Realm-Hopping Martial Master

Such a genius was never meant to belong to the Danxia Chamber of Commerce. Why should I hinder his path in Martial Arts?

The Elder continued, "Compile a list of Zhao Zhongming's past debts in the Chamber of Commerce and send someone to have the Zhao Family repay them. Also, subtly spread the news to Jiang Shu. Additionally, with the President absent, I propose allowing Jiang Shu into the treasury to select an additional Cultivation Technique or Martial Art. We will also provide him with the corresponding resources. Does anyone object?"

The Elder's voice was slow and measured, but his face bore an unchallengeable expression.

This Zhao Zhongming is indeed useless. But even the useless have their value. If I can use this to draw Jiang Shu closer, he wouldn't even need to fully align with me. As long as he remains neutral in the future, I'm confident I can still grasp ultimate authority.

Those below were initially stunned, but soon, everyone nodded in agreement. Although some still didn't understand, here, there had always been only one voice.

Interesting. It's not the old cliché of 'beat the junior, and the senior comes for revenge.' It seems that within the Danxia Chamber of Commerce, the Elder's ability to maintain his position and strengthen his faction relies not only on his Martial Arts Realm but also on his understanding of people. I just don't know why he suddenly wants to get on good terms with me, offering me the opportunity to choose a Martial Art. However, there's no rush for a top-grade Cultivation Technique for now. I heard the President should be returning from the Royal City soon. I'll go to the treasury then and make a more prudent choice.

「Taihe Restaurant.」

「Earth Private Room.」

Jiang Shu awoke and pushed open the window. Below, the streets teemed with people and bustled with traffic. He pursed his lips, his thoughts drifting.

As my training time increases, my Martial Arts foundation grows ever deeper. Yunzhou Prefecture City is merely a transit point for me. Once I break through to the Acupoint Passage Realm and report my safety back at Xuanxing, I will set off for the Royal City to officially compete for a spot on the Little Dragon Tiger List. There's no need to spend a fortune buying a small courtyard in this exorbitantly expensive place.

Today marked the tenth day since Jiang Shu had arrived in Yunzhou Prefecture City.

Compared to Yongning County, this Prefecture City possessed an indescribable grandeur. Even the outer city was already filled with tall, densely packed buildings. Upon reaching the inner city, palatial structures appeared from time to time. A twenty to thirty-meter-wide inner-city river flowed past various shops, its beauty enhanced by small, arching bridges.

All the pedestrians exuded an abundance of vitality. Even casual conversations overheard on the roadsides were related to Martial Arts. Those who hadn't even stepped into a Martial Arts Realm could still speak at length about the power of the Blood Exchange Realm. The soldiers, who patrolled three times a day, were all Martial Artists at the Bone Forging Realm! In a county seat, any one of them could open their own martial arts school!

Such a foundation was truly beyond what commandery cities or county seats could possess.

Jiang Shu stepped out of his room and settled into a private room on the third floor, ordering a table of fine dishes. Over the past few days, he had visited nearly every restaurant in the inner city. It had been a long time since he was last in Xuanxing, and despite not usually caring much for gourmet food, he found himself somewhat craving it. This desire for good food can't always be satisfied with Marching Pills, after all. After trying several establishments, he had finally settled on this restaurant; its refined flavors suited his palate.

Not long after, there was a knock on the private room door. A few breaths later, Chu Xisheng pushed the door open and entered. The first thing he saw was Jiang Shu, sitting alone by the window, sipping a cup of plain water.

Chu Xisheng couldn't help but be slightly dazed. The image of the domineering figure who had strode through waves carrying a severed head momentarily overlapped with the man before him now. Shaking his head, Chu Xisheng sighed and said, "I never thought our first official meeting in the Prefecture City would be like this.

"I actually thought that when you arrived in the Prefecture City, you'd be utterly shocked by my ranking on the Little Dragon Tiger List. I never expected that it wouldn't be my combat achievements that surprised you, but rather your Martial Arts Realm, Talent, and sheer strength that have truly stunned all the Martial Artists in Yunzhou.

"Do you have any idea that for the past few days, the entire Martial Artist circle in the Prefecture City has been talking about you? Do you know how many scions from our noble families have organized various banquets, hoping to invite you?

