14 Privileges

After a while, the foreign-surnamed Da Dou Shi and Chen Zihang each chose a Dou Technique and left.

Chen Cheng was the only one left in the room browsing through the Dou Techniques.

At last, Chen Cheng stopped in front of a Mysterious High-Rank Dou Technique.

It was a poison-attribute Dou Technique called "Fallen Body Needle."

Its general principle was to condense Poison Dou Qi into an invisible poison needle and use it to catch an enemy off guard. Because the poison needle condensed from Poison Dou Qi was so tiny, it was difficult to detect or defend against.

The damage of the Fallen Body Needle depended on the toxicity carried by the poison master. The greater the amount of poison they carried, the greater its damage. Moreover, within an extremely short period, it could mutate with the opponent's Dou Qi inside their body, strengthening the poison and inflicting continuous damage. Once the opponent's body could no longer withstand the toxin, they would perish.

The minimum cultivation requirement for the Fallen Body Needle was Dou Zhi Li Level 7. Although Chen Cheng was only at Dou Zhi Li Level 3, he felt that reaching Dou Zhi Li Level 7 would not take him too long.

This Poison Dou Technique is pretty good. I can take it back first and begin cultivating it once my cultivation is high enough, Chen Cheng thought as he held the Fallen Body Needle manual.

"Steward Chen Guan, I'll take this one. What procedures do I need to borrow it?" Chen Cheng asked, raising the Dou Technique in his hand toward Steward Chen Guan.

Hearing Chen Cheng's voice, Chen Guan glanced at the name of the Dou Technique in his hand, and his expression changed slightly.

So it's this Dou Technique. As expected of the Family Head's son. It seems he intends to develop in the direction of a poison master, Chen Guan thought.

Chen Yuan was a Dou Emperor-level poison master. In a place like the Izumo Empire, where poison masters were everywhere, he held an extremely important position. As Chen Yuan's only son, it seemed perfectly natural for Chen Cheng's first chosen Dou Technique to be poison-attributed.

"Hehe, Young Master, just come with me and register it," Chen Guan said with a smile.

"Alright, lead the way," Chen Cheng said.

Chen Cheng did not inspect each of the more than three hundred Profound Rank Dou Techniques and Cultivation Methods one by one. After obtaining the Fallen Body Needle, he left the inner court. As he passed through the main hall, he casually picked up a Low-Rank Yellow Dou Technique called "Tiger Fighting Skill."

It was a close-combat Dou Technique. While practicing it, one's entire body would receive thorough training without one even noticing.

Chen Cheng did not particularly value the Tiger Fighting Skill's practical combat ability. What he valued was merely its method of strengthening the body.

Led by Chen Guan, Chen Cheng arrived at the registration area.

There were five windows in total. Long lines stood before the two rightmost windows. There were far fewer people at the two middle windows. The leftmost window, however, was completely empty, yet no one from the other four windows tried to crowd over to it.

"Young Master, those two windows are registration points for non-family members. Foreign-surnamed stewards and Family Guards all register there. There are quite a lot of people," Chen Guan said to Chen Cheng, pointing at the two windows with the long lines on the far right.

The people at those two windows were dressed rather uniformly. Most wore the standard-issue guard uniforms of the Chen Family. For them, Yellow Rank Cultivation Methods were already more than sufficient.

The Chen Family governed an entire prefecture and controlled immense power. With such a vast family estate, there were naturally many foreign-surnamed personnel, and many people came each day to obtain Dou Techniques.

"The two in the middle are registration points for direct descendants of the Chen Family. There are fewer people, so they're faster," Chen Guan continued, pointing to the two middle windows.

The people at the middle two windows wore all sorts of clothing, and there were many young men and women. However, they all had one thing in common: their clothes were expensive, and they carried themselves with extraordinary poise.

"As for the leftmost window, it is reserved for the Family Head, the elders, and the four foreign-surnamed retainers," Chen Guan explained, pointing at the leftmost window.

"Young Master, please come with me. With your status, you may register at this window," Chen Guan said with a smile, then led Chen Cheng toward the leftmost window.

The Chen Family's two Dou Emperors and four Dou Wangs held absolutely exalted status within the family. Even if they borrowed a Dou Technique and never returned it, it would not be a big deal. Yet a family had to have its rules, so people at this level still needed to register when taking a Dou Technique.

