The Hidden Currents Beneath Peaceful Qian Province

Before long, a strange movement of energy came from the secret room. A suction force suddenly increased, and Essence Particles were poured into the secret room.

Jiang Liu knew that Luo Shihong was about to advance in rank. This was the first time Jiang Liu had experienced someone else's advancement, because his own advancements were all done with the help of the Data Panel, so he didn't feel any difficulty.

Now I can finally see how others advance in rank.

The energy absorption in the secret chamber grew stronger and stronger, and then Luo Shihong's screams came from inside. Jiang Liu looked up and was about to get up, but he found that the other two guardians looked like they were used to it, so he stopped making any moves.

Before long, the screams inside the secret room grew louder and louder, interspersed with soliloquy, as if Luo Shihong was talking to himself.

Jiang Liu thought to himself, "This must be a test of their inner demons!" Then the arguing inside grew louder and louder, but it was always Luo Shihong's voice that could be heard.

As the arguing continued, the suction force of the vital energy actually grew stronger, and Jiang Liu noticed that the two guardians' faces showed joy.

Sure enough, not long after, a Divine Sense spread out from the secret chamber. Jiang Liu quickly withdrew his own Divine Sense, lest he accidentally swallow Luo Shihong's Divine Sense, which would be a big problem.

Jiang Liu discovered that since his Divine Sense mutated, he had acquired the ability to devour others' Divine Sense to strengthen himself. He should not suffer losses if he encounters a battle of Divine Sense like the one before.

Jiang Liu sensed that Luo Shihong's Divine Sense had increased to a range of over 500 meters before stopping, and then a burst of laughter came from the secret chamber.

The two guardians outside both looked delighted, smiling as they gazed at the secret chamber. It seemed that Luo Shihong had successfully advanced.

Sure enough, not long after, the door to the secret room opened, and Luo Shihong walked out in high spirits.

As soon as Luo Shihong came out, he happily said to Jiang Liu, "Thank you for your help, nephew. Uncle has successfully advanced. Tonight, let's drink until we're drunk!"

Jiang Liu followed Luo Shihong out of the secret chamber and found that it was already dark. A whole day had passed! Thinking about his own advancement, which was as easy as drinking water, the difference was too great.

Looking at Luo Shihong, who was in a sorry state, he had suffered quite a bit. However, judging from Luo Shihong happy expression, he was probably quite happy to have suffered like this.

Not long after, Luo Shihong took his leave and returned to his own courtyard, while Jiang Liu returned to his own courtyard, washed up, and continued to meditate and cultivate, while pondering the difference between this kind of advancement to Grandmaster and his own advancement.

I couldn't help but admire them. It was truly a matter of defying fate for martial artists to advance in their cultivation. After all, once they advanced to the Grandmaster Realm, their lifespan was extended to three hundred years. Although they suffered a lot, many people still rushed to do it as long as they had the chance.

The consequences of failure are not even worth considering. There are only two outcomes if you fail: either you become an idiot or go insane, or you die.

After a while, Luo Shihong sent someone to invite Jiang Liu to the banquet.

Jiang Liu followed the waitress to the courtyard where Luo Shihong was staying and found that many people had already gathered there. They must have all come to congratulate Luo Shihong on his advancement to the Grandmaster Realm.

Not long after, Luo Shihong came out of the hall laughing. As soon as he saw Jiang Liu, he walked up to him warmly and introduced him Jiang Liu everyone.

"Old Li, let me introduce you. This is Jiang Liu, a rising star of our Ascension Tower." Luo Shihong said, pulling Jiang Liu to a middle-aged man.

"Jiang Liu, let me introduce you. This is Li Honglin, a steward of the Haotian Sect and one of the people in charge of Qilin City."

Jiang Liu stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Senior Li!"

Upon hearing this, Li Honglin's eyes lit up, and he looked at Jiang Liu, saying, "Haha, you are truly a formidable young man! I didn't expect that Brother Jiang is already Grandmaster Realm at such a young age. Are you going to Qiancheng to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament?"

