Third Rank

"Whew..."

Watching Xu Chuan's back as he headed toward the rear hall, Shen Xiuhan slowly let out a breath of white air.

That was the benefit of having a Martial Arts School at his back and a sect to shelter him.

Without that identity, carrying a treasure beast in the outer city, he would have been like a child clutching gold bricks—unable to take a single step.

Before long, Xu Chuan hurried out and lowered his voice.

"Go on in. This is a treasure beast unique to the Ji Family. I've already reported its basic details and origins to Master."

Shen Xiuhan solemnly clasped his fists. "Sorry for troubling you, Second Senior Brother."

"We're brothers from the same family. No need to be so polite."

Xu Chuan waved his hand and sauntered toward the outer courtyard.

Shen Xiuhan picked up the fish basket, passed through the moon gate, and entered the deep, tranquil rear courtyard.

This was his second time standing before the steps of the main hall.

The surroundings were utterly silent. There wasn't even the shadow of a servant.

He set the bamboo basket beneath the steps, bowed with his fists clasped, and called out in a clear voice, "Your disciple Xiuhan requests an audience with Master!"

"Come in."

Creak.

When he pushed open the carved wooden door, a warm breeze laced with a rich medicinal fragrance rushed over him.

The furnishings inside were unchanged.

Mei Shuangfeng sat upright in a grand armchair, dressed in a long robe and holding a cup of hot tea. A plate of sugar cubes still sat on the table before her.

Seeing Shen Xiuhan enter, Mei Shuangfeng set down her teacup and glanced toward the bamboo basket.

"Bring it over and let me have a look."

Shen Xiuhan stepped forward twice, lifted out the Azure Awl Chicken, and placed it beneath the square rosewood table in the hall.

Mei Shuangfeng walked over at an unhurried pace. After surveying it with her phoenix eyes, she reached out and opened the bloody wound beneath the Azure Awl Chicken's wing, then pinched its neck bone.

The room was very quiet. From time to time, the charcoal brazier gave a soft crackle.

Mei Shuangfeng examined it for a moment. Her gaze shifted slightly, and she slowly nodded.

"Not bad. The flesh around this wound beneath its wing has been torn outward. It was left by the bite of a wild creature. It should indeed be a treasure beast from Great Mount Li."

"Its feathers carry a dim sheen, and its beak is as sharp as iron. Judging from its coloring, it should be about six years old. It's an adult second-rank treasure beast, with its qi and blood at their peak... Your luck is quite good. You picked up a bargain."

"Um, Master..."

Shen Xiuhan awkwardly scratched his head.

"There's something I've always wanted to ask. What do the ranks mean? I remember that when you spoke of that Silver-backed Fish last time, you also called it a second-rank treasure fish."

Mei Shuangfeng explained calmly.

"Treasure fish and treasure beasts are both spirit creatures born with the ability to nourish qi and blood. Based on the amount of qi and blood contained within their bodies, they're divided into first, second, and third rank."

"Usually speaking, treasure beasts are born in the mountains and forests. Their struggles are vicious, and their attack and destructive power far surpass those of treasure fish in the water."

"Treasure fish, on the other hand, may have mediocre battle prowess, but the qi and blood within their bodies are often purer."

"For example, that Silver-backed Fish you caught last time had almost no killing power, but the qi and blood it contained were so pure that they exceeded those of this Azure Awl Chicken by more than half a notch."

"Medicinal pastes and pills refined from second-rank treasure fish and treasure beasts have tremendous effects on Bright Force martial artists. Even Hidden Force martial artists can use them to strengthen their foundations and replenish their vitality."

"But once one reaches Hidden Force Perfected..."

Mei Shuangfeng paused at this point before continuing.

"Ordinary pills become barely effective. Only treasure pills refined from third-rank treasure fish or treasure beasts can help one break through the bottleneck."

Third-rank treasure fish...

Shen Xiuhan's heart stirred, and he couldn't help asking curiously.

"Master, in our Longcloud County... has anyone ever caught a third-rank treasure fish?"

"Yes."

Mei Shuangfeng uttered a name.

"Bai Qingcang."

"Eighteen years ago, he captured a third-rank Azure Dragon Carp in the depths of Cloudwater Lake, along with an entire school of Azure Jade Carp."

"Later, he prepared a lavish gift and invited a pill master from the Jade Parasol Sect of Guangwu Prefecture to refine it, producing a single treasure pill."

"Relying on that pill, Bai Qingcang entered seclusion for two and a half years and successfully broke through to Transformation Force."

