Disciple of a Qi Refining Expert, Secrets of the Outer Path, After Sinew Tempering, Where Does the Road Lead!?

Lin Residence.

Lin Zhenhai wore a smile, followed by Lin Ruyue, her face full of delight and expectation, as well as Third Young Master Lin Du, who looked torn by gains and losses, his face heavy with thoughts.

Having heard the news from outside, he swept away his earlier vexation and immediately rose to head out the door.

Nine years.

Nine years ago.

A sensational incident had once occurred in the five-hundred-li Anning County.

A Qi Refining Expert from Jiangyin Prefecture, who had traveled here while pursuing an Outer Path demon, had stopped in the county.

By chance, he saw the Anning Lin Clan's Qilin Daughter, Lin Ruxue, who had already achieved Sinew Tempering and was sixteen years old at the time.

He took a fancy to her at first glance.

Over the three months he stayed.

He personally taught Lin Ruxue a Pile Stance for tempering her qi and blood and training her great tendons, testing her foundations and comprehension.

After three months, the Qi Refining Expert exhaled sword-like qi and slew the Outer Path demon. Already in high spirits, he happened to find that Lin Ruxue had completed Sinew Tempering—a double blessing at the door.

And so, naturally.

The Anning Lin Clan gained a disciple of a Qi Refining Expert.

That Qi Refining Expert.

Came from one of Jiangyin Prefecture's schools, towering above the magnificent five-hundred-li Anning County!

In this great age.

Great Xuan had founded its dynasty through martial arts, suppressing this realm of heaven and earth and holding the four seas in check. By this day, it had already neared its first millennium.

Where there were people, there were classes, and there were Three Six Nine Grades.

Across a vast history spanning nearly a thousand years.

Countless powerful clans, great families, master-disciple lineages, and sectarian factions had emerged. Together, they upheld the backbone of this dynasty, colossal existences that five-hundred-li Anning County did not even dare dream of.

It was said.

It was precisely because they stood guard,

That the infiltrations from beyond this realm—collectively called the Outer Path—such as Gods, False Immortals, Pure Lands, and other systems,

Had never shaken the foundations of this realm.

Thus allowing Great Xuan's dynasty to retain the orthodox lineage of its native Human Immortal Martial Path!

The local Three Great Gangs and Four Great Halls of Anning County, those martial halls and gangs renowned throughout the region.

Compared to them, they were but fireflies seeking to vie with the bright moon.

The most direct and fundamental difference between the two was that—

The former possessed experts who had crossed the Qi Threshold, even Qi Refining Experts at still greater heights. They safeguarded authentic copies of Secret Martial Paths, their roots deep and their sources long. They could establish doctrines of their own, and thus were called sects and schools, able to endure for centuries, even several centuries!

Those beneath them,

Were no more than gangs and local powers. At their highest, they only reached Skin Refinement; at their strongest, they only possessed external techniques. They could only squat between counties and villages, without true teachings, never seeing the vastness of high heaven.

Perhaps in another thirty or fifty years, rain and wind would wash them away. Like sand sifted by great waves, they would be replaced by those who came later and gradually fade from notice.

To rise above gangs and local powers, enter a sect, receive the support of a Qi Refining Expert, and step into a place where true prodigies gathered—

Having borne such a daughter, Lin Zhenhai had every reason to be proud.

"Father."

Looking at Lin Ruxue, who had come to the door bearing a sword, her bearing and appearance even more outstanding than nine years ago.

Lin Zhenhai's eyes brimmed with satisfaction.

"Good, good, good!"

Though she had not returned home for nine years, she still cared for them in the end.

"You came back this time to...?"

Seeing Lin Ruxue tuck back her younger sister's hair while treating his concubine-born third son as if he did not exist, Lin Zhenhai paid it no mind. As he welcomed them into the residence, he smiled and asked.

At the mention of this matter, Lin Ruxue's face beneath the light veil grew slightly solemn.

"An Outer Path force is causing trouble in Jiangyin Prefecture, spreading its influence through the counties and villages. Among them..."

"One disciple of an important figure in the prefecture was bewitched, failed to hold to his true heart, and stole a precious treasure. That person was thunderously enraged, ordering a hunt in all directions and offering a heavy reward."

"That person is an important figure in the Martial Examination. If we can form ties with him, there will be great benefits."

"It so happened that my martial training had reached a bottleneck, so Master allowed me to return home and travel by way of this opportunity. I followed some faint traces all the way to Anning."

"Father, if you hear anyone in Anning promoting notions like 'Spread Martial Arts Throughout the World' or 'Divine Decree of Equality,' or even worshipping at shrines, remember this—inform me at once."

Outer Path, Martial Examination!

At the first half, Lin Zhenhai's pupils contracted slightly, as though he had heard some Great Secret. Yet when he heard the latter half, he could not help growing excited, his eyes shining brightly.

"You have already reached the point where you can contend against those gentry families and meritorious noble houses in the prefecture, striving for fame and rank in Great Xuan?"

Lin Ruxue shook her head.

"To take first place or top the prefecture list is nothing but a castle in the air to me. Even the rank of Martial Graduate may be beyond my grasp. I am far too lacking."

"But if I wish to go higher, even become a Qi Refining Expert."

"If I do not even dare decide superiority against the talents of an entire prefecture, then whether I ever leave Anning County in this lifetime makes no difference."

She turned her eyes slightly to the side. Her figure looked delicate, a willow branch swaying in the wind.

Yet when her brows lifted, a vigorous heroic spirit rose from her, sharp as a sword.

It made Lin Zhenhai clap his hands and sigh loudly.

"Ancestors above!"

