Fame, Savage Strength

The next morning, Su Yuan slowly drifted into consciousness.

The sensation was warm and soft, with a faint, lingering fragrance.

He opened his eyes, startled to find himself cradled in Gao Mian's arms, and scrambled to sit up.

"Sister Mian, this... we are siblings!"

He had come to respect Gao Mian as family, and the debt of gratitude he owed her was beyond measure.

Though he had sensed her deeper intentions, he found them difficult to accept in the moment; he had tried to feign sleep to muddle through, or perhaps he was simply too exhausted, or the fragrance had dazed him, for he had truly fallen asleep.

"What is wrong with a younger brother sleeping in his sister's arms for a night? Do I not often lie in your arms to enjoy a massage?" Gao Mian chuckled, oblivious to why Su Yuan was so agitated.

Su Yuan felt awkward and simply stood up to change the subject: "Sister Mian, when can we go to Great Liang?"

"Hmph, you have the nerve to ask. You are the newly crowned champion, the center of attention; how could they let you leave so soon?" Gao Mian said coldly.

"I possess only low-grade talent; am I truly worth such regard?"

"It is precisely because of your low-grade talent that this upset is so significant. The unrest in the city has just settled, and the higher-ups know they have been too oppressive lately. They need the top ten finishers to serve as examples and promote the benevolent governance of Great Liang. This is an opportunity for you; the resources you receive will far exceed those of past champions. With the City Lord watching, the Shan Family will not dare to touch you for now. In about half a year, the storm will pass," Gao Mian explained in detail.

What Gao Mian said was true.

After returning to the city, Su Yuan wore the Wolf-Patterned Crown and draped himself in golden silk, riding in a grand carriage alongside the other nine top finishers, parading through the city with the statue of the Wolf God.

Ceremonial officials sang of their merits along the route, while Su Yuan and the others tossed strings of copper coins into the streets.

"The Wolf God bestows blessings! All who see shall receive!"

Copper coins mixed with bits of silver fell like rain, and the commoners surged into the streets to scramble for them.

"The Wolf God protects us!"

Someone shouted first, and soon, echoes of agreement rose from the crowd.

Su Yuan and his companions tossed more silver toward the areas where the cheers were loudest.

Street gossip spread accordingly: "I heard that Champion Su surpassed all the top-tier geniuses despite his low-grade talent; he is truly a role model for us all!"

"It is all thanks to the medicinal pills from the Chai Family! The higher-ups said that these pills will be made available in the future, so that ordinary people can practice martial arts and get ahead just like Champion Su..."

"Indeed, Champion Su even obtained a first-class registration. I heard that the restrictions on household registration will be relaxed, and the Grey People might soon disappear!" Some spoke with great conviction, praising the benevolent governance of Great Liang.

However, the Jing People nearby mostly wore blank expressions, clearly unable to recover from the brutal past.

It was only when the clinking sound of coins hitting the ground echoed that the crowd suddenly stirred, stooping to scramble for the wealth.

Though Su Yuan and his companions were traitors, that did not stop the people from picking up their money.

In the shadows, Ji Haoyang watched the scene from afar and sighed: "Senior Sister, the Liang People are certainly willing to spend a fortune to buy the hearts of the people."

Yun Xu's expression was cold: "It is merely scraping a few crumbs from the fat they have already squeezed from the people."

She looked at Su Yuan, who was riding high on the carriage, her emotions complex.

This man was no longer someone she could control; just as she had broken free from the cage of the Shan Family, he had broken free from her grasp.

Yun Xu unconsciously rubbed her palms, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

At first, they had indeed been using each other, but at the execution grounds, they had been spiritual companions who comforted one another.

"I never imagined he was hiding so much, possessing the cultivation of the Three-Blood Realm." Ji Haoyang gritted his teeth.

He looked at his Senior Sister's beautiful, elegant figure, unable to reconcile her with those humiliating statues and paintings, and his hatred deepened: "Senior Sister, you must hate him to the bone as well. He is—"

The words died on his lips, fearing he might touch a raw nerve.

But Yun Xu shook her head: "I do not hate him. He was the one who passed information to me back then."

"What? You say Su Yuan was the messenger? He is the Green Ghost?" Ji Haoyang nearly gasped.

"Who is the Green Ghost?"

"The informant who contacted us in secret. His cultivation should be at the External Force level. Su Yuan cannot possibly be at the External Force level; perhaps he was never involved with us and has been deceiving you from the very beginning." Ji Haoyang still could not view Su Yuan and the mysterious Green Ghost as the same person.

Yun Xu remained unmoved: "But it was indeed he who retrieved my letters. Your method of testing the Green Ghost may not be accurate."

"But how do you explain that he cut off Junior Brother Duan's head! Junior Sister Pei already hates him to the core."

"There may be other possibilities behind it; it might not have been his hand. If there is a chance, I still want to contact him." Yun Xu continued to defend him.

"Senior Sister, you—" Ji Haoyang could not understand why she would protect Su Yuan so fiercely, and as he recalled those works of art, a wave of frustration surged in his chest.

Once the parade concluded, Su Yuan stepped into the Chai Family estate in the Inner City for the first time.

The mansion was vast and deep, several times more imposing than the Shan Family residence.

The layout was similar to the martial academy, and one could see many Chai Family disciples practicing martial arts in the training grounds, their shouts ringing out.

Su Yuan felt as though he had stepped from the Chai Family Martial Academy into a much higher-level training ground.

"From now on, the two of you will practice here. A residence has been prepared nearby; you may move your belongings over. Su Yuan, come with me first," Chai Nian instructed.

The Chai Family disciples were no strangers to Su Tieniu, but they were filled with curiosity toward Su Yuan, who had snatched the championship despite his inferior bone structure, and their gazes swept over him one after another.

