CHAPTER 195: CHAPTER 155: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FACTIONS, ZHANG RUO VISITS, COUNTY CITY GENIUS GATHERING

The realm divisions of Martial Arts in the Xia Country were only detailed up to the Internal Energy Refining realm. Above Internal Energy Refining, the levels of Elixir Strength, and even the more mystical Gang Strength, cannot be described in words. Breakthroughs in such realms no longer rely on secret manuals or Cultivation Techniques.

The "Dream Sleep Elixir" merely allows Grandmasters to experience a state of being alive yet dead, feeling their bodies like elixirs and their purpose single and undivided. However, true breakthroughs still depend on experience, personality, and opportunity.

「In the courtyard.」

Jiang Shu sat cross-legged. After advancing from the Blood Exchange Realm to Elixir Strength, every tendon, bone, and muscle in his body seemed to come alive, capable of making optimal offensive and defensive actions without conscious thought from his brain. His physical body and spirit achieved a high degree of unity, allowing him to sense the vast Yuan Qi permeating the space between Heaven and Earth.

Standing up, Jiang Shu stretched his limbs, testing his new capabilities. The dust on the ground, drawn by his energy, constantly swirled around him.

He threw a slow punch. Without applying True Jin or Internal Energy Refining, a blast of air rushed forward. The trees swayed slightly, and a few leaves drifted down.

What a pity. Even with Elixir Strength, one only senses the Yuan Qi and has only taken one step further than the average Blood Exchange Realm. It’s not like those Acupoint Passage Realm masters who can absorb the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi into their acupoints and strike with power far exceeding their own Jin.

To truly feel the mysteries of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, one must advance to the Acupoint Passage Realm. Entering the Elixir Strength realm has simply laid a solid and rich foundation, allowing him to utilize Yuan Qi in advance to refine his body during the Blood Exchange Realm, aiming for Perfection, Jiang Shu murmured to himself.

The battle in Tokyo had seemed like a complete victory. He had not only killed the Fusang Sword God Ikenotani Seishun with a single punch but also smashed through the Tokyo Tower and barely escaped a military siege.

However, every gain comes with a loss. Fusang was not like some small, politically unstable countries. After his escape, they would undoubtedly seal off the Tokyo Tower site, designating it as a military restricted zone. To shuttle back there, he would need the ability to escape from such a tightly controlled blockade. This meant he could no longer traverse the Two Realms at will as before.

In the commandery city, he needed to be even more cautious.

Powerful as Elixir Strength may be, it’s inconsequential before the machinery of a state. But no matter how powerful a country’s machine is, there are moments of laxity. A few days ago was when their vigilance was at its peak. Half a year from now, can those soldiers still watch every corner, every minute of every second, twenty-four hours a day?

Deciding to go to Fusang, Jiang Shu had naturally made ample preparations. Some important items were buried deep in the yard ahead of time: a top-grade Pill Furnace, an alloy saber, a Storage Bag...

At the Blood Exchange Realm, I cannot go back. But that doesn’t mean someone at the Acupoint Passage Realm can’t! An Acupoint Passage Realm Martial Artist can absorb Yuan Qi into the acupoints throughout their body. They could completely conceal their presence and mask their aura before Fusang’s various detection devices, or even directly destroy them from a distance!

No rush, let the bullets fly for a while, he thought, a smirk playing on his lips as he pictured the Fusang soldiers currently scouring the entire country for him. He then pushed open the door and stepped out.

With the news of the battle in Tokyo spreading, the Xia Country would surely protect his parents and sister extremely well and thoroughly investigate Fusang’s various covert operatives.

All he needed to do was one thing—reach the Acupoint Passage Realm as quickly as possible. Then, return!

He headed for the Danxia Chamber of Commerce, a place he was quite familiar with. Being unable to shuttle between the Two Realms meant his Martial Arts resources could no longer come from the Xia Country’s Heaven and Earth Secret Realm as before. To achieve rapid advancement in the Blood Exchange Realm, he needed to demonstrate even greater Martial Arts Talent to the Danxia Chamber of Commerce and secure more investment.

「Danxia Chamber of Commerce.」

Given Jiang Shu’s current status, upon entering the Chamber, he was immediately welcomed upstairs.

Soon, Manager Zhang arrived, accompanied by Vice-President Su Mingchun.

Manager Zhang pushed open the door, and Su Mingchun stepped in, asking with a smile, "Shang Junming, it’s been a while since you visited the Chamber. I’ve seen you’ve been completing tasks frequently recently. I wonder about your realm..."

Just as Manager Zhang was about to close the door and withdraw, Su Mingchun’s next words froze him in place, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Shang Junming, you’ve... advanced to the Blood Exchange Realm?" Su Mingchun exclaimed.

Listening to the surging of blood in Jiang Shu’s body, like the relentless roar of the ocean, Su Mingchun’s shock was no less than Manager Zhang’s.

In the treasure vault, he had personally witnessed Jiang Shu select the "Four Symbols Internal Energy." This Cultivation Technique was notoriously difficult to even begin mastering. Furthermore, Jiang Shu was not a true scion of the commandery city, lacked abundant Martial Arts resources, and still occasionally undertook Chamber tasks, leaving him with little time. Under such circumstances, he had actually broken through from the Refining Internal Realm to the Blood Exchange Realm in just over half a year.

This level of Martial Arts Talent far surpassed that of first-rate geniuses! This time, I’ve truly discovered a treasure!

"What brings you here this time?" Su Mingchun asked, managing to suppress the excitement surging within him.

Although he too was in the Blood Exchange Realm, there was a vast difference between a forty-year-old at this Realm and someone not yet twenty. Coming from a county town background already made Martial Arts cultivation arduous. To be able to progress all the way from Qi Blood Sensing to the Blood Exchange Realm was enough to prove that Jiang Shu’s Talent far exceeded his wildest imaginings.

If the Chamber provided sufficient resources, Jiang Shu could even secure a spot on the Little Dragon Tiger List, perhaps even contend for the true Dragon Tiger List!

"I’d like to ask Vice-President Su for guidance on some matters."