"Hm? You three..."
Zhang Su frowned.
He did not know what the three of them wanted.
Chu Dachuan drew a deep breath, then said, "Senior Brother Zhang, from this day onward, we are willing to follow you. We will brave seas of fire and mountains of swords without hesitation!"
Zhang Su's gaze swept across the three of them one by one.
"Is this the intention of all three of you?"
"Yes."
"Why do you want to follow me? Although I defeated you, my strength is not actually that much greater than yours. In the Outer Sect, there are countless disciples stronger than me."
Chu Dachuan looked extremely serious as he said firmly, "We have thought this through carefully before deciding to follow you, Senior Brother. In barely half a month, you cultivated the Nine Shadows Sword Technique to the Perfected Realm. Such talent in the sword far surpasses anyone in the entire Outer Sect!"
"Although you failed to cultivate Blood Qi during the previous year, that was because you chose the wrong technique. The Great River Divine Art is something few people in the entire history of the Guiyuan Sect have managed to cultivate successfully. After changing techniques, your strength truly advanced by leaps and bounds."
"Moreover, you have the Su Family behind you and possess abundant financial resources. You will certainly become an Inner Sect disciple in the future. When that time comes, if you give us even a little support, we may also have a chance to advance into the Inner Sect."
A flicker of surprise passed through Zhang Su's eyes.
This Chu Dachuan was not acting on a hot-headed impulse. He had indeed given it deep thought.
He had actually considered matters so far ahead?
"I thought that since you had failed to gather the Blood Replenishing Pills after ten days, you were deliberately stalling, perhaps even thinking of ways to deal with me."
Zhang Su said with a faint smile.
Chu Dachuan shook his head. "What benefit would there be for us in clinging to you and constantly targeting you, Senior Brother? We are not that foolish."
"Although the Guiyuan Sect selected us because we have some talent, disciples with talent like ours are innumerable within the sect. If we want to advance into the Inner Sect, this little talent alone is not enough. We need silver, connections, and opportunities."
"And the only connection we can reach right now is you, Senior Brother..."
Zhang Su had not expected Chu Dachuan and the other two to see things so clearly.
Their earlier little move of notifying Wang Hai had actually been intended to make Zhang Su give them Blood Replenishing Pills.
From beginning to end, they had always put benefits first.
However, Zhang Su found that rather interesting.
There was nothing wrong with wanting benefits.
The premise was that they had to be valuable.
"What can you do for me?"
Zhang Su asked.
Zhao Feng spoke up. "I can run errands for you, Senior Brother. If you need anything done, you can directly instruct me."
Du Tian said, "I can gather all kinds of information for you, Senior Brother. Even if you do not leave your quarters, you can still learn about all sorts of matters in the Outer Sect."
Chu Dachuan pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "I have some attainments in sword techniques and can serve as your sparring partner, Senior Brother! Moreover, if necessary, when you descend the mountain, we can accompany you as well!"
It had to be said that the three of them were clever.
They knew what Zhang Su needed.
Zhang Su narrowed his eyes slightly, weighing things in his heart.
Indeed, the three of them had some value.
Although they were highly utilitarian.
As long as Zhang Su could keep them beneath him and offer them some benefits, people like this would actually be easier to use.
"Oh, right. I have another piece of news that may be of some use to you, Senior Brother."
Du Tian paused, then continued, "Wang Hai is a direct descendant of the Wang Family. He ranks third. His eldest brother inherited the Wang Family's estate, but he also has a second brother in the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect. That brother is Wang Feng, one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples."
"This Wang Hai is rather prideful. Although you taught him a lesson, Senior Brother, he did not intend to seek out Wang Feng. Instead, after Wang Feng learned of the matter, he began sending people to investigate you."
Zhang Su was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
"Wang Feng..."
He remembered that name.
One of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, at the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer.
He was striving to advance into the Inner Sect.
Zhang Su simply had not known before that Wang Feng was Wang Hai's second brother.
Zhang Su gave Du Tian a deep look.
"Fine. From now on, serve me properly."
Zhang Su agreed.
Du Tian, Zhao Feng, and Chu Dachuan were overjoyed.
They had originally come from humble backgrounds and had only entered the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect through a little talent.
The Guiyuan Sect treated Outer Sect disciples entirely like poisonous insects raised in a jar.
If they could not stand out and advance into the Inner Sect, they would ultimately fade into the masses.
Poor children grew up early.
They had long understood the principle of following the right person.
In the past, Zhang Su's every action had seemed childish and foolish to them.
Naturally, they would not follow someone childish and foolish.
However, Zhang Su was different now.
The current Zhang Su was worth following!
"Du Tian, continue keeping an eye on Wang Feng. Report any news promptly."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Zhang Su then turned his gaze toward Chu Dachuan.
He thought of the Triple Wave Sword Technique, which had remained at the Major Accomplishment Realm without any sign of reaching the Perfected Realm.
