Gathering of Heroes

After Lu Chen advanced to the minor stage of Blood Moving, the Chen Family's support for him increased accordingly.

It had originally been four taels of silver per month, but now it had risen directly to ten taels a month.

Lu Chen did not decline. He was at the crucial point of accumulating blood qi to break through to the major stage of Blood Moving, and resources were what he lacked most. These ten taels of silver would let him use several more Blood-Qi Powders each month.

As the saying went, "A poor scholar, a rich warrior."

Martial arts had never been something one could master with nothing but burning passion.

Every martial artist was a money-burning machine.

After parting with Chen Chong, Lu Chen returned to the Scarlet Cloud Mountain Herb Garden.

There were none of the county town's endless disturbances there, making it more suitable for cultivating in peace.

And in the herb garden, whenever the martial artists saw Lu Chen training, they would inexplicably feel more at ease.

It was as though, with him there, the herb garden had gained a pillar that steadied the sea.

The days passed one by one amid such training.

Lu Chen could almost clearly feel the changes within himself.

He had once thought the major stage of Blood Moving was still some distance away, but now, beneath the effects of Blood-Qi Powder after Blood-Qi Powder and day after day of grueling cultivation, that threshold seemed to be drawing steadily closer.

At the same time, the first batch of medicinal herbs after the start of spring had reached harvest time.

This batch had endured the winter in the heated sheds and then survived the Snow Wolf night raid. Preserving it had been no easy feat. Wang Zhong personally led the team, loading the herbs onto carts and escorting them into Scarlet Cloud County.

Before departing, he instructed Lu Chen, "I'm making a trip into town. Keep a closer eye on the herb garden while I'm gone."

Lu Chen nodded. "Rest assured, Chief Wang."

Wang Zhong smiled, but concern lingered in his eyes as he reminded him, "You cultivation maniac, compared to the herb garden, I'm more worried that you'll overtrain and suffer qi deviation!"

"You're still young. There's no need to force yourself to catch up with this year's martial examination. There'll still be opportunities next year!"

Every day, he watched Lu Chen swallow Blood-Qi Powder like candy beans. He was truly worried that Lu Chen would overdo the medicine, letting its potency build into poison and causing qi deviation that would ruin his future.

Lu Chen laughed and told Wang Zhong not to worry. "Chief Wang, you're overthinking it. I know my limits when it comes to cultivation."

Once the caravan left, the herb garden became much quieter.

Lu Chen continued cultivating as usual, though at night he also helped patrol the area around the herb garden once.

It was not until five days later that Wang Zhong returned with the caravan.

They had delivered the medicinal herbs to the Yam Herb Shop and brought back quite a bit of grain, salt, cloth, and other daily necessities.

But it was somewhat unusual for them to have been gone so long.

After Wang Zhong returned, Lu Chen asked with concern, "Chief Wang, why did this trip take so long? Did something happen?"

Wang Zhong smiled and shook his head. "Everything went smoothly."

"However, while I was in the county town, I went to observe the Gathering of Heroes and was delayed for a few days."

"The Gathering of Heroes?" Lu Chen raised a brow.

Seeing his puzzled expression, Wang Zhong sat down on a stone bench in the herb garden, told one of his men to prepare tea, and beckoned Lu Chen over. "Come. This is a good chance to tell you about it. Aren't you planning to take the martial examination? The Gathering of Heroes has quite a lot to do with it."

Lu Chen sat down across from him.

Only then did Wang Zhong say, "Scarlet Cloud County has five major martial halls: Mighty Far Hall, Thousand Crane Martial Hall, Hidden Dragon Martial Hall, Rock-Solid Martial Hall, and Thunderbolt Martial Hall."

"Every spring, these five martial halls take the lead in holding a gathering for young martial artists."

"That is the Gathering of Heroes."

Lu Chen pondered this. "A gathering for young martial artists?"

"That's right."

Wang Zhong said, "On the surface, it is for the younger generations of each faction to exchange martial skills and make friends."

"But in truth, there are plenty of hidden angles to it."

"First, it is meant to build momentum for their own outstanding disciples."

"Whenever a martial hall produces a genius, they use this opportunity to let him show his face before all the various powers."

"Once his reputation spreads, the martial hall naturally gains prestige as well, and naturally more people will come to enroll and learn martial arts."

Wang Zhong took a sip of tea before continuing, "Second, it is for attracting sponsorship and investment."

"Martial halls need silver, meat, and medicinal soups to train disciples. Every single thing costs money!"

