Assassination

"So, most geniuses with Superior Bone Aptitude chose to cultivate Top-Tier Techniques. At most, they might try cultivating an Ultimate Art. Basically, no one would cultivate a Divine Art."

"Under normal circumstances, as long as geniuses with Superior Bone Aptitude did not die young, even the worst among them could reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Casting. One or two out of every ten could become Martial Grandmasters. As for Transcendent Bone Aptitude, there was no need to mention it—if the sect devoted its full efforts to nurturing them, they were certain to become grandmasters."

"Although only cultivating a Divine Art and forging the strongest foundation gave one hope of glimpsing a realm above the grandmaster level—otherwise, one could only stop at the grandmaster level—aside from those born with Innate Spirit Bodies, no one was willing to waste time cultivating a Divine Art."

"For most martial artists, becoming a Martial Grandmaster was already enough to roam the world unopposed, let alone reaching the grandmaster realm or beyond. Divine Arts were left gathering dust on high shelves. With no one cultivating them, naturally no one could master them."

Zhao Yuanshan summed up.

So that was how it was.

After hearing Zhao Yuanshan's explanation, Chen Xuan understood.

For others, time was an insurmountable heavenly chasm.

For example, if cultivating a Divine Art to the First Layer of Qi Casting took four years, then reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Casting would take more than a thousand years.

A thousand years of bitter cultivation meant ten lifetimes of reincarnation. Who possessed such a lifespan?

Even Qi Casting Realm martial artists, even those who reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Casting, had lifespans of no more than two hundred years. Compared to a thousand years, it fell far short.

Even if cultivating a Divine Art could forge the strongest foundation, no one would cultivate one.

But for him, it was not a problem.

One point of Zhaoxi Value every day was equivalent to a year of bitter cultivation.

A thousand years translated to less than three years. The so-called barrier of time was practically nonexistent for him.

Not to mention merely getting a Divine Art started—even bringing one to great mastery, what difficulty was there in that?

"Senior Brother Zhao, what conditions must I meet to become an Inner Disciple?" Chen Xuan asked.

"If Junior Brother has not been assigned outside and breaks through to the Zhuqi Realm within the prescribed time, he may be promoted directly," Zhao Yuanshan explained. "But for externally assigned disciples, after breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm, they must apply to the sect and pass an assessment task before they can be promoted."

"An externally assigned disciple only needs to pass an assessment after applying for promotion upon breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm."

Chen Xuan picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip.

The Zhuqi Realm.

He was already there.

"Senior Brother Zhao, how long does the assessment for an externally assigned disciple applying to become an Inner Disciple usually take?" Chen Xuan asked.

"Junior Brother Chen, could it be that you have already reached the Zhuqi Realm?"

At those words, Zhao Yuanshan revealed a surprised expression.

"That's right!" Chen Xuan nodded, then said, "On the road from the sect to Tiannan Prefecture, I passed through a mountain forest and suddenly caught the scent of an unusual fragrance. When I went to investigate, I discovered a fruit radiating golden light. After swallowing it, I felt as though my entire body had been reborn. Then, when I cultivated the Vajra Technique, it was as though divine aid had descended. In just a few days, I attained Copper Skin and Iron Bone, then broke through to the Zhuqi Realm."

"So you truly have reached the Zhuqi Realm."

Zhao Yuanshan was somewhat stunned.

Although Chen Xuan had easily received Wan Guiyun's Ultimate Sword Art during their match, and Zhao Yuanshan had already harbored some suspicions, hearing Chen Xuan personally confirm that he had reached the Zhuqi Realm still shocked him.

Chen Xuan was only seventeen years old. Those capable of breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm at that age were generally geniuses with Superior Bone Aptitude.

Who could have imagined that an externally assigned disciple could obtain such a fortunate encounter and break through to the Zhuqi Realm at this age?

"Junior Brother Chen, that golden fruit you mentioned just now..." Zhao Yuanshan lowered his voice, curiosity in his eyes. "Do you remember what it looked like?"

"It was about the size of a fist, entirely golden, with fine patterns on its surface, and it gave off an unusual fragrance." Chen Xuan had long prepared his story. "After I ate it, the bones throughout my body crackled and popped, and a layer of black impurities was expelled. Afterward, my body felt much lighter, and my cultivation speed also increased considerably."

"This description... could it have been a Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit?" Zhao Yuanshan pondered for a moment, then said, "That is a spirit fruit, a heavenly treasure said to cleanse the marrow, transform the bones, and improve one's bone aptitude. The Marrow Cleansing Pill was refined based on the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, but its effects are not even one percent of the fruit's."

"Furthermore, after consuming a Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, one's bone aptitude leans toward the metal element. Though it is not enough to grant someone a metal Spirit Body, cultivating metal-element techniques becomes a thousand miles in a single day. No wonder Junior Brother was able to cultivate the Vajra Technique to the Zhuqi Realm in such a short time."

