Chen Ming's breakthrough to the Eighth Rank was only a minor matter to Qingfeng City, causing no more than the faintest ripple among certain factions.
But to the Chen Family, it was a major event.
Over the next few days, people came to offer congratulations in an endless stream. Some were acquaintances Chen Rui had made in business, while others were Chen Ming's friends—mostly Huo Chengkun's Disciples-in-Name.
Even Zhang Mingyu came in person.
Quite a few people from Sun Shicai's side came as well. They were all fellow disciples, and Chen Ming's advancement to the Eighth Rank was good news for them too.
After all, aside from the Seventh Rank Sun Shicai, Huo Sect's branch had only two Eighth Rank martial artists: Zhang Mingyu and another Disciple-in-Name. One more Eighth Rank martial artist was enough to greatly bolster Huo Sect's prestige.
These past few days had been even livelier than when the Chen Estate moved.
Chen Ming only received fellow disciples like Zhang Mingyu, as well as friends such as Deng Ziyang. His elder brother, Chen Rui, handled everyone else. They all knew he would soon be taking part in the Martial Hall Guild's three matches and could not afford distractions, so they understood. As long as they had delivered their gifts, that was enough.
On the afternoon of the third day, in the same courtyard.
The sun was about to set. In the late-autumn evening, there was already a hint of chill in the air.
Chen Ming was sharing his experience of breaking through to the Eighth Rank with Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian. "...The Ninth Rank is the Sinew and Bone Realm. There are no shortcuts. You can only keep tempering your body. Once your sinews and bones reach completion, you will naturally break through...
"The Eighth Rank is called the Internal Strengthening Realm. What it trains are the five viscera and six bowels, and you must have the corresponding stance art..."
Speaking of stance arts, he had Old Ghost Xiao to thank for contributing a copy of the "Three Yang Body Forging Art."
As this technique rose to the fourth layer, he increasingly felt that it was far from simple.
Three Yang referred to the Three Yang Bringing Prosperity, symbolizing the harmony of yin and yang and the revival of all things. It was an exceptionally profound technique.
He had specifically looked into it, wanting to learn the origin of that manual, but had never found any leads. Quite a few people had been swindled by Old Ghost Xiao, but Chen Ming had no suitable person to investigate the matter for him, so he could only set it aside for now.
Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian listened with utmost attention, each gaining something from it.
Before they knew it, night had fallen.
Chen Ming had lanterns lit, and the three of them sat in the pavilion to eat.
"I wonder when Second Brother will return after this journey."
Deng Ziyang thought of his sworn younger brother Guan Peng again, a touch of melancholy on his face.
Guan Peng had set out yesterday, boarding a merchant ship bound for a foreign land. Before leaving, he had not come to see Chen Ming. Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian had been the ones to see him off.
Zhuang Xiaotian said, "At this time of year, he should be heading for the Southern Ocean Nations. The cargo aboard was mostly porcelain and raw silk. At most, Second Brother will definitely return in two or three months."
Chen Ming was somewhat curious. "Brother Zhuang knows so much about seafaring ships?"
"My father went to sea when he was young. He taught my brothers and me these things from childhood."
"I see."
Qingfeng City was a port city, which was why it was exceptionally prosperous. Within Jiangzhou, it was second only to the provincial capital.
There were quite a few people like Zhuang Xiaotian's father, who went to sea in their youth, saved up a sum of money, then retired ashore and returned home to buy farmland and houses.
Myriad Prosperity Commerce was one of Qingfeng City's foremost merchant guilds, a maritime shipping giant with an enormous fleet and an immense demand for manpower.
To attract martial artists into its fleet, it even offered cultivation techniques as bait.
Every year, many martial artists like Guan Peng joined Myriad Prosperity Commerce's shipping fleet for the sake of cultivation techniques. Though dangerous, it was still a path forward.
For poor youths like Guan Peng and Zhuang Xiaotian, who lacked martial arts inheritances, this road of martial cultivation was far too difficult. Every single step had to be fought for with their lives.
In truth, Chen Ming was the same as them. His aptitude was even far worse than theirs. The difference was that he had a cheat.
