Sect Token

After a long while, a golden glint flashed through Zhou Muyun's mind.

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Initiate (1/300)]

Just as expected! No matter what kind of martial art it was, he could master the basics.

Zhou Muyun was delighted. Martial arts differed in strength; some powerful techniques were things people might never even grasp the basics of in their entire lives.

But for him, none of that was a problem. Heaven Rewards Diligence—effort would surely bring reward.

He immediately went out into the courtyard and silently began circulating the method of the Seven-Colored Glazed Body.

Perhaps because he had entered the ranks of martial artists, Zhou Muyun found it especially easy to use. His proficiency rose swiftly as well.

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Initiate (3/300)]

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Initiate (6/300)]

In less than two days, I should be able to step into Copper Skin. Zhou Muyun silently calculated.

The moonlight was bright and clear. An hour passed.

Zhou Muyun, seated cross-legged in the courtyard with his eyes tightly shut, opened them.

"I've reached my limit."

Stopping the circulation of the method, he exhaled a breath of stale air and glanced at the panel.

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Initiate (50/300)]

The progress was not bad, though it consumed a bit too much qi and blood.

Perfect. He could test whether the Qi-Blood Powder was really as useful as Senior Brother Mo had said.

Zhou Muyun took out the prepared Qi-Blood Powder from his pocket.

Opening it, he found a clump of dark-red powder inside.

He poured the powder into his mouth and washed it down with water.

The powder slowly entered his stomach with the water.

Before long, the medicine began to take effect.

Zhou Muyun felt vitality continuously welling up from his body, which had just been depleted. Even his exhaustion was gradually swept away.

"Good medicine. Worth those fifty coins."

For the first time, he experienced the joy of spending money to cultivate.

Zhou Muyun did not waste any time. While the medicine was still effective, he wanted to push his progress further.

With the Qi-Blood Powder, he felt that the Seven-Colored Glazed Body could enter the Copper Skin Realm tomorrow night.

[Seven-Colored Glazed Body Initiate (52/300)]

The next day, just as dawn began to break, someone knocked on Zhou Muyun's front door.

The visitors were Zhou Yanming and his wife. Carrying quite a few gifts, the two followed Xu Rou into the house.

"Xiao Rou, is Yun'er here? We came specifically to thank him."

Zhou Yanming spoke gently, with a hint of familiarity in his tone.

"Thank Yun'er?"

Hearing Zhou Yanming's words, Xu Rou was initially bewildered. Then she recalled Zhou Muyun saying that he would get the money back.

Could Yun'er really have done it?

"Yes. If Xiao Yun hadn't gotten the money back for us, our family wouldn't have known what to do!

Yun'er truly did well. Yan Xin can rest easy in the afterlife now," Zhou Yanming explained.

His words confirmed Xu Rou's suspicions once more. A trace of pride inevitably appeared on her face as she said,

"It was mainly because Yun'er worked hard at martial arts that he achieved something.

If he hadn't learned martial arts back then, wouldn't this have become troublesome? Don't you agree, Big Brother?"

"Yes, Yun'er learning martial arts was the wisest choice." Zhou Yanming nodded repeatedly.

As she spoke, Xu Rou intentionally—or perhaps unintentionally—looked toward Xiu Niang.

How could Xiu Niang fail to know that Xu Rou was taking a jab at her? On any ordinary day, she would have erupted long ago.

But things were different now. Zhou Muyun was not only her family's benefactor, but he also had strength.

She could only give an awkward smile and nod along repeatedly.

Seeing Xiu Niang suffer a setback, Xu Rou felt so pleased she could hardly describe it. The smile on her face deepened as she said with a laugh, "Yun'er hasn't gone to the martial hall yet. I'll go call him."

With that, she headed into the inner room toward Zhou Muyun's chamber.

Before long, Zhou Muyun came out with Xu Rou.

Seeing his uncle and aunt, along with the gifts, he understood why they had come.

They were here to thank him.

Zhou Muyun still respected his uncle greatly. As for his aunt? Better not mention her.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with them, he used martial training as an excuse and left home.

He believed his mother would handle the matter well.

Xu Rou was a weak woman, yet after his father died, she had raised him and his younger sister alone for six years. Her strength of character and resilience were plain to see.

Even Zhou Muyun could not help but admire her.

Since his martial arts had made some progress, though he needed to keep a low profile, he at least could not let his aunt continue to bully and look down on them, could he?

Zhou Muyun soon arrived at Greenwood Martial Hall.

After greeting Yu Qing, Mo Qi, and several fellow disciples he knew well, he went to the training ground.

Stepping onto the wooden stakes, he smoothly assumed the Willow Stake stance.

A light breeze swept by. Zhou Muyun's upper body swayed like a willow leaf, while his feet remained utterly motionless.

The core principle of this stake stance—standing like a drooping willow—was displayed upon him to perfection.

Sweat slowly dripped onto the ground, while his Willow Stake proficiency steadily rose.

[Willow Stake Minor Mastery (962/1200)]

[Willow Stake Minor Mastery (963/1200)]

[...]

An hour passed. Feeling tired, Zhou Muyun sat to one side to drink water and rest.

Li Qingliang emerged from the rear courtyard with Bai Yu and the other direct disciples.

Normally, Li Qingliang would occasionally appear in the front courtyard to instruct disciples, spending the rest of his time in the rear courtyard.

Since he had appeared in the front courtyard and even brought his direct disciples, he certainly had something to announce.

The disciples of the front courtyard all put down what they were doing and gathered around Li Qingliang. Zhou Muyun was no exception.

Once all the disciples had assembled, Li Qingliang swept his gaze across them and said calmly, "Yesterday, I received word that the Cloud Forest Tournament will be held at year's end."

