Introduction

The sky gradually darkened.

The remaining disciples of the martial arts hall left one after another.

Seeing that it was getting late.

Coincidentally, Meng Zhaowu hadn't eaten dinner yet.

So Chen Feng found an eatery, planning to eat and chat.

Fusheng Tower, second floor.

A table by the window.

The main hall downstairs was bustling with noise, the shouts of the waiters, the clamor of people playing dice games, and the clinking of chopsticks against bowls blended into one.

This corner, however, was exceptionally quiet.

The dishes on the table were already served: a plate of braised beef, a dish of peanuts, several fresh vegetable dishes, and two pots of yellow wine.

Chen Feng picked up his cup and took a sip of yellow wine.

The warmth flowed down his throat, spreading a ball of warmth in his stomach.

"Chen Xiong, if you want to take up a position outside, my first recommendation would be the Changwei Escort Agency."

Meng Zhaowu picked up a slice of beef and put it in his mouth.

"Can you explain in detail?"

"This escort agency has a great connection with our martial arts hall. First of all, the head escort, Yang Changwei, is a comrade-in-arms with our Hall Master."

"Given their many years of friendship, I'm sure you'll receive preferential treatment if you go to the agency."

Chen Feng suddenly realized there was this connection.

"Not only that, but Yang Zong Biao Tou's son also learned staff techniques at our martial arts hall."

"Therefore, Changwei Escort Agency has always been the first choice for Formal Disciples of our martial arts hall. Some also become escorts after graduating."

Meng Zhaowu took a small sip of wine.

Chen Feng also took a small sip.

"Escorting missions earn a lot, but the risks are also high. After all, the situation outside the city nowadays, you know it without me saying much..."

Chen Feng nodded.

Outside the city, there were either strange beasts or mountain bandits. Ordinary fierce beasts and poisonous creatures were considered good.

I heard there are also Mountain Demons appearing... Of course, that might just be a rumor.

Chen Feng had only heard it secondhand.

Without seeing it with his own eyes, it was hard to jump to conclusions.

"Besides Changwei Escort Agency, you can also serve as a retainer for some wealthy gentry families. The Blood Refining Realm is still quite sought after."

"If it's a large family, the resources will be even more abundant, but it won't be an employment relationship. It's more like a disguised investment."

"Investment?"

Meng Zhaowu explained in detail:

"Large families generally already employ martial artists of higher realms as retainers, but what they want is longer-term stability."

"For example, the Cheng family and the Su family, they recruit talent from various martial arts schools in the city every year and sign contracts."

Meng Zhaowu knew some things about Chen Feng.

He deliberately did not mention the Li family.

The Li, Su, and Cheng families were the three great families of Pingcheng, controlling both the underworld and the legitimate world, colluding with officials within the city and bandits outside the city.

They were almost all-powerful.

"It's equivalent to using enormous resources in exchange for future favors. Once the trainees graduate, they are taken in as guests under their own banner, cultivated as future retainers."

Chen Feng had already ruled out this path in his mind.

Let alone whether his Master would allow it.

Even if his Master allowed it, he wouldn't choose it.

Selling his future to others was something Chen Feng could not accept.

"Then there are some smaller factions, gangs, and the like. They will have more demands."

"But at the same time, they will value martial arts school disciples more, increasing resource investment in the early stages, but their support will be weaker later on."

Reaching the later stages of martial arts requires immense resources.

Smaller factions have weak capital.

They cannot invest too much in one person.

Chen Feng picked up food and put it in his mouth, nodding in agreement with Meng Zhaowu's statement.

"Finally, there's public service, like going through the Martial Arts Grand Examination, or joining the army, but nowadays..."

Even if Meng Zhaowu didn't continue, Chen Feng understood.

Daliang's bureaucratic system was rotten to the core.

Those at the top were either corrupt or took bribes. Even with war at their doorstep, they could still do disgusting things like withholding military pay.

The Martial Arts Examination was also getting worse year by year.

At least in Pingcheng.

He hadn't heard of any Martial Artists going to participate in the Martial Arts Grand Examination.