It should have been lacking some kind of "opportunity."
Chu Dachuan was quite suitable as a sparring partner.
"Chu Dachuan, spar with me in swordsmanship."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Thus, Zhang Su cultivated while taking Blood Replenishing Pills and had Chu Dachuan spar with him.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
As usual, Chu Dachuan prepared to spar with Zhang Su.
However, he now dared not disturb Zhang Su.
He could only stand quietly at Zhang Su's side and wait.
No one knew how much time passed.
Boom.
A terrifying fluctuation of Blood Qi flashed from Zhang Su's body and vanished in an instant.
Sensing that terrifying fluctuation of Blood Qi, Chu Dachuan did not seem particularly surprised. Instead, he respectfully bowed to Zhang Su. "Congratulations, Senior Brother. You have condensed one hundred strands of Blood Qi and brought your cultivation to the Perfected Realm. You can now try condensing Internal Force!"
Swish.
Zhang Su opened his eyes at once.
"Condensing Internal Force? I am still far from it..."
Zhang Su said calmly.
He was not being overly modest. It was simply the truth.
The Blood Qi Realm was divided into nine layers.
As long as one could condense ninety strands of Blood Qi, one could enter the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer.
Under ordinary circumstances, after entering the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer, one would continue condensing another ten strands of Blood Qi. Once one gathered one hundred strands, one could attempt to cultivate techniques that tempered Blood Qi and gave birth to Internal Force from within it.
Above the Blood Qi Realm was Internal Force.
Internal Force was not so easily born.
Many Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer martial artists spent several years tempering their Blood Qi yet still could not produce Internal Force.
"Senior Brother, in one month, you went from the Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer straight to the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer and reached the threshold for giving birth to Internal Force. Such speed is already unimaginably fast. Producing Internal Force is only a matter of time for you..."
Chu Dachuan said respectfully.
He no longer had even the slightest thought of competing.
Because over this past month, he had watched Zhang Su rise from the Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer to the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer with his own eyes. He had long since gone numb.
This was perfectly normal.
Zhang Su's Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique had already reached the Perfected Realm. Coupled with taking Blood Nourishing Pills every day, he could cultivate two strands of Blood Qi per day.
In one month, he cultivated sixty strands of Blood Qi.
Adding the previous forty strands of Blood Qi made exactly one hundred strands!
For Zhang Su, this was very simple.
But in Chu Dachuan's and the others' eyes, it was utterly unimaginable.
"Come, let us practice swordsmanship."
Thus, Chu Dachuan began serving as Zhang Su's sparring partner.
Zhang Su used the Triple Wave Sword Technique.
What this sword technique required was not speed, but strength.
Even though Zhang Su had already suppressed his own Blood Qi.
It took only one move.
Bang.
Chu Dachuan felt his entire body shudder.
The sword in his hand flew from his grasp and fell to the ground.
Clang.
Looking at the sword on the ground, Chu Dachuan's expression darkened.
"Senior Brother, I..."
Chu Dachuan knew very well that he no longer even qualified to be a sparring partner.
What use could he still be to Zhang Su?
Zhang Su glanced at the System Panel.
Host: Zhang Su Cultivation Base: Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer Triple Wave: Compatibility Rate 91% (Major Accomplishment Realm) Compatibility Points: 1
A full month had passed. Even with Chu Dachuan as a sparring partner, Zhang Su's Triple Wave Sword Technique remained only at the Major Accomplishment Realm.
There was not the slightest sign of reaching the Perfected Realm.
Zhang Su knew the reason lay with Chu Dachuan.
Chu Dachuan practiced swift sword techniques, while Zhang Su practiced Triple Wave, which excelled in strength. The other party could not even receive a single strike from him.
Under such circumstances, how could Zhang Su find an opportunity?
If he wanted to bring the Triple Wave Sword Technique to the Perfected Realm, it would be best to exchange moves with someone using a martial technique of the same type. Only then might a flash of inspiration come, or an opportunity appear.
Did he truly have to use one Compatibility Point?
This Compatibility Point had been obtained when the Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique reached the Perfected Realm.
Compatibility Points were hard to come by.
Using it on the Triple Wave Sword Technique would be somewhat wasteful.
"Chu Dachuan, are there any Outer Sect disciples who practice sword techniques or saber techniques similar to the Triple Wave Sword Technique? Their cultivation must be high—preferably also at the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer."
Zhang Su asked.
"Yes. Senior Brother, I have already drawn up a list. Please examine it."
Chu Dachuan seemed to have prepared for this long ago and immediately took out a list.
"Hm?"
"You are quite meticulous..."
Zhang Su was very satisfied.
Although Chu Dachuan was no longer a qualified sparring partner, he could still understand what Zhang Su needed.
Zhang Su took the list and swept his gaze over it.
The first name on the list made Zhang Su narrow his eyes slightly.
"Wang Feng..."
Zhang Su had not forgotten this name.
The other party was Wang Hai's second brother.
Before you continue