The moment those words were spoken, all the disciples erupted into excitement and discussion.

Zhou Muyun, however, looked confused. What was this "Cloud Forest Tournament," and why was everyone so excited?

He patted Yu Qing, who was equally excited beside him, and asked, "Brother Yu, my knowledge is limited. What is so special about this Cloud Forest Tournament?"

Seeing that Zhou Muyun truly seemed unaware, Yu Qing explained, "The Cloud Forest Tournament has not been held for many years, so it is normal that Brother Zhou does not know.

This concerns whether a person can enter a sect. How could everyone not be excited?"

At the word "sect," shock appeared on Zhou Muyun's face.

This tournament could actually allow people to enter a sect!

Over the past few months, Zhou Muyun had not only trained; he had also learned quite a lot from Mo Qi and Lu Ming.

Sects were among those things.

The Great Xia Dynasty's territory was vast, divided into twelve regions. Each region was further divided in turn into prefectures, counties, and towns.

Among them, the imperial court controlled only two regions. The remaining ten were jointly divided between the court and the sects.

One could even say that within those ten regions, the sects were more like local emperors.

Of the annual tax silver, half went to the imperial court, while the other half all entered the sects' pockets. Their authority was clear to see.

Yunlin County belonged to Skycloud Prefecture, and one of Skycloud Prefecture's sects was the Spiritflame Sect.

County Commandant Zhang Ming had come from the Spiritflame Sect. This showed just how powerful sects were.

No wonder everyone was so excited. Zhou Muyun understood at once.

"How can one participate in this tournament?" Zhou Muyun asked excitedly.

"For the Cloud Forest Tournament, one must be under twenty years old and at least in the Organ Refinement Realm to participate.

The tournament is divided into two levels: Organ Refinement and Blood Exchange. First place in Organ Refinement and the top three in Blood Exchange will receive Sect Tokens.

Those holding Sect Tokens will have the chance to visit a sect and obtain an opportunity to enter it."

Under twenty and in Organ Refinement to participate. First in Organ Refinement, top three in Blood Exchange—only then would there be a chance to enter a sect.

"Entering a sect really isn't so easy!" Zhou Muyun frowned slightly as he considered it.

Li Qingliang pressed down with one hand, and the crowd instantly quieted.

"I believe all of you wish to participate in the tournament and achieve good results." He spoke slowly, carrying authority without anger.

"Then for the next six months, I hope you will all work harder. Do not disgrace Greenwood Martial Hall!"

After speaking, Li Qingliang gave everyone a deep look before turning and leaving the front courtyard.

Liu Yan and Li Buhui then went over to Bai Yu. With a broad smile, Liu Yan said, "Junior Brother Bai, this senior brother wishes you victory in the tournament."

Li Buhui echoed him. "Indeed. With Junior Brother Bai's talent, he will surely have no rivals in the tournament six months from now!"

Both Li Buhui and Liu Yan were over twenty, so naturally they would not participate in the tournament.

But Bai Yu was different. He was a heaven-blessed genius who had reached the Organ Refinement Realm in merely three months and been accepted by Li Qingliang as his final disciple.

Moreover, Li Qingliang's strength was among the very best of the martial halls in Yunlin County.

The two had already made up their minds to draw closer to Bai Yu. If he entered a sect, their own standing within the clan might rise along with the tide.

"Then I'll borrow the good wishes of my two senior brothers." Bai Yu's words were respectful, but his expression held a measure of pride.

During this period, he had followed Li Qingliang to several martial halls for sparring matches.

Though he had both won and lost, those who defeated him were almost all veterans like Liu Yan, people who had immersed themselves in the Organ Refinement Realm for many years. Among newcomers, there were almost none.

He was confident he could take first place in Organ Refinement. As for Blood Exchange, he believed he might not be without a chance to contend for it.

After all, with the same Sect Token at stake, a Blood Exchange martial artist under twenty would naturally find it easier to enter a sect.

"In that case, I'll host a feast tonight. Shall the few of us have a small gathering?" Liu Yan suggested.

"Since Senior Brother invites me, I shall naturally accompany you," Bai Yu replied.

Li Buhui, standing nearby, naturally nodded in agreement as well.

The group headed toward the martial hall's exit together.

At that moment, Li Buhui spotted Zhou Muyun training on the practice ground and frowned slightly.

Following his gaze, Bai Yu also saw Zhou Muyun. He asked in puzzlement, "Senior Brother Li, Zhou Muyun is known for his bitter cultivation. What is it?"

Li Buhui withdrew his gaze, the corner of his mouth curling into an arc as he sneered, "I was thinking, if hard training were useful, why would there be any need for geniuses? Don't you agree, Junior Brother Bai?"

"Exactly. What fucking use is hard training? You still need to be a heaven-sent genius like Junior Brother Bai." Liu Yan did not miss any chance to flatter him.

"You two senior brothers praise me too highly. I heard that Junior Brother Zhou Muyun entered the Tempered Bone Realm only seven days after I did."

"That was just his good luck. How could he compare to you, Junior Brother Bai?"

"Exactly, exactly."

Bai Yu nodded and said nothing more, but inwardly, he felt the same way. If hard training were useful, so many people would not remain mediocre all their lives.

On the training ground, Zhou Muyun had begun another round of practice as soon as Li Qingliang left, completely unaware of their conversation.

He knew only that his efforts would surely bear fruit. Since the opportunity stood before him, he had to work even harder and contend for it!

His clothes, which had only just dried somewhat, gradually became soaked again. As time passed, his Willow Stake proficiency increased bit by bit.

[Willow Stake Minor Mastery (970/1200)]