CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 155: BUSINESS FACTION, ZHANG RUO VISITS, COUNTY GENIUS MEETING_2

Jiang Shu stood up and spoke.

In the vast Yongning County, the only Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist he knew was Su Mingchun.

"Sit, feel free to speak."

Su Mingchun sat nearby, observing Jiang Shu with ever-increasing fondness. This young man was talented yet unarrogant; such a genius was undoubtedly worth befriending.

"I heard previously from President Su that in the Da Jing Dynasty, the martial path consists of Body Refinement, Qi Refinement, and Mind Refinement. In reality, the highest-grade cultivation technique in the Chamber’s treasury is merely a Middle Grade one. So, if I want to advance to the Acupoint Passage Realm, will I need to visit the Chamber’s headquarters in the state city to have a chance at obtaining a top-grade cultivation technique?"

"What would I need to exchange to obtain this top-grade cultivation technique?"

Jiang Shu got straight to the point.

The Martial Arts system of the Da Jing Dynasty dictated that he must obtain a top-grade cultivation technique to advance further. If he could acquire it in the county city, that would naturally be ideal. He could then advance to the Acupoint Passage Realm before traveling to the state city. For him, who could not yet shuttle between the Two Realms, this was undoubtedly much safer.

"Only the treasury at the Chamber’s headquarters in the state city has it," Su Mingchun nodded and said.

In the Da Jing Dynasty, cultivation techniques and Martial Arts are tightly controlled by the imperial family and major clans. Ordinary people have entirely no avenues for advancement.

"For others, obtaining a top-grade cultivation technique is extremely difficult. Even for me, I need to accumulate enough Contribution Value to exchange for one. But for a genius like you, Shang Junming, you actually only need to do two things."

"First, and most basic, join the Danxia Chamber of Commerce headquarters."

"The rarity of top-grade cultivation techniques far exceeds that of Middle Grade ones. Middle Grade techniques primarily focus on refining the body, merely allowing one to understand oneself. Top-grade techniques, however, enable one to truly perceive the world."

"The Acupoint Passage Realm, compared to the four previous realms of Body Refinement, places more importance on a Martial Artist’s physical Talent. Some Martial Artists progress very quickly through the Body Refinement Realm but find it extremely difficult to open their acupoints upon reaching the Acupoint Passage Realm. This is because everyone is born different; some geniuses are born with naturally open acupoints and thus advance at a meteoric pace once they reach the Acupoint Passage Realm."

"Some people are born with blocked acupoints, so naturally, their cultivation speed is slower."

"Thus, those who truly make it onto the Dragon Tiger List are all geniuses among geniuses."

Unable to help but marvel, Su Mingchun paused momentarily.

With Jiang Shu’s Talent, entering the Little Dragon Tiger List should be no issue. But ascending to the Da Jing Dragon Tiger List is not easy. Without reaching the Acupoint Passage Realm, no one knows their own acupoint situation, and no one can guarantee that a genius at the Blood Exchange Realm will still be a genius in the Acupoint Passage Realm.

After briefly mentioning this, he looked at Jiang Shu and continued, "Second, and most importantly, choose a faction."

"Within our Danxia Chamber of Commerce, there are three major factions: the President’s faction led by the President, the Elder’s faction led by the Grand Elder, and the Guest Elder Alchemy Faction led by the Third Elder."

"Indeed, one may enter the treasury and choose cultivation techniques, but the subsequent resource supply and guidance from stronger members are related to the faction. Therefore, geniuses from different factions often choose different top-grade cultivation techniques."

"In the past, the President’s faction naturally held the most power and controlled the most resources. However, in the past two years, with the President often away seeking opportunities and giving less guidance, the Grand Elder’s faction has completely risen to prominence. For example, Zhao Zhongming, a genius from the Zhao Family in the county city, actually belongs to the Grand Elder’s faction."

"As for the Third Elder’s Guest Elder Alchemy Faction, as the name suggests, it’s neutral. Although they have sufficient resources, the Third Elder’s own realm is much weaker compared to the President and Grand Elder. Consequently, the martial progression guidance they provide is definitely not as effective in promoting rapid advancement as that of the other two major factions."

"Of course, there’s no hurry on this matter; once you enter the state city, you can choose slowly."

"Right now, your urgent task is to stabilize your realm and see if you can quickly make it onto the Little Dragon Tiger List. You don’t need to take on missions. If there’s anything you need to buy, just tell me. I still have quite a few extra Contribution Values. As long as it’s not cultivation techniques or Martial Arts skills, general Elixirs and weapons, I can directly transfer them to you," Su Mingchun generously offered.