The salary was too little.

Even being a Mountain Bandit was more carefree and merry than being a Martial Scholar.

As for Juren, Pingcheng hadn't produced one in many years.

Many Martial Artists who became bandits did so with the mindset of "enjoy a few years first, then accept the imperial amnesty later."

This was the current state of Daliang.

One word:

Rotten.

After listening to Meng Zhaowu's analysis, Chen Feng felt it was thorough.

Many key points were highlighted.

The pros and cons were laid out before Chen Feng.

But he had a question and couldn't help but ask:

"Brother Meng, aren't you going to introduce your family's merchant association?"

Meng Zhaowu quickly waved his hands and repeatedly explained:

"I truly want to be friends with Brother Chen, not for profit. That's why I didn't mention my family's merchant association, because I don't want our friendship to be tainted by profit."

"In the merchant association, besides my father, there are others. They will definitely think about earning more from Brother Chen..."

"If, in the end, a rift forms because of worldly things like money, I'll have no one to blame but myself."

Chen Feng was stunned.

Then he burst into laughter.

"Good! Brother Meng, I'll toast you."

He then filled the wine glass beside him and downed it in one gulp.

Meng Zhaowu also filled his own cup and drank it dry.

Time passed, with clinking glasses and lively conversation.

The two drank and chatted happily.

When the cups were empty and the plates cleared.

Chen Feng called the waiter to settle the bill.

At the entrance of the restaurant.

As they parted ways, Meng Zhaowu couldn't help but pour out his feelings, complaining about some people in the merchant guild.

"They always think I'm useless, that I didn't study well, and that my martial arts training hasn't yielded any results..."

"They also think I have poor judgment, saying I'm not cut out for business. What kind of talk is that..."

Chen Feng chuckled and agreed.

After seeing Meng Zhaowu off.

Chen Feng returned to his dormitory.

He planned to sleep soundly.

This was the first time he had lived in such a nice room since his transmigration.

It was time for him to enjoy himself.

"However..."

Chen Feng's thoughts stirred--

[Experience]: 12697

[Cultivation Techniques]: Five Elements Fist Technique (Proficient), Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique (Perfected)

"Should I max out the Five Elements Fist Technique?"

He definitely had enough experience now.

But...

Chen Feng was afraid that like the Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique last time, after maxing it out, there would be a huge leap that would leave him sprawled outside the house.

The sky as his blanket, the earth as his bed.

It was not a pleasant experience.

[Five Elements Fist Technique]: Proficient (0/1500)

Hiss~

Chen Feng felt the panel was tempting him.

After deliberation.

Click!

Max it out for me!

How can someone cheating hesitate?

It's simply outrageous.

After scolding himself, Chen Feng quickly ran to the bed, rubbing his little hands as he looked at the panel.

As the saying goes, learn from your mistakes.

Even if he fainted this time.

He would faint on the bed.

"System! Add points!"

Chen Feng shouted in his heart.

Experience points were rapidly decreasing.

His mind felt like a movie was playing, reviewing all the essentials of the Five Elements Fist Technique, memorizing them by heart.

At the same time, a familiar feeling surged within him. His muscles, bones, bone marrow, and internal organs all began to change.

It was as if he had been cultivating the Five Elements Fist Technique for many years.

It appeared...

With the martial art proficiency increasing.

It drove Chen Feng's own realm to improve!

In just a few short breaths, it was equivalent to his many days of arduous cultivation!

[Experience]: 9197

[Cultivation Technique]: Five Elements Fist Technique (Mastered), Tai Chi Profound Origin Technique (Mastered)

The moment the Five Elements Fist Technique advanced to Mastered.

Chen Feng felt his entire body surge with power!

All the marrow in his bones began to transform, and his bones and muscles also changed!

Accompanying this was the frantic consumption of Blood Qi...

Chen Feng was immersed in the joy of his rapidly increasing strength.

"Wait..."

"Frantic consumption of Blood Qi...?"

A bad feeling arose in Chen Feng's heart.