CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51: MAD DOGS! THEY ARE ALL MAD DOGS! (THIRD UPDATE)

With the completion of the task to spread the Profound Yellow Sect’s fame, the players also achieved unprecedented improvement.

By this point, the Profound Yellow Sect, purely in terms of experts, likely had the most within Fengxiang Prefecture.

However, Xu Nian did not stop there.

Being a First-Grade Martial Artist was just the entry level to Jianghu, merely the qualification to navigate it.

Fengxiang Prefecture, in the grand scheme of Jianghu, was still too small a pond.

Xu Nian well understood the saying, "There are always stronger people out there, and higher heavens beyond."

Next up was the Grandmaster Realm.

The System hadn’t assigned him any tasks for this. Therefore, if Xu Nian wanted to reach the Grandmaster Realm, he would likely have to rely on himself.

But with the Grandmaster Blood Demoness present, Xu Nian wasn’t particularly worried.

He didn’t know how to become a Grandmaster, but the Blood Demoness surely did.

Immediately, Xu Nian sought out the Blood Demoness.

The Blood Demoness was truly disoriented by the sudden surge in strength of the Profound Yellow Sect players.

What exactly is my purpose here? Are all the disciples of the Profound Yellow Sect this frightening? For others, a breakthrough is an insurmountable hurdle, yet for the people of the Profound Yellow Sect, it seems as simple as eating and drinking. Why is that? I endured unimaginable pain to break through to the Grandmaster Realm. But here? Just casually learn some martial arts and you can break through directly? Is this a joke?

"Blood Demoness, how does one break through to the Grandmaster Realm?" Xu Nian called the Blood Demoness over and asked directly.

Hearing Xu Nian’s question, the Blood Demoness’s expression turned strange. Hasn’t he just recently broken through to the First-Grade Realm? He already wants to break through to the Grandmaster Realm? Does he intend to turn every single person in the Profound Yellow Sect into a Grandmaster?

The thought of a sect where everyone was a Grandmaster made the Blood Demoness worry for her own Blood Demon Sect.

What would happen if the Blood Demon Sect clashed with the Profound Yellow Sect? Annihilation with no burial ground? No, no, no! Perhaps not even corpses would be left behind. This sect is too unorthodox, and moreover, there’s an unfathomable presence hidden within; this is the real horror!

"The Grandmaster Realm actually involves mastering ’Essences,’" the Blood Demoness explained. "The more Essences you control, the stronger you become, and the more powerful you’ll be within the Grandmaster Realm. I have comprehended the Blood Red Realm. Though it’s the only one, it’s enough for me to dominate Jianghu. After all, anyone I injure will have their blood influenced by me."

She didn’t elaborate further, as this seemed linked to her secrets. Then she added, "Zhou Yuntong, for instance, has comprehended two Essences: the Essence of the Blade, exclusive to the Brocade Guard, and the Autumn Rain Realm. Each additional Essence grants another technique. That’s why I’m wary of Zhou Yuntong. When he merges the Autumn Rain Realm with his blade techniques, he becomes incredibly difficult to handle. Frankly, I can’t beat him."

Essence? This was the first time Xu Nian had heard this term. Does understanding an Essence qualify one as a Grandmaster? Isn’t this a bit simplistic? Shouldn’t there be some powerful aura, or a feeling of inherent dominance when one walks?

"What is an Essence?" Xu Nian asked curiously.

"You are the Seventh Prince, and you don’t know?" The Blood Demoness blurted out, then, recalling something, shook her head. "I almost forgot about your ordeal in the Capital City. With your martial arts crippled, it’s somewhat normal that you wouldn’t know. ’Essence’ is rather elusive; it’s hard to describe the feeling. For instance, I forcibly comprehended my Blood Red Realm when I was trapped in a blood pool. Many in the Blood Demon Sect have faced similar ordeals, yet very few truly comprehend an Essence. Among the Five Great Elders, I am considered the weakest, so not many bother with me. After all, to this day, I’ve only comprehended one Essence."

"How do I comprehend it?" Xu Nian asked anxiously.

"It depends on talent," the Blood Demoness explained. "Some people can comprehend it while eating and drinking, yet others might never grasp it in their entire lives."

Hearing this, Xu Nian’s face fell.

What did that mean? Comprehending an Essence seemed to be a matter of fate. Such matters related to luck always seemed to elude him. It appeared he had no hope of achieving it on his own; he would have to rely on the players.

Just as Xu Nian was contemplating how to continue farming chives, Daytime Alms hurriedly ran up from the foot of the mountain.

"Sect Leader, there’s a visitor at the foot of the mountain. He said he’s delivering an invitation," Daytime Alms explained briefly, capturing the attention of many players.

Now that things had settled down, they relied on daily life tasks to accumulate Contribution Points. For players, they looked forward to special characters appearing to trigger tasks from the Sect Leader. Not doing tasks for a day made them feel uncomfortable. Hearing that an NPC had come to visit—and was even delivering an invitation—the players grew excited.

"Where is he?" Xu Nian walked out of the Great Hall with the Blood Demoness.

"Just at the foot of the mountain. Xu Xian and the others are watching him. Should we bring him up?" Daytime Alms asked hurriedly.

"Bring him," Xu Nian nodded. "An invitation at this time... this visitor likely bodes ill."

「At the foot of the mountain.」

Wang Sanjin, dressed in a black butler uniform, swallowed nervously. Surveying the surrounding Profound Yellow Sect Disciples of Fifth and Fourth Grade, he couldn’t help but feel panicked. Is the Profound Yellow Sect this powerful? Fifth-Grade Disciples everywhere?

He had been ordered to deliver an invitation and was previously unaware of the Profound Yellow Sect’s existence. The sect had only recently risen to prominence in Fengxiang Prefecture, becoming a headache for the major powers, which was when people in Jianghu started to notice it.

In private, when Jianghu people from Fengxiang Prefecture spoke of the Profound Yellow Sect, they invariably ground their teeth and cursed them as ’Mad Dogs’!

That’s right! The disciples of the Profound Yellow Sect were all mad dogs! In fights, they showed no regard for their own lives, insisting on taking someone down with them even if it meant dying.

Who wouldn’t find such a force troublesome? What sane person would willingly engage in life-and-death battles with lunatics? If I can’t afford to offend them, can’t I at least avoid them?

Since then, the Profound Yellow Sect had subtly begun to overshadow the Merciful Temple, gradually becoming the leading force in Fengxiang Prefecture. And they had only about a hundred disciples—arguably the fewest among all major powers in the entire Fengxiang Prefecture.

The players eyed Wang Sanjin, sizing him up while murmuring to themselves.

"Does this guy have any tasks on him?"

"I don’t know. I’ve been bored out of my skull lately, just spending all day following Daytime Alms around, building the sect."

"Why not go mining? The stone mines on the Back Mountain are still short-handed, and the rewards are much better than for construction."

"Looks like the Sect Leader is planning to expand the sect. We might even take over Black Wind Stronghold. I guess the Second Test is about to start, huh?"

...

Wang Sanjin couldn’t understand a word the players were saying and could only stand there timidly, eyed by a group of Fifth-Grade Martial Artist players. The feeling was terrifying, to say the least.

Daytime Alms hurried down from the mountain and said to Wang Sanjin, "Hey you, my Sect Leader wants to see you. Come with me!"