"Thank you, President Su." Jiang Shu naturally would not refuse Su Mingchun’s kindness and expressed his gratitude profusely.

The two conversed joyfully.

They sat in the Danxia Chamber of Commerce for more than two hours.

Jiang Shu gained much and, after bidding farewell to Su Mingchun, returned to his courtyard.

He then began his day-after-day Cultivation. By day, he practiced "Four Symbols Internal Energy," and at night, "Dream Sleep Elixir."

On the panel, the proficiency in his cultivation techniques grew every day.

Having entered the Elixir Strength stage, his understanding of Jin had deepened to another level. Elixir Strength, compared to True Energy, was more effective at stimulating the hidden points within his bones and internal organs, allowing his Jin to penetrate the marrow.

If I were in Xia Country, I could simply enter a Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, slaughter a few Fourth Rank Mutant Beasts, and continuously strengthen my vitality. Why must it be like this now...

On the path of Martial Arts, resources truly are indispensable.

And who knows how long it will be before I break through to the Acupoint Passage Realm?

It seems quite necessary to make an early trip to the state city. Regardless, I should open this Storage Bag and see what’s inside.

Relying solely on the resources of the Danxia Chamber of Commerce, reaching the Acupoint Passage Realm would take at least a year.

Too slow, far too slow!

He popped a Marrow Cleansing Pill into his mouth.

Jiang Shu felt the power of the medicine and estimated the changes in the values on the panel.

For someone with a lifespan of up to 180 years like himself, one year was actually very short.

But Jiang Shu knew that with the ample resources he had left behind, Jiang Yanyue would definitely step into Dark Force within a year. By then, everything he did in Tokyo would be known to his parents. His parents would fall into endless nights of sleepless worry. This was what he didn’t want to see.

If he could return a day earlier, he would. Moreover, the current Xuanxing was undergoing a period of great transformation. Every day, every month, there might be major shifts, let alone a year. If he missed some important opportunities, he himself would feel extremely regretful.

Jiang Shu stretched his limbs, and drop by drop, Essence Blood began to condense within his body.

「Half a month later.」

"How come you suddenly thought of coming here?"

After a light rain in Yongning County, the air was exceptionally fresh.

In the courtyard, Jiang Shu finished his last set of punches and walked towards the small pavilion.

Zhang Ruo sat opposite him, head lowered, looking extremely reluctant to speak.

After a long while, she finally said, "Shang Brother, have you... reached the Refining Internal Realm?"

On the stone bench, Zhang Ruo’s breathing was a bit chaotic. She considered herself quite a talent too. Over the past year, she had diligently practiced Martial Arts, tempering her limbs and spine, and had reached the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm. Her two senior martial brothers were no match for her now. She had originally thought that the gap between herself and Brother Shang should have narrowed considerably by now. After all, though Brother Shang was exceptionally talented, he lacked the backing of a large clan and couldn’t compare to them in terms of resources.

But upon arriving at Jiang Shu’s courtyard and seeing him in a state that seemed harmoniously merged with heaven and earth, she was suddenly dumbfounded. This was a sensation that not even Zhang Yunsu, the genius of the Zhang Family, had ever evoked in her. Consider that Zhang Yunsu had already completed the tempering of his five viscera and was now consuming Morning Origin Pills day and night, striving to advance to the Blood Exchange Realm.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Jiang Shu said with a smile.

He could certainly tell that Zhang Ruo likely had a request for him. In Yongning County, he had no close friends; he had only chatted with Zhang Ruo. He had also benefited considerably from her help in the initial period. So, if it involved only minor issues, he didn’t mind stepping in to resolve them.

"Um..." Zhang Ruo hesitated, then said, "In a few days, our Zhang Family plans to hold a gathering for the geniuses of the county city. We’ll be inviting many talented young cultivators from the county city, preparing quite a few Elixir prizes, and during the event, matters of family alliances through marriage will also be discussed."

"We, the children of the Zhang Family, will basically all be married off. Of course, if a better match can be found, the family will support it as well..."

"So..." Zhang Ruo’s voice grew fainter as she spoke.

She had initially assumed Jiang Shu might still be in the Bone Forging Realm. If so, his help could have bought her some more time. But now, seeing that he was a Refining Internal Realm expert, why would he help her? Just because they had exchanged a few more words in the past?

Zhang Ruo couldn’t help but shake her head.

Just when she felt it was impossible, Jiang Shu’s voice suddenly rang out:

"When is it?"

"Ah... five days from now..."

"Alright, I’ll make the trip."