Third Tier

"Phew..."

Watching Xu Chuan's retreating figure head toward the rear hall, Shen Xiuhan let out a soft breath of white vapor.

That was the advantage of having a martial hall at one's back, with one's sect there to offer protection.

Without that status, carrying a Treasure Beast through the outer city would have been like a child clutching a gold brick—unable to take a single step without trouble.

Before long, Xu Chuan strode back out and lowered his voice.

"Go on in. This Treasure Beast is a specialty of the Ji Family. I've already reported its basic details and origin to Master."

Shen Xiuhan solemnly cupped his fists. "Thank you for taking such trouble, Second Senior Brother."

"We're brothers of the same school. What's there to be polite about?"

Xu Chuan waved him off 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.

Everything around him was silent. There was not even a trace of a servant.

Setting the bamboo basket beneath the steps, he bowed and cupped his fists, calling out clearly, "Disciple Xiuhan requests an audience with Master!"

"Enter."

Creak.

As he pushed open the carved wooden doors, a warm gust laden with rich medicinal fragrance rushed over him.

The furnishings inside remained much the same as before.

Mei Shuangfeng, dressed in a long robe, sat upright in a grandmaster's chair with a cup of hot tea in hand. A plate of sugar cubes sat on the table before her.

When she saw Shen Xiuhan enter, Mei Shuangfeng set down her teacup and glanced at the bamboo basket.

"Bring it over for me to see."

Shen Xiuhan stepped forward, took the Azure Awl Chicken from within, and placed it beneath the rosewood square table in the hall.

Mei Shuangfeng walked over at an unhurried pace. After sweeping her phoenix eyes over it, she pulled open the bloody wound beneath the Azure Awl Chicken's wing, then pinched its neck bones.

The room was quiet, broken only by the occasional soft crackle from the charcoal brazier.

After examining it for a moment, Mei Shuangfeng's gaze shifted slightly. She slowly nodded.

"Not bad. The flesh around this wound under its wing has been torn open. It was left by the bite of a wild beast. It should indeed be a Treasure Beast from Great Mount Li."

"Its feathers carry a dim sheen, and its beak is sharp as iron. Judging from its coloring, it should be around six years old—a mature second-tier Treasure Beast, its blood and qi at their peak... Your luck is good. You picked up a bargain."

"Uh, Master..."

Shen Xiuhan scratched his head awkwardly.

"This disciple has always wanted to ask: what are these tiers? Last time, Master also said that Silver-backed Fish was a second-tier Treasure Fish."

Mei Shuangfeng explained calmly.

"Treasure Fish and Treasure Beasts are both spiritual creatures that naturally nourish blood and qi. They are divided into first, second, and third tiers according to the amount of blood and qi contained within them."

"Generally speaking, Treasure Beasts are born in the mountains and forests. They fight fiercely, and their attack power and destructive force far surpass those of Treasure Fish in the water."

"Yet although Treasure Fish are mediocre in battle, the blood and qi within them are often purer."

"For instance, the Silver-backed Fish you caught last time possessed almost no offensive power, but the blood and qi it contained were more refined than that of this Azure Awl Chicken by nearly half a measure."

"Medicinal paste and pills refined from second-tier Treasure Fish and Treasure Beasts are immensely effective for practitioners of Bright Force. Even practitioners of Dark Force can use them to strengthen their foundations and replenish their origins."

"But once one reaches the completion of Dark Force..."

Mei Shuangfeng paused there before continuing.

"Ordinary medicines have little effect. Only treasure pills refined from third-tier Treasure Fish or Treasure Beasts can help one break through the barrier."

Third-tier Treasure Fish...

Shen Xiuhan's heart stirred, and he could not help asking curiously, "Master, has anyone in our Longcloud County ever caught a third-tier Treasure Fish?"

"Yes."

Mei Shuangfeng spoke a name.

"Bai Qingcang."

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

"Later, he prepared lavish gifts and invited an alchemist surnamed Mei from Guangwu Prefecture's Jade Parasol Sect to act, refining them into a single treasure pill."

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

Bai Qingcang, the White Family's ancestor!

So he had been the one to catch a third-tier Treasure Fish.

Naturally, Shen Xiuhan had long heard the thunderous reputation of this Transforming Force expert.

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

And the White Family... was the true culprit behind the much-discussed recent "child-snatcher case."

Shen Xiuhan could not rashly interfere in such a matter.

The White Family not only had a Transforming Force expert holding down the fort, but its influence within the clan ran deep and tangled.

The commandant and constables in the county yamen were all in their grasp.

One wrong move, and he could easily capsize in a gutter.

Fortunately...

A few days ago, she had used a small trick to stir up an uproar between the White Family, Through-the-Back Martial Hall, and Eastern Guard Martial Hall. Even news of missing children had dwindled considerably.

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

At that moment, Mei Shuangfeng took up the white cloth on the table and wiped her hands, getting to the point.

"To refine this Treasure Beast into pills, six medicinal ingredients are needed as supplements."

"The more expensive ones are Purpleblood Vine and ten-year-old mountain ginseng. They are used to balance the medicinal properties before Jadeblood Pills can be refined."

"By the martial hall's rules, the cost of the supplementary ingredients will be deducted from the pills produced in this batch. Beyond that, I will take another tenth of the finished pills as the fuel cost for opening the furnace and payment for my labor."

"This Treasure Beast has a strong foundation. If the heat is controlled properly, it should yield around ten Jadeblood Pills."

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

At this point, Mei Shuangfeng lowered her phoenix eyes and looked steadily at Shen Xiuhan.

"Do you have any objections?"

"This disciple has no objections whatsoever!"

Joy flashed through Shen Xiuhan's eyes as he solemnly bowed in assurance.

Seven or eight pills!

Though he did not know how potent these Jadeblood Pills were, they certainly could not be any worse than the bowl of Ebony Origin-Replenishing Soup he had drunk.

With those pills to aid him, the speed at which he pushed the first stage of Bright Force, the Blood-Training Realm, to major completion would likely increase by quite a bit.

"Mm. Rise."

Mei Shuangfeng waved a hand, returned to her seat, and lifted her tea again. "Leave the thing here. Come to the rear hall tomorrow at the hour of the Rooster to collect the medicine."

"Yes, this disciple will take his leave."

"Wait..."

Shen Xiuhan halted in puzzlement and turned back.

Mei Shuangfeng rubbed her brow, as though recalling something, then said, "You have already opened the gate to Bright Force. Tomorrow happens to be the day when several inner-city households hire affiliated retainers. If your purse is tight and you wish to find a way to earn silver, stay properly at the martial hall tomorrow and wait. Do not miss the appointed time."

"...This disciple understands. Thank you, Master, for your guidance!"

"Junior Brother, over here!"

The moment Shen Xiuhan stepped out of the hall, he saw two people standing in the inner courtyard.

One was Xu Chuan.

The other was an unfamiliar young man of medium build, with unusually long arms that nearly reached past his knees when lowered.

At that 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 cupped his fists. "Greetings, Senior Brother Xiang."

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

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 skill was genuinely outstanding.

Third Senior Brother Xiang Yunting was the man before him.

Fourth Senior Brother Shen Huai was said to be withdrawn and taciturn.

Fifth Senior Sister Ding Qing, besides practicing the Mystic Eagle Stance, was said to possess a family-inherited whip technique. She had broken through to Blood-Training less than half a year ago.

Other than on assessment days, the morning training and question sessions for outer-courtyard disciples were ordinarily overseen in rotation by these five, acting in their master's stead.