Bai Qingcang, the ancestor of the White Family!

So he was the one who had caught the third-rank treasure fish.

Shen Xiuhan was naturally as familiar with the resounding name of this Transformation Force expert as thunder.

It was precisely because of this person that the White Family had risen in a single leap, standing alongside the Eastern Guard Martial Hall and the Luo Family as the three great powers of Longcloud County.

And the White Family... was the true culprit behind the recent uproar over the Child-Kidnapping Case.

Faced with a matter like this, Shen Xiuhan couldn't rashly intervene.

The White Family not only had a Transformation Force expert presiding over it, but its influence within the clan was also deeply rooted and intricately entwined.

The county yamen's commandant and Fast Squad were both firmly held in their hands.

One careless move, and he could easily end up capsizing in the gutter.

Fortunately...

A few days ago, she had used a minor scheme to make the White Family fall into a bitter dispute with the Through-the-Back Martial Hall and the Eastern Guard Martial Hall. As a result, reports of missing children had also decreased considerably.

That could be counted as doing a good deed, at least.

At this moment, Mei Shuangfeng picked up a white cloth from the table and wiped it before getting to the main point.

"If this treasure beast is to be refined into pills, six medicinal ingredients will be needed as supplements."

"The more expensive ones are the Purpleblood Vine and a ten-year-old mountain ginseng. They'll be used to neutralize the medicinal properties, allowing us to refine the Jadeblood Pill."

"According to the Martial Arts School's rules, the cost of the supplementary ingredients will be deducted from the pills produced in your batch. Besides that, I'll take another tenth of the finished pills as payment for the furnace's fuel and my efforts."

"This treasure beast has a thick foundation. If the heat is controlled properly, it should produce around ten Jadeblood Pills."

"After deducting the cost of the supplementary ingredients and my share, you should have seven or eight pills left..."

At this point, Mei Shuangfeng lowered her phoenix eyes and calmly fixed her gaze on Shen Xiuhan.

"Do you have any objections?"

"Your disciple has absolutely no objections!"

Joy flashed through Shen Xiuhan's eyes as he solemnly bowed and gave his assurance.

Seven or eight pills!

Although he didn't know how effective this Jadeblood Pill was, it definitely wouldn't be inferior to that bowl of Ebony Origin-Replenishing Soup he had drunk.

With these pills to aid him, the speed at which he pushed the first stage of Bright Force—the Blood Tempering Realm—to great completion would likely increase considerably.

"Mm. Rise."

Mei Shuangfeng waved her hand, then sat back down and picked up her tea. "Leave the item here. Come to the rear hall tomorrow at the hour of the Rooster to collect the medicine."

"Yes, your disciple will take his leave."

"Wait..."

Shen Xiuhan stopped in confusion and turned to look.

Mei Shuangfeng rubbed her brow as though she had remembered something, then spoke.

"You've already knocked open Bright Force, and tomorrow happens to be the day when several families in the inner city hire temporary clerks. If you're short on money and want to find a way to earn some silver, stay quietly in the Martial Arts School tomorrow and wait. Don't miss the time."

"...Your disciple understands. Thank you for the guidance, Master!"

"Junior Brother, this way!"

Shen Xiuhan had just stepped out of the main hall when he saw two people standing in the inner courtyard.

One was Xu Chuan.

The other was a stranger, of medium build, with arms so long that when hanging down, they nearly reached his knees.

At this moment, the young man stood beside Xu Chuan, studying him with great interest.

"Come, let me introduce you."

When Shen Xiuhan approached, Xu Chuan pointed at the young man beside him and grinned.

"This is your Third Senior Brother, Xiang Yunting."

Shen Xiuhan suddenly understood and clasped his fists.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Xiang."

Over the past few days, Xu Chuan had carefully told him about the several senior brothers and sisters in the inner courtyard.

The First Senior Sister, Jiang Qinghong, was cold on the outside but warm within. Her cultivation was the highest among all the disciples, and her martial arts were truly top-notch.

The Third Senior Brother, Xiang Yunting, was the man before him.

The Fourth Senior Brother, Shen Huai, was said to have a dull personality and dislike speaking.

The Fifth Senior Sister, Ding Qing, supposedly practiced a family-inherited whip technique in addition to cultivating the Mystic Eagle Stance. She had broken through into the Blood Tempering Realm less than half a year ago.

Aside from the examination days, the morning practice and guidance for the outer-courtyard disciples were handled in rotation by these five, who took the place of their master and supervised them.