Making a Move

Shen Xiuhan understood at a glance.

This outer court disciple was surnamed Zhang. Though he came from a minor family in the inner city, he was presumably not a legitimate son—otherwise, he would not have come to the employment fair looking for work.

Still, he was from the inner city after all, so meat and such would not be in short supply.

He was currently at the critical stage of tempering his skin and flesh. What he lacked most were medicinal broths that could nourish his qi and blood, as well as that Blood-Nourishing Pill, which could save him quite a bit of silver.

Benevolent Heart Hall was naturally the best choice.

Seeing that he had made his choice, the Longwind Escort Agency steward did not get angry. He merely lifted his teacup, blew away the floating foam, took a sip, and turned his gaze to the next disciple stepping forward.

They had likely long since grown accustomed to such situations.

During a break in the demonstrations, Xu Chuan moved to Shen Xiuhan's side and said in a low voice:

"Junior Brother Shen, I've looked into everything. At today's employment fair, only the White Family and Eastern Guard Martial Hall didn't send anyone, since they've recently been at each other's throats."

"The remaining three great families—the Luo, Ji, and Han Families—all sent stewards."

"You've now entered the Blood Tempering Realm, and your talent is outstanding. You're in high demand, so you can take your time choosing among those three."

Shen Xiuhan swept his gaze over the tables in the field bearing hanging banners. After a brief pause, he quietly asked:

"Senior Brother, you've seen much and know much. Do you have any reliable recommendations?"

"I recommend the Luo Family!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Chuan quickly explained:

"I heard your family are tenants of the White Family, while the Luo Family and the White Family have always been close. Their families have intermarried for generations."

"Furthermore, the Luo Family is the county magistrate's lineage, and the county magistrate himself is a Transformation Force expert... You should understand that whether a family has a Transformation Force expert holding down the fort is what separates the five great families in rank."

"Now that the White and Wang Families aren't here, the Han Family is weak, and the remaining Ji Family has always been at odds with the county magistrate. The Luo Family has also coveted the Ji Family Trade Association for a long time, so they're not an ideal choice."

"The Luo Family is the only one you can choose."

"Besides... Fifth Junior Sister is also working for the Luo Family. If you go there, she can look after you too."

"With all these connections, if you choose the Luo Family, they surely won't treat you poorly..."

Xu Chuan was still speaking in a low voice, but Shen Xiuhan's heart sank, and a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

The White Family and the Luo Family...

They were actually connected by marriage for generations?!

In a flash of lightning and spark, the broken clues in his mind instantly connected.

No wonder!

No wonder the White Family head could sit securely in the position of county commandant!

No wonder the White Family's second young master could hold the Fast Squad constables in the palm of his hand, treating them like private soldiers!

No wonder the Child-Kidnapping Case that had stirred the entire city into an uproar was supposedly being investigated by the county yamen, yet there had not been the slightest follow-up.

So the county magistrate and county commandant, the yamen and the black hand behind it all, were one family!

Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions within him.

A person had to retain at least a little conscience in life.

Shen Xiuhan truly could not bear to see little girls like Shen Momo sold into filthy brothels and ravaged.

He could not choose the Luo Family.

Having made his decision, Shen Xiuhan showed nothing on his face. He merely nodded slightly and said:

"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother. I'll play it by ear later."

"What's there to be polite about?"

Xu Chuan chuckled, patted his shoulder, and pointed into the field.

"There, keep watching."

"Once the remaining outer court disciples have finished their turns, it'll be your grand finale, you great Buddha."

Shen Xiuhan followed his gesture and looked toward the martial arts ground.

At that moment, Xiao Wen happened to finish his movements and exhale, having completed a set of the Mystic Eagle Stance.

The stewards seated above exchanged a few words in discussion. In the end, only the Han Family made an offer.

They said he would be sent to an outer-city estate as a night patrol guard. The conditions were not generous, barely enough to scrape by.

Yet upon hearing it, Xiao Wen could not conceal his delight. He repeatedly bowed with cupped fists, offering profuse thanks as he withdrew.

With this job, his chances of entering the Blood Tempering Realm had increased by a few more degrees.

