial Artists.

What Jiang Yuan cared about now was primarily his own strength.

He did not know how strong he would be if the Great Sun Blazing Fire Bone's power erupted in full, but since it could annihilate that blood-colored aberration, it certainly was not weak.

There were also other factors involved—the abnormal movement of his exotic bone seemed to restrain aberrations. Jiang Yuan still did not know how strong he would be if he unleashed his exotic bone at full power.

But there was one thing Jiang Yuan knew.

The times had changed. Heavenly Gifted ones now required Martial Dao cultivation to activate their exotic bones, and the release of exotic bone power also needed Martial Dao power as its vessel.

With his current Late Qi and Blood Stage strength, Jiang Yuan could only sustain a full eruption for a few breaths.

On the other hand, he could maintain for quite some time the method of attaching a slight amount of exotic bone power to his attacks, thereby dealing additional damage to aberrations.

However, the fact that his exotic bone could devour the power within aberrations was not mentioned in the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture at all.

Since the orthodox path of breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was completely impassable, perhaps he could take the path of devouring aberrations instead?

Jiang Yuan pondered inwardly.

According to the records in the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture, after devouring the blood-colored aberration, the power of his exotic bone seemed to have entered the Mid Spirit Absorption Stage, though something about it was unusual.

After devouring an aberration, his exotic bone seemed to need a period of time to digest it.

Yet after Jiang Yuan tried the method for circulating exotic bone power, the energy accumulated within the bone was rapidly digested.

Jiang Yuan's exotic bone cultivation had truly broken through to the Mid Spirit Absorption Stage!

Jiang Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes, a faint delight showing in them.

He had originally thought that obtaining the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture would grant him absolute understanding of exotic bones, but he had not expected further changes.

Still, the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture was a systematic cultivation method for exotic bones. Jiang Yuan had gone from a wild fox Chan practitioner to an orthodox Heavenly Gifted Martial Artist in one stroke.

There were simply too many methods within it for utilizing exotic bones.

Compared to it, the methods Jiang Yuan had originally explored—attaching exotic bone power and fully erupting its power—were far too crude.

Though some things were still hidden amid clouds and mist, this method would undoubtedly greatly improve Jiang Yuan's strength.

For the time being, Jiang Yuan did not exchange for any other rewards. Instead, he immediately opened the Personal Backpack.

After clearing the First Life, he had been rewarded with a Martial Arts Enlightenment Card, which could greatly enhance Jiang Yuan's understanding of martial arts.

Perhaps it could immediately deepen his understanding of the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture.

[Use Martial Arts Enlightenment Card?]

"Yes."

[Please select a martial art]

A row of martial arts appeared, all of them techniques Jiang Yuan knew.

Jiang Yuan then frowned slightly.

The Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture was not among them.

Jiang Yuan immediately recalled the origins of the Heavenly Gifted. Could it be that the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture could not be counted among Martial Dao martial arts?

Jiang Yuan did not dwell on it for long.

He plunged headlong into the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture. Since he could not use the Martial Arts Enlightenment Card, he needed all the more to thoroughly study the Heavenly Formed Exotic Bone Feather Ascension Scripture himself.

After all, it was not cultivation experience. Much of it required him to explore and cultivate it personally.

He drowned in the ocean of learning, unable to pull himself free.

Just as Jiang Yuan thought he would continue studying like this for the entire day—

Someone suddenly knocked lightly on the door.

Jiang Yuan immediately emerged from his studying state and sharply looked toward the courtyard gate.

He slowly rose to his feet, opened the door, and saw Wenzhao standing at the entrance to the small courtyard.

Jiang Yuan's furrowed brows secretly relaxed.

His nerves truly had been stretched too tight lately.

"Uncle, what is it?"

"The Fengxing Family has arrived," Wenzhao said gently.

"They've arrived, so wh—" Jiang Yuan suddenly remembered something and closed his mouth.

The Fengxing Family elder who had a close relationship with Wenzhao had an agreement with him.

Every three years, he would bring the Fengxing Family's younger generation to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency for exchanges.

It was not for the sake of competing for superiority, but simply to broaden the horizons and strengthen the abilities of both families' younger members.

This exchange could more or less be called a friendly match.

No wonder...

No wonder he had encountered the Fengxing Family at Soul-Losing Mountain. This truly was the time for the two families' exchange.

Jiang Yuan carefully thought back at random.

The mask that had formed over his face back then should have concealed his features. As for his build, it was of no consequence.

Jiang Yuan gave a natural hum and followed Wenzhao toward the Zhenyuan Escort Agency's reception hall.

The reception hall was rather grand, like a small palace, displaying the Zhenyuan Escort Agency's deep foundations.

Jiang Yuan followed Wenzhao inside.

At a glance, he saw two men in black robes seated and conversing with three men in green robes.

Behind the three men in green stood four young men and women obediently.

The moment they saw Wenzhao arrive, everyone immediately stood.

"Lord Wen!"

Wenzhao waved his hand.

Standing behind Wenzhao, Jiang Yuan also cupped his hands in greeting to them.

The three men in green were naturally the three Force Transformation experts Jiang Yuan had encountered at Soul-Losing Mountain.

Although Jiang Yuan did not know the two men in black robes, he could tell from their clothing that both were Escort Masters at the Force Transformation level.

Within the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, one could only become an official Escort Master after breaking through to Force Transformation.

Otherwise, no matter how extensive one's escort experience was, one could only remain an Escort Hand.

The Zhenyuan Escort Agency was somewhat harsh and rigorous when it came to its rank system.

Seeing the four youths behind the Fengxing Family members, Wenzhao revealed a strange expression and said in a deep voice, "Yu Hai, why did only four people come this year?"

The oldest-looking of the Fengxing Family's three Force Transformation experts darkened slightly at Wenzhao's words and replied, "My father's injuries have yet to heal..."

Before Yu Hai could finish, Wenzhao's expression sank.

"Hmph! Those dog-eat-dog, fly-and-rat schemes again." Wenzhao snorted, took a letter from his sleeve, and handed it to Yu Hai. "Give this letter to your father."

Afterward, he exchanged a few more casual words with Yu Hai.

At this moment, the young men and women behind Yu Hai's group were all secretly sizing Jiang Yuan up.

They were all guessing who Jiang Yuan might be.

Jiang Yuan sensed their gazes. If nothing unexpected happened, Wenzhao would probably arrange for them to spar with some of the escort agency's disciples next. Jiang Yuan would likely be included as well.

Among the four youths, there were two boys and two girls. The two girls were both petite and delicate, slightly bashful little lolis.

As for the two boys, one looked honest and simple, while the other had sword-like brows and starry eyes.

Jiang Yuan recognized the one with sword-like brows and starry eyes. He was probably that hotheaded fool who had wanted to join the battle between Force Transformation experts back then.