At the very least, the family needed to know where those Dou Techniques had gone.

Although the three foreign-surnamed Dou Wangs and one fifth-grade alchemist—the four retainers—did not possess authority as great as the two Dou Emperors and four Dou Wangs, their identities made them immensely helpful to the Chen Family. Thus, they too were granted special privileges.

When Chen Cheng headed toward the first window, he drew many gazes.

"Who is that? Steward Chen Guan is actually taking him to the elders' exclusive window. Isn't he putting on far too many airs?" a direct descendant of the Chen Family said in surprise.

As members of the Chen Family, they all possessed high status. Thinking themselves superior to ordinary people, they believed they were nobler than others. They used the exclusive windows for direct descendants and enjoyed faster service, so they instinctively felt superior to the two lines of foreign-surnamed people on the right.

But now, an unknown person had suddenly appeared with even greater privileges than theirs, and naturally they felt unbalanced.

"That's Steward Chen Guan. How can he do this? Is he openly letting someone cut in through the back door?" a girl said indignantly.

Lin Ling was also greatly surprised as she watched Chen Cheng pass by her.

For special reasons, although she was not a direct descendant of the Chen Family, she enjoyed the privileges reserved for direct descendants.

Who exactly is he? Steward Chen Guan personally accompanied him while he chose a Dou Technique, and he can even use the elders' exclusive window to register, Lin Ling thought, her heart filled with doubt. Her brows furrowed tightly, unable to make sense of it no matter how she thought.

"Could he be the Young Master? I heard the Family Head only brought him back ten days ago. After thinking it over, only the Young Master could have such privileges."

The news of Chen Cheng's return to the Chen Family could not be concealed, and many people knew of it. However, Chen Cheng rarely showed himself, and very few had seen what he looked like.

"The Young Master? Didn't people say he had no Dou Qi? How long has it been? He's already here selecting Dou Techniques or Cultivation Methods?" someone asked doubtfully.

"The Family Clan Meeting is in three days. He should attend it, right? Once his cultivation is tested on the Magic Stone Tablet, won't we know whether he has cultivation or not? As the Family Head's son, if he really turns out to have no cultivation at all, it won't just be him—even the Family Head will lose face." One person was initially quite excited, but then seemed to think of something, and a trace of worry appeared on his face.

If the Family Head lost face, then the Chen Family would lose face as well, and they, as members of the family, would also feel ashamed.

They shared glory and disgrace. That was what family meant.

"Probably not, right?" someone said uncertainly.

"He seems to be over sixteen already. He's past the age when he needs to attend the clan meeting. No one would force him to undergo a cultivation test on the Magic Stone Tablet."

"Chen Cheng?" Chen Zihang stood in the line with his brows tightly furrowed, staring at Chen Cheng as he handled the borrowing procedures at the counter, silently repeating the name in his heart.

A few days ago, several maidservants and servants had suddenly been transferred from the family to Linjiang Courtyard, and one of Chen Zihang's servants had been among them.

Although a mere servant meant nothing at all to Chen Zihang, having one handed over to someone else just like that still made him lose face.

So you're that mysterious Young Master. I'd like to see what gives you the right to take my things, Chen Zihang thought.

The Chen Family members quietly discussed Chen Cheng, while the people in the other two lines made no sound.

Most of these people were family guards, maidservants, or household servants. The highest-ranking among them were merely branch-line stewards.

Compared to the Chen Family's direct line, they could only be considered servants or hired help.

Members of the Chen Family's direct line could discuss Chen Cheng because of their status. These people, however, had no right to speak of their master or employer.

The Chen Family's hierarchy was strict, and no one dared violate such a taboo.

"So this is the Young Master. I'd better remember what he looks like. Otherwise, if I run into him someday and fail to recognize him, accidentally offending him, I won't have an easy time of it."

"Once I get back, I need to tell Little Liuzi, Kang, and the others not to clash with the Young Master."

Most of the Guards felt rather fearful of Chen Cheng.

It was Chen Cheng's first time at the Chen Family estate, and the Guards knew nothing of his personality or preferences. Yet Chen Cheng held an exceptionally high position, so they only dared treat him with respect from afar.

Chen Cheng turned a deaf ear to the comments around him. After completing the formalities, he left Dou Qi Pavilion with Huang Yaoshi, carrying two sets of Dou Techniques.