Jiang Shu had just left the Zhang Family.
In the next instant, news about him spread throughout the entire Yongning Prefecture.
Within a single day, all the warriors of Yongning Prefecture had firmly memorized Shang Junming's name.
A genius who reaches this level is bound to be listed on the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings.
If he doesn't die, he will most likely become a prominent figure in the future Great Jing Dynasty.
Even if we never cross paths in our lives, hearing more rumors will allow us to reminisce with our younger generations in the future.
Inside the courtyard.
A Yi Qi Pill lay peacefully in Jiang Shu's hand.
"The patriarch of the Zhang Family is quite interesting; he didn't choose a single one."
"That's true. After I entered the game, Zhao Chengxuan and Wang Liancheng became a laughing stock. Choosing them wouldn't make them feel like they'd won the championship and received honors; on the contrary, it would make them feel a pang of pain in their hearts. They might even resent the Zhang Family."
"Instead of doing that, you might as well befriend me."
"It doesn't matter if there's no engagement. After all, I've already told the Zhang Family that I have a good relationship with Zhang Ruo."
Jiang Shu put the Yi Qi Pill back into the jade bottle, but did not rush to swallow it.
The Yi Qi Pill is used to condense the Origin Qi within a martial artist's body. However, even though he is currently at the Dan Jin level, he can only use his True Force to draw upon the Origin Qi of heaven and earth.
The physical body has not reached its true peak.
Forcibly drawing in the Origin Qi of heaven and earth will only cause your Aperture to burst, resulting in more harm than good.
" Zhao Chengxuan is undoubtedly the number one figure among his peers in the county. However, my vision can no longer be limited to this small county. Cultivating martial arts in both realms, being able to defeat Zhao Chengxuan is nothing special. Only by defeating Zhao Zhongming, the number one genius of the Zhao Family, can I feel somewhat proud."
"The capital city... the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings... the Liang Family..."
"Hopefully, this Storage Bag won't disappoint me."
Jiang Shu murmured.
He could not forget that he had to go to the capital to settle a grudge.
Liang Tingbo's scheme in the Cold Pool was the first time he fell into a trap since arriving in the Great Jing Dynasty.
If it weren't for having Panel, relying on proficiency to Alchemy Technique to the intermediate level, and also having the Alchemy AI on Xuanxing.
Even now, I am still suffering from the chilling aura that has entered my body, preventing me from advancing in rank.
Sitting cross-legged, his body was like a giant elixir, Four Symbols True Strength gradually tempered his marrow.
The Four Symbols True Strength consists of only four types of True Force. When tempering the bone marrow, it is inherently inferior to some Middle-Grade Cultivation Method that use five types of True Force. This was one of the reasons why Su Mingchun advised him to give up this Cultivation Method.
However, Su Mingchun was unaware that after breaking through to the Dan Jin realm, his entire body's strength had been condensed into a single point, concentrated in his Dantian. Upon unleashing this power, he controlled his Qi and Blood with his will, stimulating the body's hidden mechanisms. The efficiency of tempering his bone marrow was only increasing!
One Marrow Cleansing Pill was digested in Jiang Shu's stomach, and its medicinal power spread to his limbs and bones, penetrating into his bone marrow.
Tempering the marrow and refining the Essence Blood.
The sun is setting, and the bright moon hangs high in the sky.
Three days later.
A ray of dawn broke through the thick clouds.
Dewdrops condensed on the weeds at the edge of the yard, glistening with a crystalline light.
The old tree, under the gentle breeze, rustled its leaves, sending down a refreshing coolness.
"This ' Great Dream Sleep Dan Art ' is truly getting newer and newer with each practice, and I gain insights every time."
On the bed, Jiang Shu was completely focused, seemingly alive yet dead. The moment he opened his eyes, all the weariness from his cultivation vanished.
Although the martial arts of the Xia Kingdom cannot compare with those of the Great Jing Dynasty in terms of combat prowess and advancement in cultivation level.
