The Move

Shen Xiuhan understood at a glance.

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

Still, being from the inner city, he would not be lacking in meat and such.

He was now at the crucial stage of tempering his skin and flesh. What he lacked most was medicinal broth that could replenish his qi and blood, as well as the Blood-Nourishing Pill that could save him quite a bit of silver.

Benevolent Heart Hall was naturally the best choice.

Seeing him make his choice, the Longwind Escort Agency steward was not annoyed. He merely lifted his teacup, blew away the floating froth, took a sip, and turned his gaze toward the next disciple to step out.

They had likely grown accustomed to such situations long ago.

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

"Junior Brother Shen, I've already looked into it. At today's employment fair, apart from the White Family and Eastern Guard Martial Hall, who have recently been at each other's throats and simply did not send anyone, the rest are here."

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

"You've now broken into the Blood Tempering Realm, and your talent is exceptional. You're in demand, so you can take your time choosing among these three families."

Shen Xiuhan swept his gaze over the tables bearing fluttering banners in the field. After a brief moment of thought, he quietly asked for advice.

"Senior Brother has seen much and knows 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 tenant farmers of the White Family, while the Luo Family has always been on good terms with them. The two families have intermarried for generations."

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

"Now that the White and Wang Families are absent, 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 are not the best 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 as well."

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

Xu Chuan was still speaking softly, but Shen Xiuhan's heart sank, and a cold gleam flashed through his eyes.

The White Family and the Luo Family...

They were actually related by marriage for generations?!

In a flash of lightning and flint, all the broken clues in his mind connected at once.

No wonder!

No wonder the White Family head could sit so 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, turning them into something like private soldiers!

No wonder the Child-Kidnapping Case that had set the whole city buzzing was supposedly being investigated by the county yamen, yet there had not been the slightest follow-up.

So the county magistrate and the county commandant, the yamen and the hidden hand, were all one family!

Shen Xiuhan took a deep breath and suppressed his surging emotions.

A person had to have at least some conscience in life.

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

He could not choose the Luo Family.

Having reached his decision, Shen Xiuhan revealed nothing on his face. He merely nodded slightly.

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

"No need for such courtesy."

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

"There, keep watching."

"Once the remaining outer courtyard disciples finish their turns, it'll be this grand Buddha's turn to make the finale."

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

At that moment, Xiao Wen had just drawn in his stance and exhaled, having completed a set of Mystic Eagle Stance.

The several stewards seated above conferred in low voices. In the end, only the Han Family made an offer.

They said he would serve as a night patrol guard at an estate in the outer city. The terms were not generous, barely enough to scrape by.

Yet after hearing it, Xiao Wen could not conceal his delight. He repeatedly bowed with cupped hands, thanked them profusely, and withdrew.

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

Immediately after, the final two outer courtyard disciples also stepped forward to demonstrate.

Unfortunately, their foundations were too shallow and their stances too loose, and 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 crossed the crowd and slowly stepped into the field.

At the sight, the finely dressed stewards lounging lazily in their grand chairs, some even looking bored out of their minds, immediately perked up.

They all sat upright and scrutinized the youth before them from head to toe.

Xiang Yunting made a gesture.

Several outer courtyard disciples immediately carried a heavy wooden training dummy over from the corner.

With a dull thud, the wooden dummy stood firmly before Shen Xiuhan, sending dust flying across the ground.

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

Without a single unnecessary word.

He turned, his gaze falling upon the wooden dummy.

The wind around them seemed to freeze at that moment.

Shen Xiuhan extended one hand.

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

The great tendons in both arms drew taut like bowstrings. Force traveled through his waist and hips section by section, gathering on his right hand in the blink of an eye!

Crack—

The blue bricks beneath his feet split into fine spiderweb cracks beneath his step.

The next instant!

Shen Xiuhan's right hand shifted from fist to claw, ripping through the air as it lashed out viciously!

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

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

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

Violent qi and blood penetrated straight through the target!

Before the entire crowd's eyes, a horrifying claw mark was gouged into the center of the wooden dummy, splinters flying everywhere.

But it was not over yet.

Crack-crack-crack...

A series of cracking sounds followed close behind!

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

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

Thud! Thud! Thud!

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

The entire field fell deathly silent.

Dozens of outer courtyard disciples gaped, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

Th-this was Blood Tempering?

Forget them—even Xu Chuan and Xiang Yunting, who were watching from the side, were dumbstruck.

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

He was at the peak of the Blood Tempering Realm, only a single step from the Bone Tempering Realm.

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

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

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

At the same time, several irrepressible cries of alarm erupted from the grand chairs.

"What tyrannical Bright Force!"

"Qi and blood penetrate the body, while his force strikes across the mountain to batter the ox and passes through stone!"

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

"He broke into Blood Tempering in sixteen days, and his talent for martial arts is this shocking as well. I'd say this boy is no inferior to Jiang Qinghong in her day."

Within Longcloud County,

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

But this ranking was not based on combat strength. It was ranked by the age at which they sensed qi and blood and broke into 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 was that Shen Xiuhan's future accomplishments would likely be no less than Jiang Qinghong's.

That alone showed just how highly they regarded Shen Xiuhan.