"My Anning Lin Clan has flourished in might for six generations. In my branch, at last, there has emerged a descendant with true hope of establishing a clan and founding ancestral rites."

"Rest assured!"

"Whether it is keeping watch for news or anything else."

"As long as this old bag of bones can be of use, there is no need to hesitate!"

Establishing a clan, founding ancestral rites.

This was not the sect in sectarian schools, but the clan in clan and lineage!

Great Xuan had a decree.

Without becoming a Qi Refining Expert, there could be no talk of a clan.

Thus.

Whether it was the Fire Kiln Lu Estate, stronger by a head, or the somewhat lesser Lin Clan of Lin Residence.

No matter how splendid their prestige within the county, in the eyes of mud-legged peasants and poor-born youths, they were no different from local emperors.

But in the eyes of true gentry families and great clan households—

They were no different from the mud-legged peasants among their own neighbors.

But from this moment onward, perhaps there would be a change!

Lin Zhenhai was immersed in the beautiful dream that Lin Residence might one day bear the name of the Anning Lin Clan and rise to prosperity through it.

Without realizing it.

He neglected Third Young Master Lin Du, who had drawn his head down in silence beneath his purple robes, unnoticed and not daring to make a sound.

And when Lin Du heard the words "Divine Decree of Equality" and "worshipping at shrines."

He abruptly lowered his head even further and quietly stepped back.

Dusk descended.

In a daze, a bead of cold sweat seemed to slide down his forehead.

Yet no one noticed.

After leaving Lin Residence.

The sky was growing late.

Ji Xiu and Lu Yu spoke as they walked, while several Fire Kiln assistants followed close behind.

Only through their conversation did Ji Xiu learn why Lu Yu had worn such an irrepressibly delighted expression all the way here.

It was because—

He had completed Sinew Tempering and had begun tempering his bone marrow!

In the language of martial training.

He was at the half-step threshold between the Toughening Tendons Realm and the Tempering Bones Realm.

If he crossed that step—

From then on, he would stand shoulder to shoulder with the hall masters of small boxing schools and martial halls. Even within a gang, he would qualify as a hall master overseeing a branch, seated in one of its chairs!

He could be said to have entered the hall and reached the inner chamber.

The more Ji Xiu listened, the more envious he became.

At the same time, he clenched his fists.

"After Entering Force comes Nourishing Blood, then Forging Tendons!"

"According to Senior Brother Lu."

"For those two steps, one needs training methods and external techniques, supplemented by food and medicine, to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"I wonder whether Master Duan can teach me..."

As he pondered his worries, he listened to Lu Yu recount various experiences and broaden his knowledge, nodding again and again.

Without noticing it.

They had reached the entrance to that dilapidated old street alley where filthy water flowed everywhere.

At the sight of the rings of thatched and tiled houses enclosed by fences.

Lu Yu frowned and stopped, seemingly worried that the filthy mud would stain his luxurious jade boots.

But after pausing for a long while, he could not help sighing in admiration.

"To grow a temperament like Junior Brother's in such a foul-smelling environment."

"It truly is... no easy thing."

Shaking his head, he quickly grew serious again and continued.

"Still, you can rely on yourself to Enter Force, but continuing down the road like this afterward is absolutely impossible."

"Junior Brother, go change your registration tomorrow morning and wait for my word."

"When the time comes, I will invite you into my Lu Manor and give you work no worse than what Lin Residence offers. It should be enough to support your Nourishing Blood and Forging Tendons!"

As he spoke, he seemed to recall something. He cupped his hands and smiled.

"My Lu Manor's retainers all value mutual willingness. Those who come are comrades in arms, brothers."

"Still, it is usually my father who extends the invitation, treating them as guests."

"So whether you stay or leave... is entirely up to you, Junior Brother."

"There is absolutely none of that Lin Residence master's manner of using power to force others with every word!"

Hearing Lu Yu's every considerate word, none of which made him uncomfortable in the slightest.

Ji Xiu immediately developed a favorable impression and was just about to agree.

When, from one side, an uncertain voice suddenly rang out.

"Y-young Master!?"

The group had arrived before the fenced courtyard at Ji Xiu's home.

By chance.

They ran into Qiao Jin, the Fire Kiln steward, whose arm was wrapped in bandages as he waited there.

He held a money pouch in one hand.

At his side stood Uncle Shuanzi and Zhang Liu Zi, both bent at the waist, waiting eagerly for Ji Xiu to return.

Upon hearing the movement.

When Qiao Jin turned around and first saw Lu Yu in his brocade robes, he froze.

Then, when he heard that Lu Yu had invited Ji Xiu to Lu Manor as a retainer.

He staggered, nearly dropping even the money pouch to the ground!

He had never imagined.

That the poorest, lowliest alley beneath Fire Kiln.

Could produce someone who had formed ties with the Young Master!

And furthermore,

He had gone and offended him!

Remembering how, just yesterday, he had overestimated himself and tried to put the boy in his place.

Qiao Jin's mind went numb.

He was merely a thug raised under Lu Manor, yet he had dared argue with his master's guest?!

Fortunately—

Clutching the three taels of silver in his hand and thinking of the arm that needed a hundred days to heal, Qiao Jin felt immensely grateful.

Good thing he had been clever.

Otherwise, if this Ji family boy rose above his head in the future and viciously made life difficult for him—

Then it would truly all be over!

Perhaps he would not even be able to keep his position as Fire Kiln steward!

With that thought.

Qiao Jin's straight back involuntarily bent as he looked toward Ji Xiu.

Just like Uncle Shuanzi and Zhang Liu Zi at his side.

There was no difference at all.