Dark Schemes! (Seeking Monthly Passes, Investments, Brothers!)

Jiang Zhe glanced at his communication watch and found a message from the butler.

Young Master Zhe, I have retrieved your Martial Warrior Certificate and placed it on the coffee table in the main residence's living room. The Punching Power Tester has also been installed in the training ground behind your courtyard. This model can test the punching power of a Greater War God, so it should be enough for you for quite some time.

"Good. Perfect time to test it out."

A small shed had been erected in a corner of the backyard training ground, with a brand-new Punching Power Tester standing inside.

--"6022 kg!"

This punch had relied purely on Physical Quality, without using any Force Amplification Technique.

Jiang Zhe's lips curled upward. "Reaching Apprentice Rank 4/Junior Battle General within half a month shouldn't be a problem."

At that moment, Kyoto Base City, Wang Family.

One of the HR Alliance's twelve top global families and the number one among Hanxia Nation's many great families, it possessed the highest level of influence in both politics and commerce.

Only in terms of martial strength was it much weaker, but that was a common flaw among the HR Alliance's many families.

The current Wang Family Head had taken office in recent years. Just over fifty, with graying temples but a ruddy complexion, he carried himself with an air of nobility.

He was watching a video sent by a military district informant with his eldest son, Wang Zhen.

--The martial warrior in the footage hurled the Iron Whip in his hand, smashing the head of a Shadow Cat on the rooftop. The video ended abruptly there.

Father and son lowered their heads again to look at the analysis report on the table, neither saying a word.

After a long while, the old master of the Wang Family muttered, "A High-Tier Warrior, most likely also a Mid-Level Battle General Psychic Master, Subtle Realm movement technique, and roughly two to three times force amplification..."

"The Jiang Family is already powerful enough. Why must they still receive Heaven's favor? Vast heavens above, why are you so unfair to my Wang Family?!"

Jiang Zhe's downright explosive performance had made the old master of the Wang Family green with envy. Why could his Wang Family not produce such a martial arts prodigy?

If Jiang Zhe had been there, he would certainly have given the old master a proper lecture on the relationship between Karma and fortune.

The Jiang Family supported the weak in Lanling Base City, accumulated virtue, and did good deeds. Nearly all of its younger generation were martial arts fanatics who did not stir up trouble. No matter how great the blessings they received, they deserved them.

As for your Wang Family?

Heh. It was only because Lord Luo was kindhearted, executing only the chief culprits and not bothering with the rest of you.

If he had truly been determined to remove your family, this tumor, and charged into your residence with a blade to kill ten direct descendants, probably not a single one of them would have been innocent.

Wang Zhen advised, "Father, take it easy. Don't let yourself get sick with worry."

"If you ask me, that brat is no more than a newly appointed councilor at best. It is not as though our Wang Family cannot recruit experts of that caliber. Besides, with how high-profile he is, he may not even live to reach that point."

"Our Councilor Li, Li NanSheng, is ambitious, narrow-minded, and utterly incapable of tolerating others. Perhaps he has already set his sights on him."

"That brat and the Jiang Family are perfect targets for a warning blow, to intimidate all sides and consolidate Hanxia's power. Only then can Li NanSheng launch his bid for the position he covets—the Martial Arts Alliance Leader."

Wang Zhen pushed up his glasses, speaking in a chilling tone like a venomous snake.

The old master of the Wang Family shook his head and sighed. "Ah, how can we worry about matters that far ahead? Right now, the Alliance Speaker is preparing to adjust Hanxia Nation's resource allocation and give some commercial resources to the Jiang Family."

The coldness in Wang Zhen's eyes deepened. "How dare that old woman? The Alliance's expansion of influence within the country has relied entirely on our Wang Family raising its banner and lending support. How dare she even think of taking a slice of our family's cake? Is she not afraid that our Wang Family will fight them to mutual destruction, declare ourselves kings, and drive those foreigners out of Hanxia Nation?"

"The moment we welcomed them in, we became unable to do without them." The old master said quietly, "Wait and see first... Oh, right. Tomorrow, remember to bring a gift when you visit Councilor Li NanSheng. Keep a low profile, encourage him more, and make him feel that our Wang Family is ready to submit to him. As for the rest, I do not need to teach you every detail, do I?"

"Father, I understand. I will make sure Councilor Li finds a suitable target to establish his authority on. Hehehe~" Wang Zhen laughed coldly.

"Mm. Go."

Wang Zhen answered and turned to leave the study.

In the courtyard, a young man with an unruly expression was pressed against the door, eavesdropping.

Upon hearing footsteps, he hurriedly straightened himself and shot the old butler beside him a glare, warning him not to say anything.

Wang Zhen pushed the door open and came out. The young man respectfully called out, "Big Brother!"

After sending away his disappointing youngest son, Wang Li, the old master of the Wang Family lay in a rocking chair, looking exhausted as he raised a hand to knead his brow.

