Assassination

"Therefore, geniuses with superior bone structure and aptitude mostly choose to cultivate top-tier techniques. At most, they might attempt to cultivate unique skills, but basically, no one will go out of their way to cultivate divine arts."

"Normally speaking, geniuses with superior bone structure, as long as they don't die young, can at least reach the seventh level of the Zhuqi Realm or higher. Out of ten, one or two can become martial arts grandmasters. Needless to say, those with top-tier bone structure are cultivated by the sect with all its resources and are guaranteed to become grandmasters. While divine arts are powerful, it is impossible for someone at the third level of the Zhuqi Realm to leapfrog levels and challenge a grandmaster."

"Although only by cultivating divine arts and building the strongest foundation can one hope to glimpse the realm beyond a grandmaster, otherwise one can only stop at the grandmaster level. But apart from those born with a Spirit Body, no one is willing to waste time cultivating divine arts."

"For most martial artists, being able to become a martial arts grandmaster is enough to roam the world freely, let alone the realm of grandmasters and above. Divine arts are left on the shelf, and since no one cultivates them, naturally, no one can master them."

Zhao Yuanshan concluded.

So that was it.

Hearing Zhao Yuanshan's explanation, Chen Xuan understood.

To others, time is an insurmountable chasm.

A thousand years of bitter cultivation is equivalent to ten lifetimes of reincarnation; who has that kind of lifespan?

A martial artist in the Zhuqi Realm, even if they reach the ninth level, has a maximum lifespan of no more than two hundred years. Compared to a thousand years, it is far from enough.

Even if cultivating a divine art could build the strongest foundation, it would be useless if one were stuck at the third or fourth level of the Zhuqi Realm.

But for him, it was not a problem.

One point of Zhaoxi Value every day is equivalent to one year of bitter cultivation.

A thousand years of time, when converted, is less than three years. The so-called barrier of time is non-existent for him.

Let alone mastering a divine art, what difficulty would there be in achieving perfection?

"Senior Brother Zhao, what are the requirements for me to become an inner sect disciple?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"If a junior brother has not been sent on an external mission, they can be promoted directly upon breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm within the stipulated time," Zhao Yuanshan explained. "However, for disciples sent on external missions, they must apply to the sect upon breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm and pass an assessment task before they can be promoted."

"External disciples just need to apply for promotion and pass the assessment after breaking through to the Zhuqi Realm."

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

The Zhuqi Realm.

He was already there.

"Senior Brother Zhao, how long does the assessment for an external disciple to apply for promotion to an inner sect disciple usually take?"

Chen Xuan asked.

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

Hearing this, Zhao Yuanshan revealed a look of surprise.

"That's right!" Chen Xuan nodded and then said, "On the way from the sect to Tiannan Prefecture, I passed through a mountain forest and suddenly smelled a strange fragrance. When I went to investigate, I found a fruit emitting a golden light. After swallowing it, I felt as if my entire body had been reborn. Then, when I cultivated the Vajra Technique, it was as if I had divine help. Within a few days, I achieved Copper Skin and Iron Bones, and then I broke through to the Zhuqi Realm."

"You really reached the Zhuqi Realm."

Zhao Yuanshan was somewhat shocked.

Although he had already guessed it when Chen Xuan easily caught Wan Guiyun's unique sword technique during the competition, he still felt shocked to hear Chen Xuan say it himself.

One must know that Chen Xuan was only seventeen years old. Those who could break through to the Zhuqi Realm at this age were generally geniuses with superior bone structure and aptitude.

Who would have thought that an external disciple could actually obtain such an opportunity and break through to the Zhuqi Realm at this age?

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

"It was the size of a fist, entirely golden, with fine patterns on the surface, and it emitted a strange fragrance." Chen Xuan had already prepared his story. "After I finished eating it, my bones crackled and popped, expelling a layer of black impurities. Afterward, I felt my body become much lighter, and my cultivation speed increased significantly."

"This description... could it be the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit?" Zhao Yuanshan pondered for a moment and then said, "This is a spirit fruit, a legendary treasure that can cleanse the marrow and cut the bones, improving one's bone structure and aptitude. The Marrow Cleansing Pill is refined based on the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, but its effect is less than one percent of the fruit itself."

"Furthermore, after consuming the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, one's bone structure and aptitude will lean toward the metal attribute. Although it is not enough to give one a Metal Spirit Body, cultivating metal-attribute techniques will be as fast as a thousand miles a 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 founder of the Vajra Sect was a Vajra Pill refined from the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, which is why he went from a Body Tempering martial artist to the ninth level of the Zhuqi Realm in a very short time. Junior Brother has consumed the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit; this kind of opportunity is no less than that of the founder of the Vajra Sect."