But it contains five thousand years of philosophy, strange and mysterious, and has too many surprises.
Stretch your body, and every part of your body will move.
The major tendons, bones, and muscles throughout the body come alive with movement and stillness.
Upon reaching the Blood Exchange Realm, the Dan Jin Grandmaster, even ordinary fist and foot techniques reach a state of perfection.
"Come in."
Jiang Shu stood up, fists clenched, and said calmly.
At his level, he had long heard of ants fighting, and the moment he woke up, he noticed that someone was waiting outside his Small Courtyard.
"Shang Tiancai's martial arts are truly becoming more and more unfathomable..."
Manager Zhang carefully pushed open the door, bowed slightly, and said with a smile.
" Manager Zhang, we're old acquaintances, no need to be so polite. Just say what you need to say."
With each breath, all the stale air in his body was expelled, and Jiang Shu took two steps forward to meet him.
He could vaguely guess Manager Zhang's purpose in coming.
His battle with Zhao Chengxuan was actually a factional struggle within the Danxia Merchant Guild of Commerce.
To achieve victory.
Both logically and emotionally, the President Faction should give themselves some rewards.
The fact that they didn't make any announcements on the first day suggests that they were probably making some preparations.
"Shang Tiancai, you flatter me. It's nothing serious, it's just that President Su said if you have time, you can go to the Chamber of Commerce, there's something good there."
Anyone who can achieve success in the Danxia Merchant Guild must be adept at interpersonal relationships.
Despite Jiang Shu's words, Manager Zhang, naturally didn't consider him a true old acquaintance and acted in a very casual manner.
You should know that Jiang Shu is now truly famous throughout Yongning Prefecture.
In a while, his reputation will spread to the city.
With such a genius, one only needs to maintain good relationships, and one can naturally rise rapidly in the business association.
Breaking through to the Viscera Training Realm is just around the corner.
"You're too kind, Manager Zhang. I happen to have nothing to do right now, please."
Nodding, Jiang Shu followed Manager Zhang straight to the Danxia Merchant Guild.
Along the way, many martial artists looked at Jiang Shu with various expressions of envy and admiration.
After the battle at the Zhang Family, the courtyard where Jiang Shu lived had long been known to many people.
The houses around the courtyard are now highly valued and have been bought by some wealthy shop owners.
Danxia Merchant Guild.
Reception hall.
A unique aroma of tea wafted up and lingered.
Su Mingchun sat across from a middle-aged man of similar age, sipping tea.
"Brother Cao, this is the genius Shang Junming I've been talking to you about."
Upon seeing Jiang Shu arrive, Su Mingchun introduced him with a smile, " Shang Junming, this is Millenary Commander Cao, the commander of the Sky Patrol Guard in Yongning Prefecture City. He has come to see you on business."
"Greetings, Lord Cao."
Jiang Shu remained neither humble nor arrogant, and bowed his hands in greeting.
"Shang Tiancai, please don't stand on ceremony, have a seat. President Su and I have been friends for many years, and we usually talk about everything. This Heqi Tea was brought by me; it is a genuine Fourth Order Precious Medicine. Each tea leaf contains a certain amount of spiritual Origin Qi. With long-term consumption, although one cannot achieve the same level of Origin Qi entering the body as Aperture Opening Realm expert, these wisps of spiritual Origin Qi will still nourish the body and help one advance to the Blood Exchange Realm more quickly."
Centurion Cao smiled, quite pleased with himself.
Not wearing official robes signifies that this trip is not related to official matters.
This indicates that he and President Su are longtime friends and represent a shared stance.
Bringing Heqi Tea likely means they have something to ask of you.
With a change of heart, Jiang Shu sat down and took a small sip of the Heqi Tea.
As a Dan Jin, he could better sense the Origin Qi of tea leaves. Holding the tea leaves in his mouth, the subtle Origin Qi nourished his body little by little.
