Chengping Year 2, January 4

Chengping Year 2, January 4, morning

Master Ma had been standing in Apprentice Plaza since early morning. Once all the apprentices had arrived, he announced, "Next month's assessment—anyone who hasn't reached Bone Tempering will be transferred to Miscellaneous Affairs Hall! All right, everyone, start cultivating!"

After saying that, Master Ma turned and left.

The apprentices immediately panicked when they heard this! Those who had only recently entered Flesh Hardening worked themselves even harder.

From then on, for an entire month, not a single hour passed in Apprentice Plaza without someone there.

Those with deep pockets went to Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to buy pills, then swallowed them and cultivated right there in the plaza.

Those without a quota for purchasing pills went outside to buy pills or medicinal herbs, then returned to boil them into medicine.

Others went to Medicine Hall to buy medicinal decoctions. However, the decoctions from Medicine Hall were also limited by quota; they weren't something you could buy just because you had silver. Contribution points, on the other hand, could be exchanged for them freely. But they were all apprentices—where would they get contribution points? Contribution points were not allowed to be bought or sold.

"Wang Zhuang, how many bones have you tempered?" Jiang Liu turned his head and asked.

"I've already reached the third one! What about you?" Wang Zhuang replied, his face twisted with pain.

Bone Tempering was truly too painful. Every time he circulated his qi and blood, it felt as though he were being stabbed with needles—and he was the one personally holding the needles. This state would continue for a long time, too. Wang Zhuang shuddered with dread whenever he thought about it.

"Oh! Three bones already? That's not slow at all. How many of them do you think have started Bone Tempering?" Jiang Liu asked, gesturing toward the apprentices.

"I don't want to know how many of them have started Bone Tempering. Right now, I only want to finish Bone Tempering as quickly as possible. Being in pain like this every day—I'm really about to go crazy!"

Looking at Wang Zhuang, who seemed on the verge of being driven mad, Jiang Liu grew a little curious. Could Bone Tempering really be that painful? But I don't feel any pain when I temper my bones. If anything, it feels quite comfortable.

Especially after tempering one bone, it felt like drinking an ice-cold beverage on a scorching summer day. Speaking of that, Jiang Liu began to miss the cold drinks of his previous life again. Eating ice cream in winter—now that was refreshing!

After Wang Zhuang finished speaking, he sat cross-legged and began circulating his qi and blood to temper his bones.

Looking at Wang Zhuang's expression, as though he were marching to his death, Jiang Liu was rendered speechless. Unable to bear watching, he could only shake his head and return to his small residential courtyard, beginning his daily cultivation routine.

With a thought from Jiang Liu, a deep-blue light screen appeared.

Auxiliary System:

Name: Jiang Liu

Realm: Body Refinement (Bone Tempering 51.2/206)

Alchemy (Beginner 37/100)

Five Elements Fist (Greater Mastery 237/600)

Wandering Steps (Minor Mastery 162/800)

Jiang Liu stared at the Data Panel, sinking into thought. Should he, like Wang Zhuang, focus all his strength on Bone Tempering first?

Then he shook his head. Even at his current pace, he would be able to complete Bone Tempering in about half a year.

There was no need to neglect his technique cultivation. He had to develop in every aspect. Otherwise, he would have strength but be unable to bring his actual combat power into play.

There's no need to think so much. I'll just keep cultivating! Only with strength can I control my own life and death!

Jiang Liu composed himself and devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.

"Master Lin, those few people from Scattered Eagle Hall have confessed!" Lin Hai hurried into the main hall of Hunting Eagle Hall.

"Why are you rushing around like that? What's the matter? Don't panic—speak slowly!" Master Lin scolded.

"The masterminds behind those few people we caught cheating before the New Year have confessed. It's been confirmed that Zheng Lang ordered them. This is the testimony!" As Lin Hai spoke, he handed the testimony to Master Lin.

Master Lin took it and glanced over it before casually setting it on the table. "You did very well! It's a pity that this alone isn't enough to nail Zheng Lang."

"It's already an established fact. How can we still not nail Zheng Lang?" Lin Hai asked in disbelief.

"What have I taught you? Think things through. You want to nail a branch hall master with just this? If that were enough, then branch hall masters would be far too worthless!" After saying this, Master Lin released the force of his qi.

Lin Hai instantly felt as if he had been cast into raging seas and towering waves! He was like a small boat caught in a storm, liable to capsize at any moment!

Master Lin then withdrew his qi. Only then could Lin Hai feel that he was able to control his own body again.

He more or less understood Master Lin's meaning. Zheng Lang was also a Grade Five martial artist, so ordinary methods were useless against him.

Testimony like this could still be used against ordinary people. But against a Grade Five martial artist, it was utterly inadequate.

"Then, Master Lin, are we just going to let him off?" Lin Hai asked unwillingly.

"Let him off? How could that be possible? Although we can't do anything to him directly, we can damage his reputation. That's still a blow to him. When we get another chance, we'll settle everything with him in one stroke." Master Lin said.

"In that case, send the people and their statements to Punishment Hall at the main hall. Make sure you go when there are plenty of people around. After delivering them, have our Wind Hall take action. It must be done inconspicuously—make sure the entire Fallen Blossom Gang learns that Zheng Lang is nothing more than someone who knows how to fight among his own people." Master Lin instructed.

"Yes, Master Lin! I'll make sure it's handled properly!" Lin Hai bowed and replied.

After saying that, Lin Hai hurried out and left.