A lesson

Jia Lie Shan stepped forward and looked down at Lu Ze, a cold sneer curling his lips. "Naturally, I have something important to tell you."

"The family and the Xiao Clan have been clashing constantly over the ore vein south of the city lately. The clan leader has ordered that, since you're already fifteen, it's time you contributed to the family."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll take a few collateral-branch disciples to the South City Mine Vein and serve as the vanguard, scouting the way."

At these words, gasps immediately rose from the surrounding crowd. Several collateral-branch disciples looked at Lu Ze with sympathy and pity.

The terrain around the South City Mine Vein was complex, and there were not only vicious low-rank magical beasts there.

The Xiao Clan also attached great importance to the place and had stationed hidden sentries and laid traps there.

Sending a group of Two-Star and Three-Star Dou Zhe to serve as the vanguard-how was that any different from sending them to their deaths?

"You're sending me to my death..." Lu Ze's gaze turned cold as he exposed it outright.

"Cut the crap!"

Jia Lie Shan's expression darkened, a trace of viciousness flashing through his eyes.

"The clan leader said this is a test for you! If you die, the family will pay ten gold coins in compensation."

"If you survive, your cultivation resources will be doubled from then on!"

As he spoke, Jia Lie Shan reached out and patted Lu Ze's shoulder, secretly applying force through his hand.

The Dou Qi of a Four-Star Dou Zhe surged violently into Lu Ze's body, attempting to damage his meridians and put him in his place.

"Be a good boy and go be cannon fodder!" Jia Lie Shan sneered savagely.

Yet the next second, Jia Lie Shan's smile froze.

Not only did he feel his Dou Qi vanish like a clay ox entering the sea, failing to harm Lu Ze in the slightest.

Instead, an extremely subtle force shattered it outright.

"You..."

"Finished talking?"

Lu Ze slowly raised his head, his gaze indifferent, as though he were looking at a dead man.

"If you're finished, it's my turn."

Before his words had faded, Lu Ze's right hand seized the iron sword with the rolled edge beside him and drew it with a backhand pull.

Jia Lie Shan instinctively held his Mysterious Tier longsword across his chest. At the same time, Dou Qi surged wildly within him as he gathered strength to move.

"A trash Yellow Tier Dou Technique, and you dare act so arrogantly in front of-"

Before Jia Lie Shan could finish his taunt, his voice cut off abruptly.

A transparent strand of Sword Qi, as fine as gossamer, flowed from the tip of Lu Ze's sword.

Hiss!

The Mysterious Tier longsword, worth hundreds of gold coins and capable of slicing through iron like mud, was cleaved in two the instant it touched the Sword Qi.

The cut even glowed faintly red from the Sword Qi just now.

The Sword Qi continued unchecked, tearing apart the Dou Qi Jia Lie Shan had gathered as well.

Before his terrified eyes, it swept across his neck.

Thud!

Jia Lie Shan's legs gave out, and he dropped straight to his knees.

A red line as fine as a hair slowly appeared on his neck.

Blood trickled along the line and dripped onto the training ground's flagstones.

Just half an inch!

Had Lu Ze's hand trembled even slightly during that strike, Jia Lie Shan's head would have parted from his body.

The entire training ground fell deathly silent.

Every disciple on the training ground stared with wide eyes, their legs seemingly frozen.

One strike! Had Lu Ze just severed a Mysterious Tier longsword with one strike? Instantly defeated a Four-Star Dou Zhe?!

"Y-you... sir, what Dou Technique did you just use?! Don't you only know basic swordsmanship?"

Jia Lie Shan trembled all over, his crotch already soaked, honorifics slipping uncontrollably into his words.

His eyes looked as though he had seen a ghost.

He simply could not understand how that seemingly weightless strike could possess such terrifying power.

Lu Ze ignored Jia Lie Shan's breakdown, casually twirled his sword, and slipped the iron sword with the rolled edge back into its sheath.

"Do you understand?"

Understand what?! Jia Lie Shan no longer dared answer. He could only nod frantically in bewilderment.

"Please go back and inform the clan leader." Lu Ze looked down at Jia Lie Shan. His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"My cultivation has reached a critical juncture. I'm afraid that, willing though I am, the South City Mine Vein is beyond my ability."

"But if the family needs me elsewhere, naturally, I won't hesitate."

Lu Ze's tone was not particularly forceful. On the contrary, it was very calm.

He turned to look at Jia Lie Shan.

"By the way, Jia Lie Shan, you've ruined this iron sword. You need to compensate me fifty gold coins."

"Who's in favor, and who's opposed?"

Jia Lie Shan swallowed a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva and scrambled backward.

"I... I'll report to the clan leader! I'll go right now!"

Watching Jia Lie Shan flee in a sorry state, Lu Ze withdrew his gaze.

Under everyone's awed gazes, he turned and headed toward his own little courtyard.

Back in his room, Lu Ze shut the door and summoned the panel again.

[Killed/severely injured a Four-Star Dou Zhe, plundered a faint trace of blood Qi origin]

[Deduction Points +1]

"Although the Grass Character Sword Art is tremendously powerful, it consumes too much Dou Qi."

"That single strike just drained most of my Dou Qi."

"If I run into a mighty Dou Shi, I'll only have one chance to strike. If I fail, I won't even be able to run..."

Lu Ze silently took stock of his current shortcomings.

Jia Lie Bi was a ruthless, ambitious figure. After Lu Ze had taught his nephew a lesson today, he would not let the matter rest.

But with the strength I displayed today, getting me to work for him would be more in line with what he wants.

As for Jia Lie Shan?

Jia Lie Bi would only give him a proper look once he became a Dou Shi. After all, he was a good-for-nothing with neither the temperament nor the talent.

Next, Jia Lie Shan would most likely bring him some resources to test his limits.

"My cultivation realm is still too low. I have to raise it as soon as possible."

"Or... deduce a Dou Technique to make up for my lack of options."

He glanced at [Suction Palm (not yet initiated)] on the panel.

Although Suction Palm was a Low Yellow Tier Dou Technique, its defining traits were "pull" and "control."

If he could deduce it further, perhaps it could compensate for the period of immobility after the Grass Character Sword Art's burst.

In truth, Lu Ze was not satisfied with this. On the Dou Qi Continent, strength reigned supreme. How could he go without a Dou Technique for escaping?

Unfortunately, he currently had no such Dou Technique and could not deduce one.

His thoughts then returned to [Suction Palm].

"But deducing Suction Palm requires specific materials."

Lu Ze recalled the materials the panel had listed for the deduction.

"It requires a large quantity of gravity-attribute Magic Cores, along with an associated ore called Mysterious Heavy Iron Ore."

In Wutan City, these things were either extremely expensive or never even reached the market, having long since been quietly absorbed by those powerful figures.

The resources the Jia Lie Family distributed each month were nowhere near enough to afford them.

"It looks like I'll have to find a chance to visit Wutan City's black market, or... the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

Lu Ze rubbed his chin, a gleam flashing through his eyes.

Of course, all that was for later.

His immediate priority was to deal with Jia Lie Bi's probing and squeeze as many resources as possible out of the Jia Lie Family for his first pot of gold.

Let the Jia Lie Family suffer a little. I'll bear the bad name.

Lu Ze walked over to the water vat and washed the sweat and grime from his face. Looking at the young, coldly handsome face reflected in the water, his gaze gradually deepened.

"Only a little..."