The Millenary Commander of the Sky Patrol Guard is a very high-ranking official.
It seems that although my victory has brought me fame and many benefits, it has also drawn the attention of many people.
However, I think it's possible that this Centurion Cao will meet me at the Danxia Merchant Guild.
It shouldn't be considered a bad thing.
"We martial artists Body Refining, our Qi Refining, and our Spirit Refining. The higher we go, the rarer the Cultivation Method and martial arts become. There are wealthy families in county towns, powerful clans in prefecture cities, and Aristocratic Clan in state capitals..." Centurion Cao took a sip of tea and said meaningfully, "But the techniques and martial arts possessed by wealthy families, Cultivation Method Aristocratic Clan are not even a fraction as good as those of the imperial court."
"The imperial court is the best place for martial artists. The Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings Dragon-Tiger Rankings are actually launched by the imperial court. All the battle achievements of geniuses are investigated, identified and published by our Sky Patrol Guard."
"Every genius who makes it onto the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings or the Dragon-Tiger Rankings must have their background investigated by our Sky Patrol Guard, so..."
Centurion Cao paused abruptly at this point. "Shang Tiancai, do you think I should call you Shang Junming or Jiang Shu?"
The Great Jing Dynasty was at the height of its prosperity and flourishing.
The current emperor holds absolute power over the world.
The influence of the Sky Patrol Guard extends to every corner of every dynasty.
Even if Jiang Shu is using an alias, it's still very easy to trace. Starting with Zhang Ruo from the Zhang Family, two disciples of the Qingfeng County martial arts school, it's quick to find out that he comes from Yongning Prefecture City. Then, using the records of martial artists from various places uploaded by Hidden Guard, Jiang Shu's real name and martial arts experience can be found very quickly.
"Such a small trick cannot escape Lord Cao's discerning eyes."
Jiang Shu nodded in agreement, but felt no fear whatsoever. His name being exposed was inevitable. For one thing, when Old Man Chou asked him to deliver the message, he went under his real name. And when his reputation grew increasingly prominent in the county town...
Zhao Yuanchang of the Zhao Family naturally recognized that " Shang Junming " was his old friend's apprentice.
Centurion Cao really wanted to make a fuss about this, he should have come in his official robes by now.
"Your master, Chou Hai, was someone I once thought highly of. So, I'll take the liberty of calling you by your real name."
"You've only been practicing martial arts for less than three years, yet you've already progressed from an ordinary martial artist to the Blood Exchange Realm. With such martial arts talent, you have a chance to be listed on not only the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings, but also the real Dragon-Tiger Rankings and Jiang Shu Ranking. However, a genius shouldn't make too many enemies before truly maturing."
"I've already arranged for a bandit at the Viscera Training Realm to take the blame for the Yao Family's matter. Everything has been arranged. After all, it's just a small branch, and the Yao Family won't spend much effort investigating it."
"Your master, Chou Hai, also made a great contribution back then. Soon, he will be able to return to the county town and be promoted to Centurion."
"As for your name, you can use whichever one you want before you're on the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings."
"Alright, I'm busy with official duties, so I'll take my leave now."
"I wish you continued success in the Chamber of Commerce, Lao Su, and I also wish Jiang Shu, the genius, to soon be listed on the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings. Let's meet again someday."
After finishing the last sip of tea on the table, Centurion Cao got up and left without lingering.
"Farewell to Mr. Cao."
Jiang Shu stood up and said.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
Reception hall.
Su Mingchun, who had sat down again, shook his head and explained with a smile, "That's just how Old Cao is. He likes to get things done first and then let people make choices."
"In the Great Jing Dynasty, making it onto the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings is enough to be considered a true genius. Due to the monopoly on Cultivation Method, martial arts, and various Cultivation Resources, most of these geniuses come from powerful and wealthy Aristocratic Clan. Therefore, once a commoner from a small town makes it onto the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings, powerful and wealthy Aristocratic Clan will extend an olive branch."
