Branch Master

"Since you possess seventh-level Body Tempering cultivation, if I assigned you too low a post, I fear you might harbor resentment. Not long ago, the branch master of Qingshi Town was beaten to death. You will take over as its branch master!"

Sun Tianxing made the arrangement directly.

He did not mention testing Chen Xuan's cultivation.

If Chen Xuan had deliberately falsified his cultivation to obtain a higher post, then he could only be said to be an old birthday star eating arsenic—seeking his own death.

In a chaotic place like Tiannan Prefecture, the higher one's position, the greater the dangers one had to face. Without the corresponding cultivation, one would only die faster.

"Branch master?"

Chen Xuan was slightly taken aback.

"The Red Sun Gang has eighteen branches in total. They are responsible for the ten districts of South City and the eight towns under its jurisdiction. Each branch has one branch master and one deputy branch master. The branch master oversees all affairs within the branch." Zhao Yuanshan explained from the side, "Qingshi Town is one of those eight towns. It has always been territory of our Red Sun Gang, but not long ago, the Blood Wolf Gang launched a fierce attack on Qingshi Town, causing us severe losses. Even the branch master of the Qingshi Branch did not survive. If you can reclaim Qingshi Town, you will be credited with one Great Merit. If you feel the task is beyond you, then you can only serve as deputy branch master."

Chen Xuan understood.

This so-called branch master sounded like an official post, but in truth, it was a scalding hot potato.

The territory of Qingshi Town had been lost, and its branch master had died. Sun Tianxing was sending him to seize back the lost territory.

It would be best if he could take it back.

The Red Sun Gang would gain a capable man like him.

If he could not take it back and died outside, no one would mourn him.

That was the rule.

In a place like Tiannan Prefecture, no one kept idlers.

If one wanted status, one had to trade one's life for it.

But this suited Chen Xuan just fine. Becoming branch master gave him greater freedom, without others holding him back, and he could also earn one Great Merit.

For disciples stationed outside, obtaining Guiyuan Sect's cultivation resources required exchanging merit points.

One Great Merit was equivalent to ten minor merits.

A Zhuqi Realm martial art required two Great Merits to exchange for.

Without a Zhuqi Realm martial art,

with his utterly ordinary low-grade bone aptitude, even with his cheat granting him one year of cultivation every day, it would only speed up martial arts training. It could not deduce the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique into a Zhuqi Realm martial art.

Even martial arts grandmasters with peerless aptitudes who could establish sects had needed to accumulate experience in their early years, study all manner of martial arts, and gather the strengths of a hundred schools before they could create martial arts of their own.

Therefore, he had to acquire a Zhuqi Realm martial art.

There was another point.

Chen Xuan believed the most crucial thing was finding a way to improve his own aptitude.

With equally one year of cultivation, utterly ordinary low-grade aptitude and medium-grade aptitude naturally produced different results.

Within the Guiyuan Sect, those with low-grade aptitude would reach only the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering after three years of training, while those with medium-grade aptitude would break through to the seventh or eighth level of Body Tempering.

The gap between low-grade aptitude and peerless geniuses was even greater.

It was like Di Shitian, who had cultivated for a thousand years and gathered the strengths of a hundred schools to create the Sacred Heart Art he took such pride in, only to be utterly crushed by Wu Wudi.

Fortunately, bone aptitude could be improved to a certain extent after birth. The Guiyuan Sect possessed heavenly treasures capable of enhancing bone aptitude, but they required merit points to exchange for.

The most common example was the Marrow Cleansing Pill. It cleansed the marrow and forged the bones, allowing low-grade aptitude to rise to medium-grade aptitude. Taking five or more could raise it to upper-medium aptitude, but it required merit points to obtain.

"What is the background of this Blood Wolf Gang?"

Chen Xuan asked.

A trace of surprise flashed through Sun Tianxing and Zhao Yuanshan's eyes.

They had thought Chen Xuan would hesitate, make excuses, or even be afraid.

After all, he was a newly arrived outer sect disciple. Even if he possessed seventh-level Body Tempering cultivation, anyone would have to weigh the matter carefully before being sent to reclaim territory occupied by another gang.

