Chen Jinyang's Pride

"Huh, the scent of a new technique?"

In the compound area, Li Hu had long achieved Three Breaths Nine Breaks and owned his own courtyard, but he hadn't managed Nine Breaks in One Breath to join the Grand Martial Arts Arena training.

During this time, while cultivating, he often fretted over how to find a martial arts manual for Lu Ming.

But he'd never been able to.

Now, his eyes flickered as he sensed the unfamiliar scent of a technique drawing near.

Following his instincts, he quietly slipped out of his courtyard and immediately spotted Chen Feng and Chen Jinyang excitedly discussing something.

He sensed the technique was on Chen Feng's person, and a trace of disappointment crossed his face.

Another claimed technique, and on a talent like Chen Feng—there was no way he'd get his hands on it.

"...Senior Zhou... Lingyun Sect disciple... lure out Lu Ming..."

He was about to head back when he caught Chen Jinyang saying something strange—involving Lu Ming?

He vaguely caught a whiff of scheming and conspiracy, quickly ducked back, and hid around a corner, listening closely.

Soon, Chen Feng and Chen Jinyang cautiously entered their courtyard.

A flicker of panic showed in Li Hu's eyes. Chen Feng had placed first in the small test—he'd heard that too. This was the top disciple of this year's Military Service Bureau.

And someone like that was plotting against Lu Ming with an outsider?

His heart tightened. He glanced around, saw no one, and hurried away to Lu Ming's courtyard, knocking on his door.

"Brother Lu, it's bad! Chen Feng and Chen Jinyang are planning to go after you. That Shen Changfeng earlier..."

Once inside, Li Hu spilled everything in a rush, finally saying:

"Brother, don't fall for their tricks. Don't leave the Military Service Bureau."

Feeling Li Hu's concern, Lu Ming was secretly grateful. Li Hu truly treated him as a friend.

He'd originally planned to give Li Hu some Qi-Enhancing Pills or Sweet Dew Powder, but he only had five portions left himself. So he silently noted this debt of gratitude, planning to repay it later.

After seeing Li Hu off, he turned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Shen Changfeng, favored by Zhou Zhen, had the authority to recruit Lingyun Sect disciples!

Wasn't Zhou Zhen a castaway of the Lingyun Sect? How could he still recruit disciples?

Lu Ming realized that Zhou Zhen's arrival in Red Cloud County likely had ulterior motives. The so-called "castaway of the Lingyun Sect" was just a smokescreen.

"Could it be... he sensed geniuses among this year's disciples here and came early to recruit them?" Lu Ming speculated silently.

Then another thought struck him—Chen Jinyang...

Murderous intent flickered in his eyes. Shen Jue and Chen Jinyang were close friends. Shen Jue had come to kill him and ended up dead by his hand.

If Chen Jinyang wanted to use him as a stepping stone, Lu Ming wouldn't mind sending him to keep Shen Jue company.

And Chen Feng—his talent was indeed impressive.

But if Chen Feng chose to oppose him, then don't blame him for being ruthless.

Lu Ming quickly calmed down, turned, and resumed practicing the Cloud-Piercing Finger.

As long as he stayed in the Military Service Bureau, his life was safe. He had no interest in guessing whether Chen Feng and the others would actually move against him.

Meet force with force, dam the flood—he just needed to diligently grind his divine ability.

[Evolving Acupoint Divine Ability (6244/10000)...]

[Evolving Acupoint Divine Ability (6248/10000)...]

"Only 4 points per session—too slow!"

After two rounds of practice, Lu Ming still found the pace too sluggish.

Though his acupoint experience was over halfway, at this rate, a month from now he'd still be a few hundred points short of evolving a third acupoint divine ability.

In other words, he wouldn't make it in time for the Grand Examination.

That was unacceptable. He was so close—he had to catch up before the exam.

First, evolving a third acupoint divine ability would let him achieve better results in the Grand Examination.

Second, even if he failed to enter a Ranked Sect, having a third acupoint divine ability would greatly bolster his combat options against Shen Changfeng.

"I've told Feng Qingzhu plenty of stories these days. It's time to try bringing up the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms."

Lu Ming thought to himself.

Now that Feng Qingzhu had been taken out by the Green Bamboo Gang, he decided to lay his cards on the table when she returned.

With that thought, he still gritted his teeth and continued practicing the Cloud-Piercing Finger.

