April 20.
Dawn had barely broken.
Morning mist draped over Qingshi Town like a thin veil, the distant mountains looming in and out of sight through the fog. The bluestone roads still retained the dampness of last night's dew.
Chen Xuan appeared at the town entrance and slowly made his way toward the Cross Street Branch.
He had walked through the night, his robes covered in dust and dew, his shoulders and cuffs wrinkled by the night wind. Yet his steps remained steady, without the slightest trace of fatigue. The physique of the Zhuqi Realm was enough to sustain such a long journey.
The guards at the branch entrance saw Chen Xuan and hurried over, relief written across their faces.
"Branch Master, you're back!" One guard immediately stepped forward. "Internal Affairs Envoy Zhao is waiting for you in the council hall."
"Internal Affairs Envoy Zhao came by yesterday too. When he saw that you weren't at the branch, he left. Today, he arrived before dawn."
Another guard added.
"Internal Affairs Envoy Zhao?"
Chen Xuan's heart stirred.
The Internal Affairs Envoy assisted the gang leader in handling the Red Sun Gang's internal affairs. The position was generally held by the gang leader's confidant and ranked above branch masters.
The Red Sun Gang's Internal Affairs Envoy was Zhao Yuanshan.
"I understand."
Chen Xuan nodded, stepped into the branch courtyard, and headed toward the council hall not far away.
Inside the council hall sat a figure.
That man was Zhao Yuanshan.
"Junior Brother Chen." The moment Zhao Yuanshan saw Chen Xuan, he rose to his feet. "You finally came back."
"Senior Brother Zhao, what urgent matter brought you here so early?"
Chen Xuan asked.
"Sit. We'll talk."
Zhao Yuanshan waved a hand.
Chen Xuan entered the council hall, and the two took their respective seats.
A gang member promptly served Chen Xuan a cup of hot tea and replaced the tea before Zhao Yuanshan with a fresh cup before tactfully withdrawing.
Zhao Yuanshan lifted his teacup and took a sip. Then he set it down, looked at Chen Xuan, and went straight to the point. "Junior Brother Chen, have you heard about Baishui Town?"
"Baishui Town?"
Chen Xuan's heart stirred.
He had done it himself. How could he not know?
Yet his expression remained unchanged. "Such a major matter naturally reached my ears. Someone wiped out the Blood Wolf Gang's Baishui Town Branch. The Blood Wolf Gang was enraged and posted rewards to hunt down the culprit. News of it spread to Qingshi Town long ago."
"That's right. The Blood Wolf Gang's Baishui Town Branch was destroyed by one man." Zhao Yuanshan nodded. "Branch Master Han Tieshan died, his heart pierced by a single sword thrust. Zhao Hanjiang, a Ninth Layer of Body Tempering expert who had been hiding there, also died. Even now, no one knows who the culprit is."
Chen Xuan picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and said nothing.
"But that isn't the key matter." Zhao Yuanshan shifted the subject. "The key is who will control Baishui Town now. With the Blood Wolf Gang losing Baishui Town, it was like losing an arm. After losing two Ninth Layer of Body Tempering experts, the Blood Wolf Gang simply couldn't hold that territory. The gang leader and Master Wan of the Iron Sword Sect acted at the same time and seized Baishui Town from the Blood Wolf Gang."
Chen Xuan set down his teacup. "The Red Sun Gang and the Iron Sword Sect have joined hands?"
"Temporarily." Zhao Yuanshan nodded. "Baishui Town is a fat piece of meat. Everyone wants to swallow it whole, but no one can stomach it alone. To avoid both sides being wounded, the gang leader and Master Wan discussed it and decided to first join forces to take Baishui Town, then discuss how to divide it."
Chen Xuan asked, "And what did they decide?"
"Baishui Town has been taken, but both sides want a larger share." Zhao Yuanshan gave a bitter smile. "In the end, Master Wan proposed a plan: let the younger generation compete. Whoever wins gets sixty percent."
Chen Xuan raised a brow. "A competition?"
"That's right." Zhao Yuanshan explained, "Participants must be under twenty years old and must be disciples from Lianshan City. No returning to their sects to invite people, no borrowing people from the prefectural city, and no seeking outside help.
"The rules are simple. Each side sends three people, and victory is determined by two wins out of three. However, a different person may be sent for each round, or the same person may fight all three rounds. As long as they win two matches, that is enough."
"I understand." Chen Xuan said, "The gang leader wants me to take part?"