But Chen Xuan did not. He directly asked about the Blood Wolf Gang's background, which meant he had already accepted the task.

"The Blood Wolf Gang is a gang established by a steward of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. Its strength is roughly equal to our Red Sun Gang's." Zhao Yuanshan explained, "But a few days ago, a seventh-level Body Tempering disciple named Li Lie arrived. Since all the Blood Wolf Gang's branch master positions were filled, with no vacancies, Li Lie led men to attack Qingshi Town and seize our territory."

"I understand." Chen Xuan nodded. "When do we leave?"

"It is already late, and after such a long journey, you must be tired. Rest for the night, and set out early tomorrow morning." Sun Tianxing said, "Yuanshan, arrange lodging for Junior Nephew Chen."

"Leave it to me."

Zhao Yuanshan answered, then led Chen Xuan outside.

Soon, Chen Xuan was settled in a side room in the inner courtyard of the outpost.

The room was not large, but it was clean and tidy. There was a wooden bed, a writing desk, and a chair. An oil lamp sat on the desk, its wick neatly trimmed. Clearly, someone maintained it regularly.

After Zhao Yuanshan left, Chen Xuan closed the door, sat cross-legged on the bed, and opened his panel.

By then, the sun had already set.

He gained another point of Zhaoxi Value.

Host: Chen Xuan

Fate: Zhaoxi Bizheng

Realm: ninth level of Body Tempering (Huajin)

Martial arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique / ninth layer, Mountain Crushing Fist / proficient

Zhaoxi Value: 1

"Enhance Mountain Crushing Fist."

With a thought from Chen Xuan, his Zhaoxi Value dropped to zero.

New insights into the fist art branded themselves into the depths of Chen Xuan's soul, as if he had tirelessly cultivated the Mountain Crushing Fist day and night for an entire year. The Mountain Crushing Fist broke through from proficient to mastery.

Every move and stance, the crucial points in the circulation of fist force, the timing of power erupting from within to without... every detail was several times clearer than before.

Feeling the additional comprehension of the fist art in his mind, Chen Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Though his cultivation remained at the ninth level of Body Tempering, the fist force unleashed by mastery-level Mountain Crushing Fist was more solid, faster, and reached farther, greatly increasing his combat strength.

The next morning.

Just as the sky began to show a pale fish-belly white, Chen Xuan was already up.

He pushed open the door and stood in the courtyard, watching the first ray of sunlight pierce the clouds in the eastern sky and spill into the yard.

A new day had begun again.

"Junior Brother Chen, you're up?" Zhao Yuanshan walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a food box in his hand. "I brought you breakfast. Eat before we leave."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Chen Xuan accepted the food box without ceremony and sat on a stone stool in the courtyard to eat.

Breakfast was plentiful: a roast chicken, beef, pork knuckle, and other hearty dishes, along with a bowl of medicinal food that replenished qi and blood.

For martial artists, eating was a very important matter. Only by ensuring the body received the nourishment it needed could one better sustain cultivation.

Zhao Yuanshan stood to the side. Only after Chen Xuan had finished eating did he speak. "I have already arranged your manpower: twenty elite gang members, all at the third or fourth level of Body Tempering."

"Fine!"

Chen Xuan nodded without saying much.

In a remote little city like Lianshan City, reaching the sixth level of Body Tempering and cultivating Anjin made one an expert. Whether in the Red Sun Gang or the Blood Wolf Gang, one could become a branch master, while the fifth level of Body Tempering qualified one as a deputy branch master.

Elite gang members were all at the third or fourth level of Body Tempering.

Do not be fooled by the fact that Guiyuan Sect disciples could reach the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering after three years of training. That was because within the sect, they were completely removed from labor and production, did not need to work, and received cultivation resources from the sect for free.

But Rogue Cultivators without backing had to run about every day to make a living. Forget taking medicinal meals daily—even eating meat and fish at every meal was uncertain. And if they were injured in a fight, recovering could take several months.

Therefore, even with only low-grade aptitude, Guiyuan Sect disciples could reach the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering before the age of twenty. But Rogue Cultivators without backing might train for ten or twenty years and reach their thirties or forties without necessarily cultivating Anjin.