Slow as it was, each session netted him a solid 4 points—steady gains. Plus, it improved his mastery of the Cloud-Piercing Finger, pushing him closer to minor completion.

If not for the looming Grand Examination, he wouldn't be in such a rush.

In the afternoon.

"Knock, knock, knock." A sudden knock sounded at the door.

Lu Ming panted slightly, stopped cultivating, wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, and opened the door with flickering eyes.

Standing before the door was a familiar face—none other than Chen Jinyang.

"Brother Lu, placing third in the small test means boundless prospects. This Humble One has come specially to offer congratulations." Chen Jinyang cupped his hands with a smile.

Lu Ming's eyes flickered. So he had come!

He welcomed Chen Jinyang into the courtyard and said with a faint smile, "Brother Chen, if you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly."

A trace of surprise flashed in Chen Jinyang's eyes. This Lu Ming was quite perceptive. Born a commoner, yet his speech was extraordinary—no wonder Shen Jue had always thought highly of him.

Still, this kind of cleverness was of little real use.

So what if his martial talent was superior? Without a martial family or faction backing him, he would never go far in the end.

Chen Jinyang stared at Lu Ming, thinking that this man would soon be killed by Shen Changfeng, and a sense of superiority rose in his heart.

He then said with a smile, "To be honest, the reason This Humble One has come today is to recruit Brother Lu on behalf of my family!

"Brother Lu's talent is outstanding, yet held back by your origins, which has delayed your martial training.

"If you receive support from my Chen family, with your talent, surpassing my fifth younger brother and becoming the top of this year's Military Service Bureau is not impossible.

"If you are willing to serve as a guest elder of the Chen family, and later repay us after joining a sect, my family is willing to supply you with two Hundred Herb Pills daily for your cultivation."

The Hundred Herb Pill was the Chen family's secret cultivation medicine. Its special feature was that it could be taken alongside other cultivation medicines, such as the Qi-Enhancing Pill, and still be effective.

Taken alone, one day of cultivation with the Hundred Herb Pill could match three days of others' training—its medicinal power was considerable.

Lu Ming's eyes lit up at this. He had heard of the Hundred Herb Pill before; it was the foundation of the Chen family's standing.

Two pills a day? The Chen family was generous! Unfortunately, this was just empty talk, meant only to lure him out.

A faint sneer rose in his heart, but on his face, he showed an expression of interest.

Seeing this, Chen Jinyang smiled confidently, knowing that Lu Ming only needed a little temptation to be bought off.

Most people from humble origins were like this.

He then said calmly, "I've prepared a feast at the Red Sun Pavilion to welcome Brother Lu into the Chen family. At that time, I'll introduce you to the Chen family's important figures. Are you free this evening?"

Lu Ming sneered inwardly. Sure enough, he was trying to lure him out.

He pondered and said, "I am free, but that Shen Changfeng is inexplicably targeting me. If I go out, I'm afraid there will be danger."

Chen Jinyang laughed, "Since Brother Lu is joining my Chen family, we will naturally arrange everything for you.

"Brother Shen is merely grieving too much over Shen Jue's matter and has misunderstood Brother Lu.

"A senior figure from my Chen family is willing to step forward on your behalf, to mediate the conflict with Brother Shen and clear up the misunderstanding.

"Everything has been arranged. Brother Lu, rest assured."

Only then did Lu Ming nod in agreement, "In that case, Brother Chen, please lend me some token as proof. I still need to cultivate a while longer; I'll go to the Red Sun Pavilion on my own later. Having a token on hand will avoid any misunderstandings."

Chen Jinyang praised, "No wonder Brother Lu has risen above the rest. This diligence alone is something ordinary people cannot achieve."

Then, inwardly delighted, he thought that Lu Ming asking for a token meant the matter was settled!

To put Lu Ming at ease, he immediately removed the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Lu Ming:

"This is my Chen family direct-line pendant. Show this jade, and you'll have free passage at the Red Sun Pavilion."

Lu Ming took the pendant. "Thank you, Brother Chen."

Chen Jinyang then took his leave, and as he turned, a hint of joy gleamed in his eyes.

By facilitating this, he would earn great merit and secure a place for himself in the Chen family.

Lu Ming closed the courtyard gate, gently stroked the warm jade pendant in his hand, and gave a faint, cold smile. This time, I'll bury you deep.