"If a martial hall's disciples perform well at the Gathering of Heroes and catch the eye of herb shops, escort agencies, or clans, resources will come their way afterward, making it easier to discuss cooperation with those forces."

Lu Chen nodded, understanding the purpose of the Gathering of Heroes.

It was essentially a large-scale martial arts promotional event jointly organized by Scarlet Cloud County's five major martial halls.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Chen asked, "Then how did things go at this Gathering of Heroes? Which disciples from each martial hall took the stage?"

Wang Zhong said unhurriedly, "Though the Gathering of Heroes is not the martial examination, it can still be considered a preliminary test before it."

"The more you learn, the clearer you'll be on which opponents you may encounter in this year's martial examination."

Lu Chen nodded. That was precisely what he meant.

If he only cultivated behind closed doors and knew nothing about the strength of Scarlet Cloud County's younger generation, he would inevitably suffer a disadvantage when he truly reached the martial examination grounds.

Wang Zhong was in no hurry. Sipping his hot tea, he began to explain in detail. "Thousand Crane Martial Hall and Mighty Far Hall have been the most prominent martial halls these past few years. They have always been competing for the top spot among Scarlet Cloud County's martial halls."

"Both have produced disciples at the major stage of Blood Moving."

"One is seventeen, and the other eighteen. Both are powerful contenders for this year's martial examination."

"The major stage of Blood Moving?" Lu Chen's heart stirred slightly.

This news gave him a more direct understanding of the strength of those two martial halls.

Among Hidden Dragon Martial Hall's younger generation, there was currently no openly known disciple at the major stage of Blood Moving.

Although true disciples such as Song Tieshan and Liu Qingping had already reached the major stage of Blood Moving, they were both in their twenties and had long passed the age limit for the martial examination. They were not candidates from the younger generation taking part in it.

Wang Zhong continued, "I reckon those two martial halls are still concealing their strength. They have not pushed their true core disciples into the spotlight at all."

"The greater the martial hall, the less likely it is to lay all its trump cards on the table."

"Those two martial halls fighting for supremacy in Scarlet Cloud County cannot possibly have only one or two major-stage Blood Moving disciples preparing for the martial examination."

"In previous years, there were always more than ten."

"More than ten?" Lu Chen fell silent. Now he truly understood the gap between Hidden Dragon Martial Hall and those two martial halls.

Wang Zhong said, "Your Hidden Dragon Martial Hall has always been considered among the lower ranks of Scarlet Cloud County's five major martial halls these past few years."

"It has not produced a Martial Scholar in several years."

Lu Chen did not argue.

He had not been in Hidden Dragon Martial Hall for long, but he could still sense that its influence truly did not compare to powers such as Mighty Far Hall.

At this point, Wang Zhong suddenly changed the subject.

"However..."

Lu Chen looked up. "However what?"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Wang Zhong's mouth. "However, this year, your Hidden Dragon Martial Hall truly shone at the Gathering of Heroes."

"Oh? Why was that?" Lu Chen was somewhat surprised.

"Because your martial hall's genius, Shi Hao, made a name for himself at this Gathering of Heroes." Wang Zhong smiled as he spoke, while watching Lu Chen closely for his reaction.

"What happened to Shi Hao?" Lu Chen pressed, with little change in his expression.

"That kid truly has talent. At such a young age, he has already reached the major stage of Blood Moving. At the Gathering of Heroes, he defeated two top experts from Mighty Far Hall and Thousand Crane Martial Hall in succession, and for a time, his glory was unmatched!"

Wang Zhong praised him without reservation.

The image of Shi Hao as he had once been surfaced in Lu Chen's mind. That wild boy from a mountain hunter's family, a year younger than him, had now completely made his name in Scarlet Cloud County.

"It is a good thing for our Hidden Dragon Martial Hall that Shi Hao made his mark."

Lu Chen said with a smile.

Wang Zhong stared at Lu Chen. "What, you're not jealous at all?"

Lu Chen burst out laughing. "I'm not that petty."

"Besides, we come from the same martial hall. The more outstanding he is, the better it is for the rest of us disciples of Hidden Dragon Martial Hall. We can all benefit from his glory. Whether we roam the martial world in the future or take positions at shops, we'll be able to receive better treatment."

Lu Chen saw things very clearly. Moreover, his goal lay among the stars and the sea; he would never limit his horizons to a small place like Scarlet Cloud County.

Wang Zhong nodded. "You're right."