The old butler entered carrying a bowl of Lotus Seed Soup.

"Did Li'er hear everything?"

"Master, the young master heard every word of your conversation with the eldest young master."

"Ah, Li'er is my most spoiled and most disappointing child, but he is also the one who cares most about the Wang Family! Li'er understands that everything he has—the life of luxury and indulgence—was given by the Wang Family. He will become the fiercest watchdog and eliminate anyone who threatens the Wang Family."

The old master spoke indifferently as though he were an outsider, and that state of mind was terrifying.

Suddenly, he asked, "What do you think Li'er will do?"

"The young master is very clever. He will most likely seek out Mercenaries, since only they would have enough confidence of completing the mission."

"Mm. Then go help him raise the money. Set it at fifty to one hundred billion for now. Do not let it involve the Wang Family."

"Yes, Master."

On August 3rd, Jiang Zhe arrived at the Inherited Martial Hall.

"Second Brother, it's already August. When are you setting off for the Thunderbolt Martial Hall's Elite Training Camp?"

"I'll wait a few more days. Grandfather and the others should be back soon. Once I leave this time, I will not be able to return until the New Year. I'm a little reluctant to leave everyone." Jiang Wu scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

"Second Brother, can something be done with my Invitation Letter to the Limit Martial Hall's Elite Training Camp? You can go in my place."

To be honest, Jiang Zhe wondered what he could possibly learn at an Elite Training Camp with his current 5.3 times force amplification.

He would be more suited to going there as an instructor.

But it was still far less exciting than Challenging a Martial Hall.

The resources offered by the Limit Martial Hall's Elite Training Camp were only so-so.

The truly valuable things required meeting Hong face-to-face and trading items Hong cared about, such as Wood Spirits and Wood Essence Crystals.

Jiang Wu's expression abruptly turned serious. "Little Zhe, I know you mean well, but do not do anything that provokes the Two Great Martial Arts Academies! You are the beneficiary of the Invitation Letter, so you are the only one who can go. If we show even the slightest intention of changing the participant, it would be an insult to the Two Great Martial Arts Academies."

"Fine. I just wanted to make the most of it." Jiang Zhe shrugged.

"Little Zhe, don't worry. The Thunderbolt Martial Hall's Elite Training Camp is not bad either."

"They do not have Dragon Blood, but they have more than enough Jade Marrow, the next best thing."

"Besides, our family has old ties with Thunder God. It would not be an exaggeration to call our two families old friends. I'm only going there to polish my credentials and represent the Jiang Family's support for Thunder God. And when Thunder God has time, he will personally guide me in saber techniques."

Jiang Wu patted Jiang Zhe on the shoulder and grinned reassuringly.

"Our family's Xingyi Style has already reached a bottleneck for me. My progress has nearly stagnated, so it is time for me to meet Earth's Number One Saber User! Otherwise, would I not be unable to guide my younger brother in the future?"

Such melancholy words came from a body like an iron tower.

For a moment, Jiang Zhe did not know how to respond.

His usually carefree second brother had also been "hurt" by him.

"Second Brother, then while you're still here, teach me one last time?"

Jiang Wu: (◎_◎;)

Visible to the naked eye, the "iron tower's" foundation became unstable. He trembled, nearly turning into the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

"Well... well, Little Zhe, your second brother isn't feeling too well today..."

"Second Brother, I want a Guiding Technique and another Core Classic."

"Ah~ Then it's fine. The Medicine's Effect just kicked in, and I suddenly feel better. Come on, follow your second brother to the Ninth Floor to get them."

Having witnessed Jiang Zhe's terrifying talent for comprehension, Jiang Wu was no longer worried that he would spread himself too thin. Without waiting for Grandfather's approval, he dared to hand the Core Classics over to Jiang Zhe.

"Taiji Posture"!

"Three Talents Posture"!

"Six Harmonies Dragon Roar Lance"!

These were the three Paper Classics Jiang Zhe ultimately chose.

The first two were Guiding Techniques.

The last was "Dragon Body Form." Jiang Zhe wanted to study the Force Amplification Technique within it and fill in the missing Power Core in his body.

--Using Dragon Body Form as the General Outline, he would control Chicken Leg, Bear Arm Form, and Eagle Claw Form!

After integrating the Four Layers of Force, how much would his final force amplification reach?

Jiang Zhe was looking forward to it.

On August 5th, the four Jiang Family men who had gone to the Wilderness Zone to hunt dragons finally returned. The enormous haul of Spoils of War they brought back left Jiang Zhe staring wide-eyed.

So, they were done pretending and ready to lay all their cards on the table?

5,000 words.

Most new books updated at this rate, while some did a little over 4,000, to fit the platform's New Book Period process.

I had clearly written it all already. I was correcting typos...

Aahhh, I lost a whole day for nothing!

What a loss! This is killing me!