"If you were to show your true face on these streets, someone would immediately report it to us scions of the noble families!

"Yet, no one imagined you'd just hole up in Taihe Restaurant and not emerge."

Sitting directly opposite, Chu Xisheng scrutinized Jiang Shu carefully, as if seeing him for the very first time.

He had truly watched that battle from beginning to end. It was precisely because of this that he understood Jiang Shu's power far better than many other geniuses on the Little Dragon Tiger List. What they knew was merely that Jiang Shu possessed a repaired Treasure—one that was formerly damaged and could only unleash thirty percent of its might. But he had clearly seen that Jiang Shu, even while still in the Blood Exchange Realm, could resonate with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, even guide and move it!

At that time, the battle's superficial aspect was the appearance of the Small Five Elements Saber Formation. But its core was Jiang Shu's manipulation of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, which directly shattered Zhao Zhongming's aura! Hardly anyone noticed this point at the time. After all, unless one was in the Acupoint Passage Realm, or a Blood Exchange Realm genius who had already comprehended parts of a top-grade Cultivation Technique, how many could truly sense the distant fluctuations of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi? With such strength, even without a Treasure, he could have ranked in the top ten of the Little Dragon Tiger List!

"Why wouldn't I go out? Altering one's appearance at our Realm is a trivial matter. I've been touring Yunzhou Prefecture City these past few days and have some questions, which is why I specifically invited Brother Chu here," Jiang Shu said with a smile. "As for this reputation, it's merely empty fame. If Brother Chu were someone who cared about such things, you wouldn't have left Yunzhou Prefecture City to gain experience in the first place."

Over these few days, Jiang Shu had gained a general understanding of the situation in Yunzhou Prefecture City. The noble families constantly promoted their own geniuses. If someone like Chu Xisheng hadn't left Yunzhou Prefecture City, he would have been on the Little Dragon Tiger List and famous much earlier, rather than waiting until now.

Jiang Shu suddenly paused, then continued via voice transmission, "Brother Chu, how much do you know about the Liang Family?"

Taihe Restaurant was, after all, not his own courtyard. Walls have ears; some precautions were necessary.

Jiang Shu looked at Chu Xisheng.

Even prominent households in a county seat would hide their trump cards, let alone the noble families in the Prefecture City. The information he had managed to gather so far was incomplete, yet even this partial knowledge was enough to startle him.

The Liang Family, a five-hundred-year-old noble family in Yunzhou, was founded by a Detachment Realm expert. Currently, they still had one Middle Stage Detachment Realm expert and five Acupoint Passage Realm experts. Liang Tingbo was one of them, and also the only top-grade Alchemist in the Liang Family's direct lineage.

However, to this day, there had been no news of Liang Tingbo's death circulating in Yunzhou Prefecture City. It was most likely concealed by the Liang Family.

If he wanted to obtain the Essence Blood, confronting the Liang Family was unavoidable. Without sufficient understanding, failure would make a second attempt exceptionally difficult.

Therefore, he hadn't hesitated to reveal certain things and had chosen to invite Chu Xisheng. Based on their interactions on the ship, he felt he had a decent read on Chu Xisheng's character. Of course, more importantly, he himself now possessed sufficient standing: twenty-second on the Little Dragon Tiger List, and potentially backed by a top-grade Alchemist. Compared to the noble families, although he might be somewhat weaker, his future prospects were arguably much brighter!

"The Liang Family..." Chu Xisheng paused for a moment as information about them unspooled in his mind. Although he had been away from the commandery city for some time, his understanding of the noble families was definitely far greater than Jiang Shu's.

"I'm not sure which aspect you're interested in, Brother Jiang. But since you asked in such a way, there must be some things you can't conveniently disclose. I'll tell you what I know about the Liang Family's situation; you can take it as a reference."

"Publicly, the Liang Family's strongest expert is at the Middle Stage of the Detachment Realm. However, he actually sustained quite severe injuries some time ago. His current combat strength is likely only around the Early Stage. This information was told to me by an old ancestor in my family and is considered highly confidential, so please don't spread it. A Martial Artist's Martial Arts involves Body Refinement, Qi Refinement, and Spirit Refinement. Generally, by the Detachment Realm, most physical injuries can be healed. The kind of damage that requires continuous treatment and truly impairs someone is an injury to the Spirit."