Applying for the Assessment

What? You killed a Chang Ghost?

As soon as the words fell, the reception hall went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

In the next instant, the room erupted in unrestrained mockery and laughter.

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

You? You killed a Chang Ghost? Did you get hit in the head and go stupid, or have you lost your mind?"

Xue Zhao had just been put in his place by Xie Shu and had been looking for somewhere to vent his anger. Now he laughed especially wildly.

As a seventh-stage Blood-Moving Realm martial artist, even he wouldn't dare make such a boast. Where had a good-for-nothing like Jiang Feng, who hadn't even reached the second stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, found the nerve?

What made it even better was that Xie Shu had just spoken up for the kid. Now Jiang Feng's lunatic claim was practically slapping Xie Shu in the face in front of everyone.

He wanted to see if Xie Shu would dare stick up for him again.

Xie Shu, too, looked utterly confused.

He couldn't understand why Jiang Feng would make such a meaningless boast. Saying something like that wouldn't make anyone think more of him; it would only give others a reason to laugh at him. Jiang Feng didn't look like the kind of person who had no brains.

Jiang Feng paid no attention to Xue Zhao and the others, who were still laughing uproariously. Meeting Xie Shu's puzzled gaze, he calmly said:

"Shopkeeper Xie, my martial cultivation has now reached the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm. I've also learned to control the outward manifestation of my qi and blood."

The moment he said this, the laughter in the room abruptly stopped.

The entire reception hall fell into deathly silence.

The smile froze on Xue Zhao's face. His eyes were full of disbelief, as were those of the apprentices behind him. They all stared at one another as though they'd heard something impossible.

Not long ago, Jiang Feng had been grinding medicine in the Pharmacy alongside them, working just as hard as any other apprentice. How had he reached the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm after only a few days away?

Their first thought was that Jiang Feng was lying.

But a lie like that would be far too easy to expose.

On the path of martial cultivation, one was one and two was two. No one could fake it.

At Jiang Feng's words, Xie Shu's eyes lit up.

"Jiang Feng, is that really true?"

Jiang Feng said nothing more. He slowly raised his scarred hand.

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

Xie Shu stroked his beard, his eyes brimming with even greater appreciation.

"Good! Your qi and blood are gathered without dispersing, even and substantial.

Jiang Feng, you've built an exceptionally solid foundation in martial cultivation."

At last, his doubts began to clear. He gave a slight nod.

"Seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, along with such a solid manifestation of qi and blood... Killing a Chang Ghost wouldn't be difficult."

Xue Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't force out a single word.

His eyes were fixed on Jiang Feng's hand, covered in qi and blood. Hatred and venom surged in his gaze, utterly undisguised.

It wasn't just that his plan had been completely ruined. What he couldn't accept was that Jiang Feng's cultivation had now firmly surpassed his own.

He was also at the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm, but he still couldn't manifest his qi and blood.

*How could this happen...? How had he reached the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm?

What right did he have to such a solid foundation?

I'd already done so much to target him. How could he still keep rising? I refuse to accept this! I refuse! I have to kill him!*

The fury smoldering inside Xue Zhao had burned through his reason. His gaze at Jiang Feng was practically dripping with murderous intent.

He had already worked out what to do. The moment Jiang Feng stepped out of this room, he'd use his authority as a supervisor to have him locked up and tortured to death.

He could feel that this was his last chance to crush Jiang Feng. If the kid really gained power, Xue Zhao couldn't even imagine how he'd take revenge on him.

Even when Xue Zhao thought back on what he'd done to Jiang Feng, he felt he'd gone too far.

He turned to leave and gather men in advance.

But before he could take a step, he heard Jiang Feng say to Xie Shu, unhurriedly:

"Shopkeeper Xie, if I remember correctly, any apprentice whose martial cultivation reaches the seventh stage of the Blood-Moving Realm can apply for the Guard Assessment. Those who pass can escape the Slave Registry and become guards of the Medicine Hall."

Xie Shu nodded. "That's right. Are you hoping to take the assessment?"

Jiang Feng nodded without hesitation. That was the real reason he'd returned to the Medicine Hall.

Only by becoming a guard of the Medicine Hall could he finally escape Xue Zhao's control. It would also give him a chance to learn more advanced martial arts knowledge. Perhaps that would help him find a way to remove the patch of pitch-black markings on his chest.

Xie Shu naturally had no reason to refuse. He smiled and agreed on the spot. "The Guard Assessment won't be a problem. I can arrange it for you today."

But Xue Zhao, standing nearby, hurriedly objected.

"No, no! That won't do! Shopkeeper Xie, you can't let Jiang Feng take the Guard Assessment!"

At that, a cold smile appeared on Xie Shu's face.

He knew perfectly well what Xue Zhao was scheming, and felt nothing but contempt for it.

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

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

"I-I didn't mean that!"

Xue Zhao's face flushed red, and even his voice faltered. He could never bear the weight of an accusation like that.

"Then what do you mean?"

"I..."

Xue Zhao was frantic, his face burning as he desperately searched for a reason to stop Jiang Feng.

Suddenly, his gaze swept over the guards behind him. His eyes lit up, as though he'd spotted a lifeline. He hurriedly put on a smile and explained:

"Shopkeeper Xie, you've misunderstood. I'm not trying to stop Jiang Feng from taking the assessment. I just think I should be the one to oversee it. After all, Jiang Feng is still an apprentice under me. Isn't that right?"

Xie Shu furrowed his brows but didn't argue.

It wasn't an unreasonable thing to say. In the past, whenever an apprentice applied for the Guard Assessment, it was the apprentice supervisor who handled it.

Xue Zhao forced a sinister smile and turned to Jiang Feng, asking slowly, one word at a time:

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

What could Jiang Feng say?

This was the best outcome he could manage for now.

He nodded expressionlessly, sneering inwardly. He wanted to see what other tricks Xue Zhao could come up with.

Xue Zhao gave a cold snort, then left the reception hall with his men.

Only after his back had disappeared beyond the doorway did Xie Shu reach out and pat Jiang Feng on the shoulder, his tone gentler.

"Jiang Feng, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on things during the assessment. I won't let him tamper with anything."

Jiang Feng could clearly feel Xie Shu's goodwill. He bowed respectfully.

"Then I'll trouble you, Shopkeeper Xie."

Xie Shu laughed heartily and waved a hand.

"It's nothing. I could tell when you manifested your qi and blood just now that you're a diligent, steady boy. A scumbag like Xue Zhao shouldn't be allowed to bury your martial talent.

I have high hopes for you. Besides, Alchemist Song thinks highly of you too."

Jiang Feng was taken aback. He hadn't expected Song Huai to be involved.

It seemed that while he'd been away, that eccentric Alchemist Song had still been thinking of him. A strange warmth welled up in his heart.