After speaking, a look of envy appeared in Zhao Yuanshan's eyes.

Chen Xuan had consumed the Golden Marrow Spirit Fruit, and his bone structure and aptitude leaned toward the metal attribute, which perfectly matched the cultivation of the Vajra Technique, hence his rapid progress in cultivation.

If he were cultivating other techniques, the effect would really not be this good.

It was foreseeable that Chen Xuan's future achievements would not be weaker than the founder of the Vajra Sect, and might even surpass him.

After all, when the founder of the Vajra Sect encountered his fortuitous event, he was already over forty years old and had already drifted through the martial arts world for half his life.

But Chen Xuan was only seventeen years old now.

If he could reach the ninth level of the Zhuqi Realm before the age of thirty.

He would have the hope of stepping into the realm of grandmasters.

"Just luck."

Chen Xuan picked up his teacup, his expression calm.

"Luck, this indeed requires great fortune and great opportunity."

Zhao Yuanshan shook his head with a sigh.

Heavenly treasures are things that can be met by chance but not sought; there is no use in envying them.

Sometimes, when luck arrives, even a farmer tilling the fields, a woodcutter chopping firewood, or a fisherman casting nets can become a martial arts grandmaster.

In this world, many ancestors of families and sects that have been passed down for hundreds of years originated as humble peasants.

"Senior Brother Zhao, let's talk about the assessment for promotion to the inner sect."

Chen Xuan pulled the conversation back to the topic.

"For an outer sect disciple to apply for promotion to an inner sect disciple, they only need to complete one assessment task. However, the content of this task is not fixed; some involve collecting a specific item, while others require slaying demonic beasts or martial artists from hostile factions. It mainly depends on the arrangements made by the sect elders. If Junior Brother wishes to apply for promotion to an inner sect disciple, you can have the gang leader submit the request along with you."

Zhao Yuanshan explained.

"Understood, thank you for the clarification, Senior Brother Zhao."

Chen Xuan cupped his hands and said.

"No need for such formalities." Zhao Yuanshan waved his hand and smiled, "If Junior Brother can become an inner sect disciple, the Red Sun Gang will also benefit from the prestige."

Zhao Yuanshan's words were not just polite pleasantries.

Although the Red Sun Gang was founded by Sun Tianxing, it was, in the final analysis, an peripheral force of the Guiyuan Sect. If the gang could produce an inner sect disciple, the status of the entire organization would rise accordingly.

When that time came, Sun Tianxing would be able to speak with more authority within the sect, and he would be able to receive more outer sect disciples from the sect each month.

The two chatted a bit more about the daily affairs of the branch, then Zhao Yuanshan stood up to take his leave, heading off to arrange the patrol duties for the day.

The Red Sun Gang had just taken over Baishui Town, and there were many things that needed to be done.

In the evening, the sun set in the west.

Chen Xuan stood by the edge of the medicinal field, watching the last glimmer of twilight disappear behind the ridgeline.

[Zhaoxi Value +1]

The text prompt flashed before his eyes.

Chen Xuan opened his panel.

Host: Chen Xuan

Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng

Aptitude: Above Average

Realm: Zhuqi Realm, Second Layer (Pimai Mid-stage)

Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique/Ninth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist/Great Success, Vajra Technique/Sixth Layer (Qi Vessels Opened: 72/108), Nine Shadow Killing Sword/Second Layer (Proficient)

Zhaoxi Value: 1

"Upgrade Vajra Technique."

Chen Xuan thought to himself.

Hum~~~

The panel data changed.

Vajra Technique/Sixth Layer (Qi Vessels Opened: 82/108)

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

Three days from now, when the sun set, he would be able to break through to the third layer of the Zhuqi Realm.

Late at night, everything was silent.

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

Chen Xuan suddenly opened his eyes.

He heard footsteps.

The footsteps were very light, extremely light, like a cat stepping on roof tiles.

An ordinary person would never be able to hear such a subtle sound, but Chen Xuan was not an ordinary person; he was a Zhuqi Realm martial artist.

His physical body had undergone Body Tempering, and his five senses were more than ten times stronger than those in the Body Tempering realm. Even compared to other martial artists of the same Zhuqi Realm, they were inferior to him; the slightest movement within a radius of several dozen zhang could not escape his ears.

Chen Xuan listened to identify the position.

He could tell that the footsteps were coming from the direction of the branch's back wall. There was only one person, their movement technique was extremely fast, and with a few leaps, they vaulted over the three-zhang-high wall and landed on the roof of the inner courtyard.