The Sky Changes

High noon.

White Ape Martial Hall.

While other disciples were still heatedly discussing the news of Zheng Hao and his group being killed, Jiang Chen had already arrived at the training grounds to practice bitterly.

The incident with the Soul Demon last night had brought his desire to become stronger to its peak!

If it weren't for the Myriad Dao Chart being able to suppress such demonic spirits and evil entities, the subject of the martial hall's heated discussion right now would likely be him.

Therefore, he had to become stronger!

He had to become stronger, racing against every second!

Amidst the dull and bitter training, it reached two in the afternoon.

"Qingzhu, something big has happened!"

"Your cousin and the others have been killed!"

At the martial hall entrance, just as Wang Qingzhu walked in, Zhao Xiaoyue hurried over to meet her.

"My cousin was killed? When did this happen?"

Wang Qingzhu was shocked.

Although Zheng Hao and the others were good-for-nothings, they were still disciples of the martial hall.

Who had the audacity to lay a hand on someone from the martial hall?

"The yamen came this morning; I heard they were killed in the dark alleys last night."

Zhao Xiaoyue revealed what she had heard.

"With the undercurrents surging in the Prefecture City right now, they still dared to go to the Gambling Den in the middle of the night..."

Wang Qingzhu sighed helplessly.

She had warned Zheng Hao long ago, but unfortunately, Zheng Hao clearly hadn't taken it to heart.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Wang Qingzhu's bright eyes narrowed as she looked toward a spot on the training grounds.

On that open space, a figure drenched in sweat was practicing fist techniques.

His footwork was nimble, the sound of his punches was deafening, and at a glance, he looked just like a spirit ape from the mountains.

"Could it be..."

Watching the diligently training Jiang Chen, a shocking thought suddenly popped into Wang Qingzhu's mind:

Could the deaths of Zheng Hao and the others be Jiang Chen's doing?

As far as she knew, Zheng Hao and his group owed gambling debts and had always wanted to make Jiang Chen pay them off.

In the past, given Jiang Chen's humble demeanor, she certainly wouldn't have suspected him.

But ever since the incident at the haunted house, Jiang Chen had seemed like a completely different person.

This matter might actually have something to do with Jiang Chen or the Jiang Clan...

"Qingzhu, have you noticed that Jiang Chen is really different now?"

"Look at his fist techniques; they are even smoother than what Senior Brother Sun teaches. These past few days, many disciples have specifically gone to ask him for advice."

"I heard Senior Brother Sun say that even Inner Courtyard disciples can't compare to Jiang Chen's comprehension."

Seeing Wang Qingzhu looking at Jiang Chen, Zhao Xiaoyue spoke of the changes in Jiang Chen over these past few days.

"His comprehension... is indeed extraordinary!"

Wang Qingzhu's gaze shifted slightly.

If Jiang Chen's cultivation had improved so quickly because the Jiang Clan used precious medicinal herbs, then his mastery of the White Ape Fist was a matter of genuine comprehension.

She truly hadn't expected Jiang Chen's comprehension to be this strong.

"Why don't you give him a chance?"

Zhao Xiaoyue tried to play matchmaker.

She deeply missed the days when Jiang Chen was a sycophant.

Back when he followed Wang Qingzhu around, she was able to get delicious snacks almost every day.

"It's a pity his bone structure is too poor."

Wang Qingzhu withdrew her gaze.

With the talent of an ordinary bone structure, his future achievements would be very limited; he still wasn't worthy of her.

However, after Zhao Xiaoyue's meddling, her previous thoughts had dissipated.

Regardless of whether Zheng Hao's death had anything to do with Jiang Chen, she had no intention of getting involved.

There was no benefit in speaking up about this matter, and it would only bring trouble upon herself—it wasn't worth it.

"Hoo!"

At dusk, Jiang Chen, drenched in sweat, finished his grueling training.

[Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Mid-stage (14%)]

On the Myriad Dao Chart, his cultivation was steadily rising as usual.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before he reached the late stage, and breaking through the Three Qi and Blood Gates could also be put on the agenda.

Jiang Clan.

"Master."

The trusted steward hurried over.

"How is Chen'er doing?"

Jiang Sihai asked urgently.

"The Young Master is doing well," the steward replied.

"However, something did happen at the White Ape Martial Hall yesterday."

Immediately, the steward revealed the news that Zheng Hao and the others had been killed.

"The Zheng Clan?"

Jiang Sihai was startled.

He was certainly no stranger to Zheng Hao and his group.

In the half-year since Jiang Chen had joined the martial hall, he had been running around with Zheng Hao and the others the entire time.

The danger they encountered at the haunted house last time was also inseparable from Zheng Hao and his group.

They were actually all dead?

Who could this be?

To dare to kill disciples of the martial hall?

"This won't implicate Chen'er, will it?"

Jiang Sihai felt a surge of worry.

He didn't suspect that Jiang Chen had killed Zheng Hao and the others.

Rather, he was worried that the killer who had slain them would also target Jiang Chen.

After all, in the past, Jiang Chen had been cut from the same cloth as Zheng Hao and the others.

"The Young Master said he is very safe at the martial hall, so you need not worry," the trusted steward said, seeing Jiang Sihai's reaction.