"It is said that the Vajra Relic consumed by the founding patriarch of the Vajra Sect was a Vajra Pill refined from a Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit. That was why he went from a Body Tempering martial artist to the Ninth Layer of Qi Casting in an extremely short time. Junior Brother has consumed a Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit—such a fortunate encounter is no weaker than that of the Vajra Sect's founding patriarch."

After saying that, envy appeared in Zhao Yuanshan's eyes.

Chen Xuan had consumed a Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, causing his bone aptitude to lean toward metal. It happened to suit the cultivation of the Vajra Technique, which was why his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds.

If he had cultivated another technique, the effect truly would not have been this good.

It could be foreseen that Chen Xuan's future achievements would not be inferior to those of the Vajra Sect's founding patriarch. He might even surpass him.

After all, when the Vajra Sect's founding patriarch encountered his great opportunity, he was already over forty and had drifted through the martial world for half his life.

But Chen Xuan was only seventeen now.

If he could reach the Ninth Layer of Qi Casting before thirty—

He would have hope of entering the grandmaster domain.

"Just luck."

Chen Xuan raised his teacup, his expression calm.

"Luck... yes, this truly requires immense fortune and a great opportunity."

Zhao Yuanshan shook his head with a sigh.

Heavenly treasures were things one could encounter but not seek. There was no use envying them.

Sometimes, when fortune arrived, even a farmer tilling the fields, a woodcutter chopping wood, or a fisherman casting nets could become a Martial Grandmaster.

In this world, quite a few ancestors of aristocratic clans and sects with legacies spanning centuries had begun as lowly mud-legged peasants.

"Senior Brother Zhao, let's return to the matter of the Inner Disciple promotion assessment."

Chen Xuan steered the topic back.

"For externally assigned disciples applying for promotion to Inner Disciple, they only need to complete one assessment task. However, the task's contents are not fixed. Some only require gathering a particular item, while others require killing demon beasts or martial artists from hostile forces. It mainly depends on the arrangements of the sect elders. If Junior Brother wishes to apply to become an Inner Disciple, you may have the gang leader report it together with you."

Zhao Yuanshan explained.

"I understand. Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Senior Brother Zhao."

Chen Xuan cupped his hands.

"What are you being polite for?" Zhao Yuanshan waved his hand and smiled. "If Junior Brother can become an Inner Disciple, the Red Sun Gang will benefit from your glory as well."

Zhao Yuanshan was not merely being courteous.

Although the Red Sun Gang had been founded single-handedly by Sun Tianxing, at its root, it was still an outer force of the Guiyuan Sect. If the gang could produce an Inner Disciple, the entire gang's standing would rise with the tide.

At that time, Sun Tianxing would be able to speak with more confidence within the sect, and each month, he could receive more externally assigned disciples from the sect.

The two chatted further about the branch's daily affairs. Zhao Yuanshan then rose to take his leave and went to arrange that day's patrols.

The Red Sun Gang had only just taken over Baishui Town, and there were many matters to handle.

At dusk, the setting sun sank westward.

Chen Xuan stood beside the medicinal fields, watching the final streak of afterglow vanish beyond the ridgeline.

[Zhaoxi Value +1]

A prompt flashed before his eyes.

Chen Xuan opened the panel.

Host: Chen Xuan

Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng

Bone Aptitude: Above Average

Realm: Qi Casting Realm Second Layer (Middle Pimai Stage)

Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique/Level 9, Mountain Crushing Fist/Great Mastery, Vajra Technique/Level 6 (Qi Meridians Opened: 72/108), Nine Shadow Killing Sword/Level 2 (Proficient)

Zhaoxi Value: 1

"Upgrade the Vajra Technique."

Chen Xuan murmured inwardly.

Buzz—

The panel data changed.

Vajra Technique/Level 6 (Qi Meridians Opened: 82/108)

One point of Zhaoxi Value transformed into a year of bitter cultivation, opening ten qi meridians.

Three days later, when the sun set, he would be able to break through to the Zhuqi Realm Third Layer.

Late at night, all was silent.

The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the night was like ink.

Chen Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

He heard footsteps.

The footsteps were light—extremely light—like a cat stepping across roof tiles.

Ordinary people could never hear such faint sounds, but Chen Xuan was no ordinary person. He was a Zhuqi Realm martial artist.

His physical body had been tempered, and his five senses were more than ten times sharper than those of a Body Tempering Realm martial artist. Even other Zhuqi Realm martial artists could not compare to him. Within several dozen zhang, not even the rustle of wind or grass could escape his ears.

Chen Xuan identified the position by sound.

He determined that the footsteps came from the direction of the branch's rear wall. There was only one person, moving with exceptional agility. In just a few leaps, the intruder vaulted over the thirty-foot-high wall, then landed on a rooftop in the inner courtyard.