As the three chatted, Deng Ziyang suddenly said, "Senior Brother, do you know who Golden Source Commerce's backer is?"
Chen Ming asked curiously, "The Qi Family has a backer behind them?"
"Of course. Otherwise, how could the Qi Family alone possibly manage such a huge business?"
"I would like to hear the details."
"In Qinghe City, the massive profits from maritime trade are monopolized by the Seven Great Merchants. The Qi Family rose too late to get a share of the pie, so they found another path and became suppliers, nearly monopolizing the porcelain from both Yunzhou and Lanzhou. Even the Seven Great Merchants have no choice but to purchase porcelain from them.
"How much power and how many connections would it take to settle the numerous porcelain workshops in two provinces?"
Chen Ming froze. He truly had never considered that question before.
Zhuang Xiaotian was curious as well. "So who exactly is the Qi Family's backer?"
Deng Ziyang did not beat around the bush. "The Wang Family of Yunzhou."
"The Wang Family?"
Chen Ming glanced at Zhuang Xiaotian and saw the same confusion on his face. Clearly, he had never heard of them either.
Deng Ziyang explained, "This Wang Family is not a martial world clan. They are imperial merchants, specifically responsible for overseeing the major porcelain kilns on behalf of the imperial family."
"Oh."
With that explanation, Chen Ming and Zhuang Xiaotian understood.
The Wang Family relied on the authority in its hands to make the major porcelain workshops supply Golden Source Commerce exclusively. With such connections, Golden Source Commerce earned a fortune overflowing from its coffers.
Deng Ziyang said, "Don't underestimate the Wang Family. Though they are not well known, in terms of true strength, they are absolutely not comparable to the likes of the Gu Family."
The Gu Family was Qingfeng City's foremost great clan, and its patriarch was a Fourth Rank expert.
Stronger than the Gu Family meant they had to have an expert of at least the Third Rank holding the fort.
"Thank you."
Chen Ming thanked him solemnly. He knew Deng Ziyang had come specifically to warn him.
He was probably worried that Chen Ming, burning for revenge, would retaliate against Golden Source Commerce and suffer a disastrous loss in the end.
Then Golden Source Commerce could keep jumping about for another couple of years.
He was in no hurry to take revenge.
Deng Ziyang changed the subject. "The martial halls in the city each have their own unique arts. They will surely set harsh match conditions, making you retreat in the face of difficulty. Are you confident?"
Chen Ming said, "I'll only know after fighting."
"Tomorrow, Third Brother and I will go with you to cheer you on."
"Then many thanks to you both."
The next morning.
Not long after Chen Ming got up, Zhang Mingyu arrived with several others to lend him support. Soon afterward, more people came one after another, all disciples of Huo Sect. It was exceedingly lively.
When they left, the group of more than a dozen headed mightily toward Fenglei Martial Hall. Anyone who did not know better would have thought they were going there to challenge the hall.
Inside Fenglei Martial Hall, the people from the Martial Hall Guild had long since stood ready in strict formation.
Representatives from all twelve martial halls had arrived, each seated in a chair. There were men and women, old and young.
Behind them stood numerous disciples, dozens in all, creating immense pressure for the visitors.
Seated in the middle was the Martial Hall Guild's president, the Seventh Rank expert Lei Zhenguang.
After Chen Ming entered the martial hall, he faced the dozen or so pairs of eyes fixed upon him and calmly bowed. "This junior, Chen Ming, greets you all. I have come specifically to seek instruction today. Please lay out your terms."
Lei Zhenguang gave a light shout. "What nerve! Since that is the case, I will not waste words. So long as you pass three trials, you may open a martial hall in Qingfeng City. If you fail, you must dismiss your disciples and never again open a hall to teach students."
"Agreed."
"For the first match, let Fang take the stage."
Lei Zhenguang looked toward a white-haired old man beside him.
"Fine." The old man answered, then said to someone behind him, "Yu'er, you go. Do not tarnish the reputation of our Tenglong Martial Hall."
"Yes."
A man in his thirties stepped forward in response and said, "You are Chen Ming, right? Let us compete in hidden weapons."
Chen Ming did not waste words. He merely said, "Please."
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