The burly man named Zhao Jin was the Fishing Master's adopted son!
Within the fishing guild, he served as the Head Steward, managing every matter, great and small, throughout the guild.
He could be called one man below, ten thousand above!
"Is everyone here?"
Zhao Jin narrowed his tiger-like eyes and swept his gaze around!
Almost everyone instinctively lowered their heads when his gaze fell upon them.
"I have gathered everyone here today to announce an important matter!"
Zhao Jin paused, casting a sidelong glance at his adoptive father, the Fishing Master.
He took a deep breath before continuing,
"This matter is of utmost importance. It nearly concerns the very survival of our fishing guild..."
"According to reliable information, the He family is about to produce a second martial artist who has broken through into the Blood Qi Realm."
The moment those words fell!
Everyone present froze. The next instant, the entire hall erupted!
"What? A second one?"
"Doesn't that mean the He family will have two Blood Qi Realm martial artists?"
"Our fishing guild has never been on good terms with the He family. Th-this... what are we supposed to do?"
"Will the He family make a move against our fishing guild?"
"The only reason the Evil Wolf Gang exists is because the He family has been supporting it from the shadows!"
"Our fishing guild only has the Fishing Master as a Blood Qi Realm martial artist!
"If the He family produces a second one, then our fishing guild will be hanging by a thread!"
A heavy atmosphere filled the air!
Some looked worried, some were pale with panic, and some had flickering eyes...
No one could maintain an optimistic, composed state of mind!
Even Jiang Yi was somewhat taken aback!
From what he knew!
There were two Blood Qi Realm martial artists in all of Wushui Town, and they were also the town's strongest experts.
One came from the He family, a prominent clan of the town. He was the previous Old He Family Patriarch.
The other came from their fishing guild. He was the old man currently seated in the place of honor at the head of the hall.
Each faction had one, and both stood at the same level.
Naturally!
Neither could do anything to the other!
Though the two factions had constant secret friction, on the surface, they still maintained a relatively balanced state.
But now!
That balance seemed about to be shattered!
Two against one!
The fishing guild would be at a complete disadvantage unless it, too, had a new martial artist break through into the Blood Qi Realm!
Only then could the balance be restored!
"Everyone, please remain calm. Since we have called you all here, we naturally already have a plan..."
Liu Sheng spoke at the right moment, soothing the crowd.
"Indeed, everyone, do not panic!"
Zhao Jin raised a hand and pressed it down lightly. The commotion in the hall gradually subsided.
"The reason we have gathered everyone here is to inform you all.
"This Head Steward will enter seclusion to make a breakthrough!
"If the He family can produce a second one, then so can our fishing guild.
"Once I enter seclusion!
"All guild affairs will temporarily be handed over to the other stewards...
"Do not panic!
"Simply attend to your own duties with peace of mind!"
"Cough, cough..."
The Fishing Master, seated at the head of the hall, coughed a few times and slowly said,
"As the saying goes, when soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it!
"Our fishing guild has stood in Wushui Town for forty or fifty years now.
"Having developed to this day!
"Our fishing guild can be said to be flourishing with each passing day, our foundations growing ever deeper!
"Even if the He family wants to move against us, they must weigh the matter carefully.
"Everyone!
"Do not raise others' ambition while extinguishing your own prestige!
"Even if the sky falls, people like us will hold it up!"
"The Fishing Master is absolutely right!"
Several people stepped forward and echoed his words.
"Indeed! Our fishing guild is powerful. Are we supposed to fear the He family?"
"Besides, the Head Steward is about to break through as well!"
"Then our fishing guild will also have two Blood Qi Realm experts. Who fears whom is still unknown."
"Our fishing guild will surely prosper forever..."
The Fishing Master waved a hand, slowly rose to his feet, and prepared to leave!
"Alright, disperse!"
"Yes, Fishing Master!"
The six chief stewards all rose together, lowered their heads, and clasped their fists.
The others present likewise cupped their hands in salute and said in unison,
"We respectfully see off the Fishing Master!"
Head Steward Zhao Jin hurried forward, supported the Fishing Master, and slowly walked with him toward the rear courtyard.
Once they saw that the Fishing Master had left!
Only then did the various managers and stall masters gradually depart, returning to their respective street stalls...
"Xiao Yi, how has your cultivation of the Cauldron Origin Art been recently?"
"Have you encountered any doubts?"
Liu Sheng patted his chest!
Back then!
He had cultivated this very martial art as well. After over a decade of bitter training, he had finally brought the technique to great mastery!
And through it!
He had entered the Muscle Refinement Realm in one stroke!
Jiang Yi: "..."
"It's fine. Just say whatever you have in mind, and I'll answer your questions...
"I cultivated this martial art back then too. I reached great mastery, nearly perfection!
"Teaching you should be more than suffi—"
Jiang Yi was silent for a while. "Actually, I've already reached great mastery!"
"Haha, great mastery? Then you should—"
Hearing Jiang Yi's reply, Liu Sheng burst into laughter and was about to say something more.
His mouth hung open as he froze on the spot!
Jiang Yi's words had directly crashed his mind!
What? Great mastery?
It had only been a few days. This was no joke!
"Haha!"
"Nephew Yi, you truly know how to joke!"
Liu Sheng raised a hand and patted Jiang Yi on the shoulder, yet what entered his ears was—
"Dong, dong!"
The sound was like slapping a bronze cauldron!
"..."
Liu Sheng was speechless again, as though Jiang Yi was about to leave him completely unable to cope!
His expression swiftly turned stern and grave!
"Come, try punching me once!"
Jiang Yi: "..."
Are you sure?
If I throw this punch, won't your whole body explode?
Looking at Liu Sheng's solemn expression!
Jiang Yi felt that he could not let his good intentions go to waste. Upon reaching great mastery in the Cauldron Origin Art, one would develop Cauldron Origin Great Strength.
Its force could reach fifteen hundred jin!
This was also one of the standards for determining whether this martial art had reached great mastery.
Jiang Yi clenched his fist, drawing back nearly eighty or ninety percent of the strength in his body.
Only then did he lightly throw a punch!
Dong!!!
A muffled boom came from Liu Sheng's body. His body trembled slightly, and he staggered!
He seemed on the verge of toppling backward!
He hurriedly shifted one foot half a step back, barely stabilizing himself.
"This strength..."
Liu Sheng was silent for a moment, seemingly savoring that force.
He raised his head, his eyes blazing brilliantly!
"It really is great mastery?!!"
"In only a few days, you cultivated this martial art to great mastery?"
"Nephew Yi, could you be some monstrous prodigy reincarnated from somewhere?"
This had utterly overturned his understanding!
He felt as though he had lived the several decades of his life on the dog's side!
Was this even human?
"Maybe I just got lucky. I kept practicing, and somehow I made it."
The corners of Liu Sheng's mouth could not help twitching a few times!
What did he mean, got lucky? He kept practicing, and somehow he made it?
Did that sound like something a human would say?
Very quickly, he began laughing again and heavily patted Jiang Yi's shoulder several times!
Dong! Dong! Dong!
"Good, good, good!"
"Come, let's make another trip to the Fishing Teaching Pavilion and find old Elder Chang..."
The Fishing Teaching Pavilion?
It seemed that old man had said before that once Jiang Yi's martial art reached great mastery, he should go see him again!
Before you continue