"A champion with inferior bone structure—how rare."

"Do you think he can reach the Savage Strength realm? If not, he'll likely be the first champion in history to stall at the Blood Condensing realm," someone muttered.

"Hard to say. It depends on how the clan arranges things."

Whispers drifted through the air, the crowd remaining skeptical of Su Yuan.

Chai Yuanyuan followed close behind.

The three entered the room, where Chai Hong was already waiting.

Seeing Su Yuan enter, he smiled first. "Good lad, you did well."

"It is all thanks to the young master's cultivation," Su Yuan replied respectfully.

Chai Hong examined Su Yuan's physique like a city lord assessing an asset, and his conclusion was much the same.

"Your bone structure is indeed lacking, but there is no need to worry. The Blood Bone Pill was specifically developed to neutralize the harmful effects of the Blood Origin Pill. Since you took the championship, the Chai Family has additional rewards for you." He produced three brocade boxes.

A secret manual, a medicine bottle, and a sheet of red paper.

He displayed them one by one: "This is the first two layers of our Chai Family's true art, the Heavenly Horse Flying Star Fist. It can assist you in breaking through to the Savage Strength realm. It is a pity you have not practiced the Galloping Horse Fist; switching paths may take some time. However, as long as you continue to serve the Chai Family, we will provide you with one hundred taels of cultivation resources monthly before you break through. If you can reach the Savage Strength realm, that will increase to three hundred taels per month."

"This second item is the Blood Bone Pill. You must take it long-term to improve your bone structure, and the Chai Family can use this to observe the drug's efficacy."

So, I am indeed being used to test medicine.

Su Yuan thought to himself, then asked, "Does this pill have any side effects?"

"The only thing you need to know is this: once you begin taking it, you cannot stop. Otherwise, your bone structure will revert to its original state," Chai Hong admitted frankly.

It was a drug with short-lived, weakening effects.

Once hooked, it would be like being tethered by a dog leash; it would be difficult to break free.

Fortunately, he possessed [Smoothing Edges]; in the future, he might be able to use it to disguise his improved bone structure.

"This third item is a marriage contract between you and Yuanyuan. If you accept, you will truly be a member of the Chai Family." As Chai Hong finished speaking, Chai Yuanyuan moved closer to him.

Su Yuan frowned. How did he become the one blocking a marriage for Tieniu?

He shook his head. "Third Master, I cannot accept this third item for now. I am willing to serve the Chai Family and test the medicine, but the hidden dangers of this pill are not yet clear. If something goes wrong during the course of taking it, wouldn't that ruin Miss Yuanyuan's life? Let us discuss this later; I also need to consult with Sister Mian."

Hearing the refusal, Chai Yuanyuan felt displeased.

In her eyes, the long string of explanations was not as important as that single mention of Sister Mian.

Chai Hong did not force the issue. "Marriage is a major life event; it can indeed be discussed later. However, I fear it will not be easy to consult with Gao Mian. I have already received word that she was imprisoned the moment she returned to the Shan Family."

"What?" Su Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Chai Nian interjected, "Ji City is not within the Gao Family's sphere of influence. Gao Mian is a lone tree that cannot withstand the wind, unable to contend with the Vein Splitting elders of the Shan Family. This time, she was ultimately too arrogant."

"Damn the Shan Family!" Su Yuan clenched his fists.

Chai Nian offered a timely promise: "Set your heart at ease. The Shan Family won't dare do anything to her, at most house arrest. You just focus on taking the medicine; if you perform well, it is not impossible for the Chai Family to help you rescue her."

After Su Yuan left, Chai Nian asked Chai Hong, "Third Uncle, do we really intend to give him one hundred taels a month? If he stalls in the future, this price is far too high..."

An ordinary Three-Blood realm martial artist only earned ten taels a month, and he had no confidence that Su Yuan would reach the Savage Strength realm.

Chai Hong said calmly, "It is merely a show for outsiders to see. Once this wave of attention passes, if he shows no progress, there is naturally no need to waste so many resources. You focus on cultivating Su Tieniu; as for his temperament, it still needs to be polished well."

"This nephew understands."

Su Yuan and Tieniu left the Chai estate, hurriedly moved the children to their new residence, and then prepared to leave the city to practice martial arts.

"Brother Yuan, why the rush to leave the city? Can't we rest for two days?" Tieniu asked, puzzled.

Su Yuan's face was as dark as water. "Sister Mian has been imprisoned by the Shan Family. I must become stronger faster to rescue her!"

Having said that, he headed straight for the South City gate.

Tan Shen was still on duty at the gate. Seeing Su Yuan, he immediately greeted him respectfully, "Champion Su!"

Su Yuan nodded slightly, having no time for small talk, and walked quickly out of the city.

A soldier nearby leaned in. "Old Tan, you actually know Champion Su?"

In the current Ji City, who didn't know about the champion who had staged a comeback from an inferior bone structure?

"More than just know him! I've even received his guidance!" Tan Shen puffed out his chest, his face full of pride.

The surrounding gazes were filled with envy.

Su Yuan left all that fame behind him.

Returning to the old house, he continued practicing the Golden Horse-Head Technique.

During the few days of hunting, he had also found time to practice.

The Savage Strength realm was close.

Without hesitation, he took out the Break Strength Pill and swallowed it. A powerful medicinal force exploded within his body, and Su Yuan felt his entire blood essence begin to boil.

[Golden Horse-Head Technique: 974/1000 (Second Layer)]

[Golden Horse-Head Technique: 999/1000 (Second Layer)]

[Golden Horse-Head Technique: 1/2000 (Third Layer)]

He had attained the Savage Strength realm.