First Meeting

A cup of tea later, when he emerged from the Audit Department, there were already three tokens in his sleeve—two of Ninth Grade Merit and one of Eighth Grade Merit.

Reporting to the Town Martial Division that a Demonic Human from the Jade Cauldron Sect had appeared was a Ninth Grade Merit. Assisting the Town Martial Division in purging the Jade Cauldron Sect's Demonic Humans earned one Ninth Grade Merit and one Eighth Grade Merit.

The Audit Department's review was strict; aiding in the purge of the Jade Cauldron Sect's Demonic Humans had only yielded one Eighth Grade Merit and one Ninth Grade Merit.

The Town Martial Division's merit request only stated that he should be credited as the primary contributor in the purge of the Jade Cauldron Sect, without detailing the specifics of the incident.

If the details had been provided, there was hope for a Seventh Grade Merit.

This was unavoidable, as he had to keep his Super Sensation a secret and couldn't go into too much detail.

He pinched the three tokens in his sleeve and shook his head regretfully.

What he regretted was that earning merits in the Ministry of Rites' Department of Martial Affairs was too difficult. Even if merits were earned, they wouldn't be tallied until the year-end evaluation and review.

Only once a year.

Unless one achieved an extraordinary merit.

What counted as an extraordinary merit?

For example, if an unexpected incident occurred and was promptly resolved, or if one took on a difficult assignment and still completed it well.

These went through the extraordinary merit channel—one merit, one review. Once the review was complete, the merit token was issued.

Regular merits were too slow, and extraordinary merits were hard to come by.

If he were in the Military, the opportunities to earn merits would be plentiful, especially during wartime, when they were countless.

This was also the root of the Great Jing army's ferocity, much like the Qin Dynasty army in his past life.

But in this world, everything had two sides—benefits and risks were proportional.

Extraordinary merits brought great rewards, but also great risks. If things went wrong, punishment followed.

Many officials didn't seek extraordinary merits, preferring regular ones. By staying obedient and dutiful, they could earn a regular merit, at least a Ninth Grade Merit.

The three tokens were exchanged at the Heavenly Treasure Department for two Minor Marrow Cleansing Pills and one Marrow Cleansing Pill.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill was several times more effective than the Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill. After taking the Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill, further marrow cleansing could only be done with the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

He was using them to practice the Dragon Transformation Technique. There was still a diminishing effect, but it was much slower than taking them directly.

--

In Yujing City, the lanterns were just lighting up, a scene of luxury and indulgence.

Chu Zhiyuan, escorted by Zou Fang, Guo Chi, and a crowd of guards, arrived at Chu Mingxuan's Prince's Mansion.

The lanterns outside the Prince's Mansion had already lit up in the twilight.

Guards patrolled the grounds in crisscrossing patterns, each brimming with spirit and energy, surpassing even the current guards of Prince Qing's Estate.

As soon as Chu Zhiyuan arrived, the gatekeeper of the Prince's Mansion opened the door and invited him in, while a servant hurried inside to announce his arrival.

Just as he rounded the screen wall, Chu Mingxuan rushed out to greet him, his round face missing its usual cheerful expression.

Suppressing his confusion, Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists and said, "Eighteenth Uncle, has Third Brother arrived?"

"He just got here not long ago," Chu Mingxuan replied.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Eighteenth Uncle, you look troubled. Has something happened?"

"Ah—!" Chu Mingxuan shook his head with a bitter smile.

Chu Zhiyuan grew even more curious.

Chu Mingxuan looked helpless. "That Third Brother of yours is like a completely different person."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What's wrong with Third Brother?"

"He was always proud by nature, but now he's even worse—stubborn and harsh!" Chu Mingxuan shook his head, his face scrunched in distress, looking especially comical on his plump features. "If I'd known he'd turn out like this, I wouldn't have called you all here. If he says something unpleasant later, don't take it to heart."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "What did Third Brother say?"

Chu Mingxuan sighed helplessly. "He accused us of being idle parasites, living in a drunken stupor, lazy and gluttonous, without any drive for self-improvement."

Chu Zhiyuan blinked.

That was quite a sharp remark.

But it felt strange, as if those words should have come from someone outside the royal family.

Chu Mingxuan snorted. "As if we should all be training desperately day and night. He said we don't deserve to enjoy ourselves like this in Yujing City. The soldiers at the border train with all their might, and even then, people die from time to time."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded slowly.

He had a rough impression now: a hot-headed idealist.

As they talked, they reached the hall. From the steps outside, they could hear scolding from inside: "Look at the two of you! Your swordsmanship is lacking, your fist techniques are mediocre. Have you spent the last two years just eating, drinking, and having fun?"

"..."

"You've disgraced the Chu family!"

"Haha..." Chu Mingxuan laughed heartily as he lifted the door curtain. "Fourth Son's here!"

Chu Zhiyuan shot Zou Fang a glance, letting him and Guo Chi wait outside the hall for once—a rare concession.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped into the room, greeted by a wave of hot air.