"Then Brother Jiang will definitely be among the top ten in this Martial Arts Tournament. Congratulations in advance."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard immediately turned their attention to Jiang Liu. Jiang Liu was only about twenty years old, yet he had already reached the Grandmaster Realm. What would he be like in the future?

They immediately flocked to Jiang Liu and Luo Shihong, and Luo Shihong laughed heartily as he began to introduce them to Jiang Liu.

Those who came to attend Luo Shihong's advancement to Grandmaster banquet were all leaders of various forces in Qilin City, stewards of the three sects, the head of the Physician Pavilion, and leaders of other gangs, totaling about twenty people.

Everyone seemed to be in a harmonious mood, congratulating Luo Shihong and expressing their envy that Ascension Tower had a genius like Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu was kept being forced to drink, and it wasn't until the moon was almost high in the sky that he finally managed to sneak away. When he left, they seemed to be planning to stay up all night, but Jiang Liu wasn't going to do that with them.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Jiang Liu prepared to leave Qilin City. He asked a waitress and learned that the banquet had just ended. He then left a letter for Luo Shihong and leaped into the air, leaving Ascension Tower.

Jiang Liu arrived at the Exotic Beast Plaza, he found many people surrounding the Frostwing Dragon and looking it over. He quickly called over the manager, settled the bill, and then rode the Frostwing Dragon away.

Jiang Liu flew on the back of the Frostwing Dragon for three consecutive days. On this day, as Jiang Liu was about to fly over a jungle, he suddenly saw a cloud of smoke rising from the jungle.

Jiang Liu was puzzled. Even if someone lived in this jungle, there wouldn't be so much smoke! Immediately, Jiang Liu leaped off the back of the Frostwing Dragon and plummeted directly towards the smoke.

Before long, Jiang Liu landed in the smoky jungle, where he saw a large cluster of wooden houses.

Just as Jiang Liu was wondering what was going on, a large group of people suddenly surrounded Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu immediately exuded the aura of a Grandmaster, and the group of people surrounding Jiang Liu collapsed to the ground. Jiang Liu didn't bother with them and quickly withdrew his Grandmaster aura.

At this moment, a man who appeared to be the leader stepped out from behind the crowd, cupped his hands towards Jiang Liu, and said, "My lord, please forgive our offense!"

Jiang Liu glanced around and saw that there were at least one or two thousand wooden houses built here, meaning there were quite a few people living here. Seeing men, women, and children standing in front of the houses, Jiang Liu wondered what was going on. Why did they come here to live instead of staying in the city?

Jiang Liu waved his hand and asked, "Where are you all from? Why are you all living here?"

The chieftain replied, "My lord, we are from a county town under Feiyun City in Yun County. We are forced to live here! We have been driven to desperation."

Jiang Liu frowned upon hearing this, thinking, "Isn't Qian Province under the jurisdiction of the three sects? How come it's so chaotic?" He then asked, "Isn't Qian Province under the jurisdiction of the three sects? How come it's so chaotic?"

"What nonsense about the three sects' jurisdiction. Only Feiyun City is somewhat better. The counties below are being exploited by those gangs to the point of being unable to survive, and the three sects just turn a blind eye to it."

Before the leader could even answer, someone nearby couldn't help but chime in. Then, everyone started recounting their own tragic experiences.

Jiang Liu was speechless after hearing this. The tragic experiences were all different, but in the end, it all boiled down to one sentence: the disciples of the three sects colluded with local forces to exploit the common people.

As a result, most of the population of the surrounding counties fled because they could no longer make a living. They had thought that if they fled to the prefectural city, someone would uphold justice, but in the end, they ended up here.

Jiang Liu sighed inwardly. Such things really happen everywhere. He had thought that the lives of ordinary people would be better under the jurisdiction of the three sects, but it turned out to be worse.

Jiang Liu didn't say anything in the end, turned around and flew onto the Frostwing Dragon, continuing towards Qian City.