"The martial hall is indeed the safest place."

Hearing this, Jiang Sihai finally set his mind at ease.

"It is time to root out the rats."

Once he confirmed Jiang Chen was safe, Jiang Sihai's eyes turned icy.

Since they dared to set their sights on Jiang Chen, they shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.

No matter which faction they belonged to, even if they were spies planted by the clan, he would execute them all without leaving a single one behind.

White Ape Martial Hall.

The commotion over Zheng Hao and the others gradually faded away after a few days.

Even matters of life and death were merely after-dinner conversation for others.

During these days, Jiang Chen had maintained his grueling training without the slightest slack.

Every bit of effort yielded a bit of reward.

He was now getting closer and closer to the late stage of the Second Qi and Blood Gate.

That night, dark clouds obscured the moon.

On the training grounds, Jiang Chen, soaked in sweat, was practicing his fist techniques alone.

Boom!

Suddenly, his movements paused, and immediately after, a powerful aura swept outward.

"Breakthrough!"

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up as he turned his focus inward.

[Cultivation: Second Qi and Blood Gate · Late-stage (0%)]

As expected, the martial qi and blood surging within his body had become as pure as jade, appearing without the slightest flaw.

This was a sign that the essence and energy of his five viscera had completely fused.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Jiang Chen retracted his fists, straightened his posture, and approached the Iron Wood Stake.

He unleashed a continuous set of fist techniques.

Clear, visible fist imprints appeared one after another on the wooden stake.

"Six hundred force!"

The depth of the strikes was six inches, with a force of six hundred.

Jiang Chen could not hide the smile on his face.

This feeling of becoming stronger, experienced firsthand, was truly addictive.

"After the transformation of martial qi and blood, it is time to nourish the five viscera!"

Jiang Chen turned his focus inward to observe his five viscera.

During the late stage of the Second Qi and Blood Gate, one must use martial qi and blood to nourish the limbs and bones.

Upon reaching the late stage of the Second Qi and Blood Gate, one must use martial qi and blood to strengthen the five viscera.

Cultivation in the Qi and Blood Realm, aside from the transformation of qi and blood, also involves the strengthening of the physique.

The next day, at the hour of the snake.

Having finished his third round of cultivation, Jiang Chen came to the shade of a tree to cool off.

"Jiang Chen."

"Junior Brother Jiang."

"Senior Brother Jiang."

Many disciples who were also resting greeted him one after another.

As Jiang Chen stepped into the Second Qi and Blood Gate, the attitudes of the Martial Arts Hall disciples had also changed.

In this world where martial power reigns supreme, only formidable strength can earn one respect.

During this time, some disciples also sought advice from Jiang Chen regarding the White Ape Fist.

In terms of mastery of the White Ape Fist, Jiang Chen was no weaker than Sun Wu, and perhaps even stronger.

Jiang Chen's former image as a sycophant had been completely overturned.

"Big news!"

"An envoy from the Upper Sect has entered the city!"

While everyone was chatting, a disciple ran over in a frantic rush.

"An envoy from the Upper Sect?"

"Which Upper Sect? The True Sun Sect?"

"People from the True Sun Sect dare to call themselves envoys?"

"Could this be a move to seize power?"

Many disciples were shocked upon hearing this.

Could it be that a rebellion was about to break out in Anning Prefecture as well?

"It seems the news about the True Sun Sect has already spread."

Jiang Chen and the other disciples who knew the inside story reacted with indifference.

City Lord Yu had been gone for so many days; it was time for the people from the True Sun Sect to arrive.

This also meant that from today on, the sky over White Cloud County had completely changed!

"I heard that the True Sun Sect made a deal with the imperial court. From now on, Anning Prefecture will be taken over by the True Sun Sect, and more importantly..."

As expected, that disciple revealed the news about the City Guard and the Martial Exam.

"Does this mean that as long as one passes the Martial Exam, they can change their destiny?!"

This news was like a bombshell, and those disciples were all stirred with excitement.

If they could make the list in the Martial Exam, they could join the City Guard.

Given the importance the True Sun Sect placed on the City Guard, that would be no less than a carp leaping over the dragon gate.

"The standard to participate in the Martial Exam is the True Martial Realm; what are you all getting so excited about?"

One disciple poured cold water on them.

In the Martial Arts Hall, only the elite disciples who had entered the Inner Courtyard had any chance of making the list.

As for them, the Outer Courtyard disciples, they could only watch the spectacle.

After all, there were only five months left until the end of the year.

To step into the Three Qi and Blood Gates and then break through to the True Martial Realm within such a short span of time would be difficult even with the help of forbidden drugs.

"We definitely don't have a chance this year, but next year is hard to say."

"That's right, since they are forming a City Guard, they will surely be recruiting continuously. If we push ourselves this year, we might have a shot next year."

"Even if it doesn't work out next year, there's still the year after..."

Those disciples remained very excited.

The Martial Exam is held once a year.

Although they had missed this year, there was still hope for the next.

Immediately, many disciples left the Martial Arts Hall, heading home to discuss their strategies.

Soon, the news that the True Sun Sect had taken over the Prefecture City spread throughout the Martial Arts Hall, and both the Outer Courtyard disciples and Inner Courtyard disciples were plunged into a frenzy.