His eyes landed on a strapping young man glaring fixedly at Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan, his gaze sharp as a hawk, his face dark as still water.

Hearing the commotion, the man's cold stare shifted from Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan, who were cowering in the Grand Master's Chairs, and swept over to Chu Zhiyuan. He looked him up and down, scrutinizing him like a prisoner.

"Third Son, look at you!" Chu Mingxuan shook his head helplessly. "We're all here to have a good time. If you want to scold someone, go do it at Bright Martial Hall, not here!"

The strapping young man was handsome, with a lean, fierce bearing. He said coldly, "I don't want to scold anyone here either, but Eighteenth Uncle, I just can't stand seeing sand in my eyes!"

"You..." Chu Mingxuan waved a hand. "Come, come, this is Fourth Son. You've heard of his reputation, haven't you?"

"I heard about it as soon as I got back yesterday." Chu Zhiyao said flatly. "A rare genius of our Chu bloodline."

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists. "Third Brother flatters me."

"Whether it's flattery or not, I'll only know after a test!" Chu Zhiyao said in a low voice. "Hearing is empty, seeing is truth. I don't believe what others say—only what I see myself. Take this punch!"

He suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance, his right fist swelling a size as Misty Purple Qi flickered faintly, reaching Chu Zhiyuan's chest in an instant.

Chu Zhiyuan recognized it at once as the Great Heavenly Thunder Hammer.

The so-called Heavenly Thunder was fierce and domineering by nature, yet also swift. Combining both qualities naturally gave it formidable power, though it fell slightly short of the Great Avalanche Sword Art.

Chu Zhiyuan had actually trained in this fist technique too, but he rarely used it—it didn't suit his temperament. He found the Pulse Severing Hand more to his liking.

With Super Sensation, he preferred the Pulse Severing Hand's way of overcoming strength with skill.

He sidestepped and struck out with his palm, barely dodging the punch. His right palm landed precisely on Chu Zhiyao's left Shoulder Well Acupoint, numbing half his body and freezing his movements.

Then a second palm struck his right Shoulder Well Acupoint, numbing the other half. His whole body stiffened, leaving him unable to evade the third palm aimed at the Tanzhong Acupoint.

Chu Zhiyuan stepped back and clasped his fists with a smile. "Third Brother, you yield."

Chu Zhiyao stared at him blankly, his face quickly turning purple as he strained to circulate his energy, but he couldn't dissolve the True Qi trapped in his acupoints. Only when Chu Zhiyuan struck out with another palm did the flow of True Qi finally restore.

"Hah..." He let out a long breath, his complexion slowly calming.

Chu Mingxuan chuckled. "So, Fourth Son—does he live up to his name or not?"

Chu Zhiting and Chu Zhichuan watched him eagerly too, feeling immensely satisfied.

They'd been scolded like grandsons just now, unable to argue back—it was too stifling.

Chu Zhiyao snorted and looked Chu Zhiyuan up and down. "Fourth Son, what level of the Jade Tower are you at?"

"Fifth layer." Chu Zhiyuan said.

Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, and Chu Zhichuan all whipped their heads around to stare at him.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Imperial Grandfather is truly a heaven-sent genius. The Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique is indeed a miraculous art."

In less than a month, he'd reached the Innate Fifth Layer Jade Tower. Such rapid progress was utterly baffling—even a genius like Emperor Chu Qingquan didn't seem to have advanced this fast.

They also knew the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique had a special effect for breaking through barriers. Since Chu Zhiyuan had mastered a technique no one else could, they could accept this fact.

Chu Zhiyao frowned. "Is the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique really that miraculous?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If I also master the Taiqing Yuan Sect's Earthly Yuan Art, the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique will be even more miraculous than anyone imagines."

"...Taiqing Yuan Sect." Chu Zhiyao paused for a moment, then shook his head.

He looked at Chu Zhiyuan with a strange glint in his eyes.

It wasn't like looking at a person anymore—more like looking at a monster.

The Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique was nearly impossible to master, and those ancient sect inheritances were the same. At least, he'd never heard of anyone succeeding with those archaic traditions.

But if Chu Zhiyuan could master the Jade Lock Golden Pass Technique, then mastering the Taiqing Yuan Sect's inheritance wasn't so hard to believe.

Chu Zhiyao said, "Fourth Son, since you're this formidable, why don't you join the Military?"

"The Military is too dangerous. Father King and Imperial Concubine would worry." Chu Zhiyuan sighed. "Our prince's household is too thin on heirs to take that risk."

"...You're a filial son, I suppose." Chu Zhiyao snorted and curled his lip.

In his eyes, this was lack of ambition—a life of cowardly survival.

With such peerless talent, he should be building achievements in the Military, shaking the entire border, strengthening the Chu royal clan's prestige, and boosting the army's morale.

The border was too harsh—it needed a morale lift.