Applying for the Assessment

What? You killed a Chang Ghost?

As these words fell, the reception hall fell into such a deathly silence that one could hear a pin drop.

The next moment, a burst of unbridled mockery and laughter erupted.

"Hahaha, Jiang Feng, do you even know what you're saying?

You? You killed a Chang Ghost? Has your head been beaten stupid, or have you lost your mind?"

Xue Zhao had just been suppressed by Xie Shu and was looking for a place to vent his frustration; at this moment, his laughter was exceptionally arrogant.

As a seventh-stage Blood-Moving Realm practitioner, he didn't even dare to spout such wild claims. Where did Jiang Feng, a piece of trash who hadn't even reached the second stage, find the courage?

What was even better was that Xie Shu had just spoken up for this kid. Now, Jiang Feng's insane ramblings were essentially a slap to Xie Shu's face in front of everyone.

He wanted to see if Xie Shu would still dare to stick his neck out for him.

Xie Shu was also wearing a look of confusion.

He could not understand why Jiang Feng would tell such a meaningless lie. Saying something like this wouldn't make anyone think higher of him; instead, it would only become fodder for others to ridicule him. Jiang Feng didn't seem like a brainless person at all.

Jiang Feng ignored Xue Zhao and the others who were still laughing wildly. Meeting Xie Shu's gaze, which was filled with doubt, he spoke calmly:

"Manager Xie, my martial arts cultivation has broken through to the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm. Furthermore, I have already mastered the manifestation of blood-qi."

As soon as these words were spoken, the laughter in the room came to an abrupt halt.

The entire reception hall plunged into a deathly silence.

The smile on Xue Zhao's face froze, his eyes filled with disbelief. Not to mention the apprentices behind him, who stared at each other as if they had heard some Arabian Nights fantasy.

Not long ago, Jiang Feng had been an apprentice just like them, bitterly grinding medicine in the pharmacy. How could he have broken through to the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm after only a few days?

Their first reaction was that Jiang Feng was lying.

But such a lie was too easy to expose.

In the path of martial arts, one is one and two is two; no one could fake such things.

Hearing this, the look in Xie Shu's eyes as he gazed at Jiang Feng brightened instantly.

"Jiang Feng, is what you say true?"

Jiang Feng said nothing more, merely slowly raising his scarred palm.

The next moment, a thin layer of pale red mist quietly seeped from his palm, steadily wrapping around his entire hand like a sheer veil.

Xie Shu stroked his beard, the look of admiration in his eyes deepening:

"Good! The blood-qi is gathered and not scattered, even and thick.

Jiang Feng, your martial arts foundation is incredibly solid."

The doubts in his heart gradually cleared, and he nodded slightly:

"Seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, combined with such solid blood-qi manifestation... slaying a Chang Ghost is indeed not a difficult task."

Xue Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not a single word could squeeze out.

His gaze was nailed to Jiang Feng's palm, which was covered in blood-qi, and his eyes churned with undisguised hatred and malice.

This was not only because his previous plan had completely fallen through, but what he found even more unacceptable was that Jiang Feng's current cultivation had firmly stepped over his own.

Although he was also at the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, he was still far from being able to manifest his blood-qi.

How could this be... how could he possibly break through to the seventh stage?

How could he have such a solid foundation?

I have targeted him so much, yet he still managed to rise! I refuse to accept this! I refuse! I must make him die!

The evil fire in Xue Zhao's heart had completely burned through his reason, and the look he cast at Jiang Feng was almost overflowing with killing intent.

He had already secretly calculated that as soon as Jiang Feng stepped out of this room, he would immediately use his authority as a manager to lock the man up and torture him to death.

He could feel that this was his last chance to crush Jiang Feng. If he really let this kid gain power, he couldn't even imagine how the other party would retaliate against him.

Looking back on the things he had done to Jiang Feng in the past, even he felt they were excessive.

He turned to leave, intending to mobilize his men in advance.

But before he could take a step, he heard Jiang Feng say to Xie Shu in an unhurried tone:

"Manager Xie, if I remember correctly, as long as an apprentice's martial arts cultivation reaches the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, they can apply for the Guard Assessment. Passing the assessment allows one to shed their slave status and become a guard for the Medicine Hall."

Xie Shu nodded: "That is indeed the rule. Do you wish to participate in the assessment?"

Jiang Feng nodded without hesitation. This was his true purpose for returning to the Medicine Hall.

Only by becoming a guard could he completely escape Xue Zhao's grasp and have the opportunity to access deeper martial arts knowledge. Perhaps through this, he could find a way to remove the pitch-black markings on his chest.

Xie Shu naturally would not refuse and readily agreed with a smile: "The Guard Assessment is no problem. I can arrange it for you today."

Xue Zhao, standing to the side, hurriedly objected:

"No, you can't! Manager Xie, you cannot let Jiang Feng take the Guard Assessment!"

Hearing this, a cold sneer appeared on Xie Shu's face.

He naturally knew what Xue Zhao was planning, and he felt only more disdain for it:

"Why not? The Guard Assessment is a rule set by the head of the Wu Family.

What, are you trying to change the head's rules?"

"I, I didn't mean that!"

Xue Zhao's face flushed red, and his voice even began to stutter. He could not afford to bear such a heavy accusation.

"Then what did you mean?"

"I..."

Xue Zhao was so anxious he was red in the face, his brain spinning rapidly, desperately trying to find a reason to stop Jiang Feng.

Suddenly, his gaze swept over the guards behind him, and his eyes lit up as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw. He hurriedly explained with a fawning smile:

"Manager Xie, you misunderstood. I don't want to stop Jiang Feng from taking the assessment. I just think that this assessment should be handled by me. After all, Jiang Feng is still an apprentice under my charge, don't you think that makes sense?"

Xie Shu frowned but did not refute him.

There was indeed no flaw in that logic; in the past, when apprentices applied for the Guard Assessment, it was always the responsibility of the apprentice manager to handle it.

Xue Zhao squeezed out a sinister smile, turned to look at Jiang Feng, and asked, enunciating every word:

"Jiang Feng, you shouldn't have any objections, right?"

What else could Jiang Feng say?

This was the best result he could strive for at the moment.

He nodded expressionlessly, sneering in his heart. He wanted to see what other tricks Xue Zhao could pull.

Xue Zhao snorted coldly, turned around, and led his men out of the reception hall.

After his back disappeared outside the door, Xie Shu reached out and patted Jiang Feng on the shoulder, his tone softening:

"Jiang Feng, rest assured. I will be watching during the assessment; he won't be able to pull any tricks."

Jiang Feng could truly feel the goodwill Xie Shu was projecting, and he bowed solemnly to him:

"Then I will trouble you, Manager Xie."

Xie Shu laughed and waved his hand:

"A small matter. I could tell when you released your blood-qi just now that you are a steady and earnest child. Your martial arts talent should not be wasted by scum like Xue Zhao.

I think highly of you, and besides, Alchemist Song also thinks highly of you."

Jiang Feng was stunned to hear this, not expecting that Song Huai would have a hand in this as well.

It seemed that during the time he was away, that eccentric Alchemist Song had indeed been thinking of him. This warmed his heart inexplicably.