A Month, Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer!

"Hmm? You three..."

Zhang Su frowned.

He had no idea what the three of them wanted.

Chu Dachuan took a deep breath, then said, "Senior Brother Zhang, from this day forward, we are willing to follow you. We will brave fire and boiling water without hesitation!"

Zhang Su's gaze swept over the three of them one by one.

"Is this the intention of all three of you?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to follow me? Though I defeated you, my strength isn't actually much greater than yours. In the Outer Sect, disciples stronger than me are everywhere."

Chu Dachuan looked extremely serious as he said firmly, "We have given this careful thought, Senior Brother. In just half a month, you actually cultivated the Nine Shadows Sword Technique to perfection. Such talent in the sword surpasses the entire Outer Sect!"

"Although you failed to cultivate Blood Qi during the past 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 master. Yet after changing techniques, your strength truly soared by leaps and bounds."

"On top of that, you have the Su Family behind you and possess substantial financial resources. You will certainly become an Inner Sect disciple in the future. If you give us even a little support then, we may also have hope of entering the Inner Sect."

A flicker of surprise passed through Zhang Su's eyes.

This Chu Dachuan had not acted on a hot-headed impulse. He truly had thought things through carefully.

He had actually considered matters that far ahead?

"I thought that since you still hadn't gathered 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 that was not quite a smile.

Chu Dachuan shook his head. "What good would it do us to keep clinging to Senior Brother and constantly target you? We are not that foolish."

"Though we were selected by the Guiyuan Sect and possess some talent, disciples with talent like ours are countless within the Guiyuan Sect. If we want to enter the Inner Sect, this little bit of talent alone is not enough. We need silver, connections, and opportunities."

"And the only connection we can reach right now is Senior Brother..."

Zhang Su had not expected Chu Dachuan and the other two to see things so clearly.

When they had previously informed Wang Hai, that little maneuver had really only been intended to make Zhang Su give them Blood Replenishing Pills.

From beginning to end, they had always placed benefits above all else.

Still, Zhang Su found it rather interesting.

There was nothing wrong with wanting benefits.

The prerequisite 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 order me."

Du Tian said, "I can gather all kinds of information for you, Senior Brother. Even if you never leave your door, you can still learn all kinds of news from the Outer Sect."

Chu Dachuan pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "I have some attainments in swordsmanship and can serve as your sparring partner, Senior Brother! And if necessary, when you descend the mountain, we can accompany you as well!"

It had to be said, the three of them were very clever.

They knew what Zhang Su needed.

Zhang Su narrowed his eyes slightly as he weighed the matter inwardly.

Indeed, the three had some value.

Though all three were highly utilitarian.

As long as Zhang Su could keep them beneath him and give them some benefits, people like this would instead 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 is ranked third. His eldest brother inherited the Wang Family estate, but he also has a second brother in the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect. That man is Wang Feng, one of the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples."

"This Wang Hai has some pride. Though Senior Brother taught him a lesson, he did not intend to seek out Wang Feng. Instead, Wang Feng learned of the matter and is currently sending people to investigate you, Senior Brother."

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, work properly for me."

Zhang Su agreed.

Du Tian, Zhao Feng, and Chu Dachuan were overjoyed.

They had originally come from the lowest rungs of society, relying only on a little talent to be selected into the Guiyuan Sect's Outer Sect.

The Guiyuan Sect treated Outer Sect disciples entirely like venomous insects raised in a jar.

Those who could not stand out and enter the Inner Sect 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.

But Zhang Su was different now.

The current Zhang Su was worth following!

"Du Tian, continue keeping an eye on Wang Feng. Report promptly if there is any news."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Zhang Su then turned his gaze toward Chu Dachuan.

He thought of the Triple Wave Sword Technique, which was still only at major mastery, with no sign of reaching perfection.

It should be lacking some sort of "opportunity."

Chu Dachuan was quite suitable as a sparring partner.

"Chu Dachuan, spar with me in swordsmanship."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Thus, while Zhang Su cultivated by taking Blood Replenishing Pills, he also had Chu Dachuan spar with him.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

As usual, Chu Dachuan came prepared to spar with Zhang Su.

But now, he did not dare disturb Zhang Su.

He could only stand quietly beside Zhang Su and wait.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Boom.

A terrifying fluctuation of Blood Qi flashed from Zhang Su's body before vanishing.

Feeling that terrifying Blood Qi fluctuation, Chu Dachuan did not seem overly surprised. Instead, he respectfully bowed to Zhang Su. "Congratulations, Senior Brother. You have condensed one hundred strands of Blood Qi and completed your cultivation. You may now attempt to condense Internal Force!"

Whoosh.

Zhang Su instantly opened his eyes as well.

"Condense Internal Force? I'm still far from that..."

Zhang Su said calmly.

He was not being overly modest. It was simply the truth.

The Blood Qi Realm was divided into nine layers.

Once one could condense ninety strands of Blood Qi, one would enter the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer.

Normally, after entering the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer, one would continue condensing another ten strands of Blood Qi to gather a total of one hundred strands. Only then could one attempt to cultivate techniques that tempered Blood Qi and gave birth to Internal Force from it.

Beyond the Blood Qi Realm lay Internal Force.

This Internal Force was not so easy to produce.

Many Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer martial artists tempered their Blood Qi for years and still could not produce Internal Force.

"Senior Brother, in just one month, you went from the Blood Qi Realm Fourth Layer directly to the Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer and reached the threshold for producing Internal Force. This speed is already unimaginably fast. Producing Internal Force is merely a matter of time for you..."

Chu Dachuan said respectfully.

He no longer had even the slightest thought otherwise.

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 perfection. Combined with taking Blood Nourishing Pills every day, he could nourish two strands of Blood Qi in a single day.

In one month, he had nourished sixty strands of Blood Qi.

Adding the previous forty strands, that made exactly one hundred strands of Blood Qi!

To Zhang Su, this was simple.

But in the eyes of Chu Dachuan and the others, it was utterly unimaginable.

"Come, let's 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 power.

Even though Zhang Su had already suppressed his own Blood Qi.

With merely 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 face darkened.

"Senior Brother, I..."

Chu Dachuan knew very well that he no longer even qualified to serve as a sparring partner.

What use could he still be to Zhang Su?

Zhang Su glanced at the System Panel.

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation: Blood Qi Realm Ninth Layer

Triple Wave: Compatibility 91% (Major Mastery)

Compatibility Points: 1

A full month had passed. Even with Chu Dachuan sparring with him, Zhang Su's Triple Wave Sword Technique remained only at major mastery.

There was not the slightest sign of perfection.

Zhang Su knew that the reason lay with Chu Dachuan.

Chu Dachuan practiced swift swordsmanship, while Zhang Su practiced Triple Wave, which excelled in power. His opponent could not even withstand a single stroke from him.

How could Zhang Su find an opportunity under such circumstances?

If he wanted to bring the Triple Wave Sword Technique to perfection, it would be best to exchange blows with someone using a similar martial technique. Only then might inspiration flash through his mind, or an opportunity appear.

Could it be that he really had to use a Compatibility Point?

This one Compatibility Point had been obtained after bringing the Taotie Blood Nourishing Technique to perfection.

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 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 drafted a list. Please look it over."

Chu Dachuan seemed to have prepared in advance and immediately took out a list.

"Hmm?"

"You are quite thorough..."

Zhang Su was very satisfied.

Though 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 man was Wang Hai's second brother.