"You'll understand this when you get to the capital. Old Cao came here this time, firstly to show goodwill, and secondly to give you a heads-up: the imperial court is the best way out. Don't join a powerful Aristocratic Clan for short-term gains."
"As for what you will gain by joining the imperial court, once you are listed on the Little Dragon-Tiger Rankings, people from the imperial court will naturally come to you. Generally speaking, they will bestow a title or reward you with some extremely important Cultivation Resources."
Su Mingchun spoke slowly, as if giving Jiang Shu time to process this information.
Compared to some geniuses from prominent families and Aristocratic Clan, Jiang Shu, who came from a small county town, had far too many shortcomings in his understanding.
At his age, he naturally understands that for the vast majority of people...
Choice is more important than effort.
Joining the imperial court, or joining a powerful and influential Aristocratic Clan.
They are not inherently right or wrong; they are simply two different paths.
While the imperial court offers the most diverse range of martial arts resources, joining it naturally places one on the opposite side of powerful and aristocratic Aristocratic Clan. When faced with suppression, the imperial court may not necessarily stand up for a minor genius, and may even make sacrifices to prioritize the greater good.
Joining a powerful and influential Aristocratic Clan means that the Aristocratic Clan's martial arts resources will always first flow to the most direct Lineage. The difficulty of getting a share from these individuals is self-evident. The olive branch and hefty rewards initially offered by these Aristocratic Clan are only the beginning. Once truly inside, one's fate is entirely out of control.
I just don't know what Jiang Shu will choose in the future.
Thinking to himself, Su Mingchun waited quietly. After a long while, when Jiang Shu finished his tea and his eyes gradually cleared, he continued:
"Your achievement of defeating Zhao Chengxuan in two moves has already reached the headquarters in the state capital."
"Since we President Faction, we naturally cannot fail to express our support."
"The treasure is all in the vault, come with me."
Pingling County.
Sanling Town.
After the rain, the fresh air in the mountains and forests wafted away on the wind.
Qi Yuan gazed at the mountain that had once blocked his way, and then at his master, Old Man Chou, whose figure was no longer hunched over. His mind was filled with too many questions.
It wasn't until yesterday that he suddenly learned that his master was actually Viscera Training Realm expert.
Meanwhile, his very familiar junior brother Jiang had already gone to the county town.
Among martial artists, the two closest to him were people he had never truly understood.
"Master, what realm do you think Junior Brother Jiang has reached? He should be at the Viscera Training Realm, right...?"
Before stepping into the mountains, Qi Yuan couldn't help but ask.
In the year or so that he broke through to the Bone Forging.
However, Pingling County is too small and has limited resources, so the progress of martial arts practitioners is extremely slow.
The pills his master gave him were almost gone.
It's unclear how long it will take to advance to the Viscera Training Realm.
Once we reach the county seat, perhaps everything will be alright.
" The Viscera Training Realm?"
Looking at his disciple, who had been staying in the county town and still didn't know the vastness of the world, Chou Hai shook his head, looked up at the sky, but didn't answer.
To this day, he still doesn't know what Jiang Shu did in the county town.
However, the Sky Patrol Guard's investigation into Jiang Shu's experiences, coupled with the dredging up of their own old cases, led to the resurfacing of the Sky Patrol's investigation.
In a short period of time.
Not only did he bestow upon her the Great Restoration Pill, but he also issued a transfer order, promoting her to the Centurion.
He simply couldn't believe that all of this had nothing to do with Jiang Shu.
Ordinary Viscera Training Realm wouldn't have such abilities.
Thinking back to that time, his apprentice, fighting two opponents alone, was still able to put a knife to County Magistrate Nie's neck.
Such martial arts talent.
Jiang Shu, could it be that you've reached an even higher level?