Immediately afterward, the last two outer court disciples also stepped forward and performed demonstrations.

Unfortunately, their foundations were too shallow and their stances loose. They were rejected without mercy.

As the last person left the field, the courtyard fell into brief silence.

Before Xiang Yunting could call his number, Shen Xiuhan had already passed through the crowd and slowly stepped into the field.

At the sight, the gorgeously dressed stewards lounging lazily in grandmaster chairs, even looking utterly bored, immediately perked up.

All of them sat upright in unison and sized up the youth before them.

Xiang Yunting made a gesture.

Several outer court disciples immediately carried a heavy wooden training dummy out from the corner.

With a muffled thud, the wooden dummy stood firmly before Shen Xiuhan, kicking up dust across the ground.

Shen Xiuhan's expression was as still as an ancient well. He cupped his fists toward the stewards.

Not a single superfluous word passed his lips.

He turned around, his gaze settling upon the wooden dummy.

The wind around them seemed to freeze at that instant.

Shen Xiuhan extended one hand.

The blazing qi and blood throughout his body surged forth like river waters bursting through a collapsed dam!

The great tendons in both arms tightened like bowstrings. Force coursed section by section through his waist and hips, gathering upon his right hand in the blink of an eye!

Crack—

The blue bricks beneath his feet split into dense, spiderweb-like cracks.

The next instant!

Shen Xiuhan curled his right hand from a fist into a claw, tore through the air, and swung it viciously!

"Heavenly Mystic Eagle Force: Mystic Eagle Bone-Splitting!"

As though a thousand-pound bronze bell had been struck, a deafening boom exploded!

Several disciples standing nearby felt their eardrums sting and instinctively clapped their hands over their ears in fright.

Violent qi and blood force penetrated into the dummy's body!

Before the eyes of everyone present, a shocking claw mark was brutally gouged into the center of the wooden dummy, sending splinters flying.

But that was not the end.

Crack, crack, crack...

A series of splitting sounds followed close behind!

The hidden residual force comprehended from the perfected Mystic Eagle Stance passed through the dummy!

The rear half of the wooden post, as thick as an adult's waist, exploded like firecrackers!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Large chunks of shattered wood shot backward like hidden weapons, embedding themselves in the rammed-earth wall behind them.

The entire field fell deathly silent.

The dozens of outer court disciples all stood with their mouths agape, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

Th-this was fucking Blood Tempering?

Not only them—even Xu Chuan and Xiang Yunting, who were watching from the side, were dumbstruck.

Xiang Yunting swallowed, his Adam's apple rolling up and down with difficulty.

He was at the peak of the Blood Tempering Realm, only one step away from the Bone Tempering Realm.

But if he searched his conscience... he could not deliver Shen Xiuhan's strike just now!

Xiang Yunting's eye twitched as stormy waves crashed through his heart.

Second Senior Brother said his martial arts talent was astonishing, that he had reached minor mastery of the Mystic Eagle Stance not long after beginning it. But this force penetrating through the body... Could it be that the Mystic Eagle Stance I've practiced to major mastery for nearly three years is fake?!

At the same time, several uncontrollable cries of alarm erupted from the grandmaster chairs.

"What tyrannical Bright Force!"

"His qi and blood penetrated the body, his force crossing mountains to strike oxen, piercing straight through stone!"

"A monster... This boy is truly a heaven-born genius!"

"He entered the Blood Tempering Realm in sixteen days, and his martial arts talent is this terrifying as well. I'd say he is no inferior to Jiang Qinghong in her prime."

Within Longcloud County.

The publicly acknowledged four great young geniuses were Bai Jing, Luo Tangyin, Zhao Honggang, and Jiang Qinghong.

However, that ranking was not based on combat strength, but on the age at which they sensed qi and blood and entered Bright Force.

That was why, when Zhao Honggang had challenged Jiang Qinghong's martial hall and defeated her some time ago, it had not caused much of a stir.

After all, he was a full four years older than Jiang Qinghong.

What these stewards meant now was that Shen Xiuhan's future achievements would likely be no less than Jiang Qinghong's.

That was enough to show how highly they regarded Shen Xiuhan.

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