"Correct!" Zhao Yuanshan nodded. "Junior Brother Chen, you entered the sect at fourteen and cultivated there for three years. You're only seventeen this year, so you meet the age requirement. And though you appear to be at the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering, your true strength goes beyond that. The gang leader said that if you win one match, you will be credited with one Minor Merit. If you can win three matches in a row by yourself, you will be credited with one Great Merit."
"Fine, I agree. When does the competition begin?"
Chen Xuan asked.
Guiyuan Sect's merits could be exchanged for cultivation techniques, pills, weapons, and all manner of resources. The Vajra Technique he cultivated was a Top-Tier Technique, and it was sufficient for now. But if he encountered True Disciples of Overlord-Tier Factions in the future, ones who cultivated Ultimate Arts, then it would no longer be enough.
Therefore, he needed to accumulate merit so that he could exchange it for higher-grade cultivation techniques in the future.
"The competition will be held at noon three days from now, in Baishui Town. The gang leader and Master Wan of the Iron Sword Sect will both be present." Zhao Yuanshan said, "Prepare well. I'll return first to report back. On the morning three days from now, I'll come and accompany you to Baishui Town."
Zhao Yuanshan said.
"No problem."
Chen Xuan nodded.
After seeing Zhao Yuanshan off.
Chen Xuan returned to his room.
He closed the door and took out several Marrow Cleansing Pills from his robe.
There were five Marrow Cleansing Pills in total.
His root bone aptitude was currently middling. Five Marrow Cleansing Pills were enough to raise it from middling to upper-middle grade.
Chen Xuan sat cross-legged on the bed and placed one Marrow Cleansing Pill into his mouth.
The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth, turning into a warm current that flowed down his throat into his abdomen before spreading through his limbs and bones. The warm current nourished his body like spring rain.
Chen Xuan could clearly feel the medicinal power seeping deep into his bone marrow, changing his constitution bit by bit.
Chen Xuan closed his eyes and focused, guiding the medicinal power through his marrow. An unusual numbness spread through him, as if countless ants were crawling deep within his bones, or as though someone were gently pricking him with fine needles. It was not excruciating pain, yet it was almost unbearable.
Time trickled away bit by bit.
Half an hour later, the medicinal power of the first Marrow Cleansing Pill had been fully absorbed.
Chen Xuan opened his eyes and stretched his muscles and bones, producing a series of crackling sounds. He felt as though his body had grown somewhat lighter, and his five senses slightly sharper, but the changes were not obvious.
"One isn't enough."
Without hesitation, Chen Xuan put the second Marrow Cleansing Pill into his mouth.
The familiar sensation returned. Warm medicinal power crashed against his marrow like a tide. He let out a muffled groan and endured the sharp agony of marrow cleansing.
This was a step that marrow cleansing and bone forging inevitably required.
If he gave up halfway, not only would all his previous efforts go to waste, but his foundation would also be damaged.
Another half hour passed.
The second Marrow Cleansing Pill was fully absorbed.
Chen Xuan did not stop and continued by taking the third pill.
After swallowing three Marrow Cleansing Pills, Chen Xuan finally felt a distinct change. His qi and blood grew more vigorous, surging through his meridians like a rushing river, while some of the impurities in his body were expelled.
"Again!"
Chen Xuan swallowed the fourth Marrow Cleansing Pill.
Once this Marrow Cleansing Pill entered his body, its medicinal power seeped into his marrow and burned like blazing fire. The pain made his entire body tremble, cold sweat soaking through his robes.
But he knew that this was the critical moment of marrow cleansing.
Half an hour later, the medicinal power of the fourth Marrow Cleansing Pill had been fully absorbed.
Chen Xuan's face was somewhat pale, but excitement gleamed in his eyes. He could feel that his root bone was only one step away from a breakthrough.
"The last one!"
Without hesitation, Chen Xuan directly swallowed the fifth Marrow Cleansing Pill.
This time, the medicinal power was no longer violent. Instead, it became gentle as water, like spring rain moistening all things without a sound.
That gentle force slowly seeped into the depths of his marrow, clearing away the last trace of impurities and drawing out the final portion of his potential.
Chen Xuan immersed himself in that marvelous sensation, as if he were soaking in a hot spring, feeling more comfortable than ever before.
Soon, another half hour passed.
Host: Chen Xuan Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng Root Bone: Upper-Middle Grade Realm: First Layer of Qi Casting (Early Meridian Opening) Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique / Ninth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist / Mastery, Vajra Technique / Fifth Layer (Qi Meridians Opened: 36/72), Nine Shadow Killing Sword / Second Layer (Proficient) Zhaoxi Value: 0
Chen Xuan looked at the panel.
His root bone had indeed risen to upper-middle grade.
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