Realm-Hopping Martial Master

"This saber formation, why does it feel so familiar... This, this is the Small Five Elements Saber Formation from the county city auction! Could it be, the mysterious buyer on the second floor was none other than Young Master Jiang Shu!"

Aboard the enormous ship, martial artists from Tianqing County, belatedly aware, exclaimed in alarm.

The scenes from the auction were replaying in their minds.

Fifty Qi Gathering Pills!

The Small Five Elements Saber Formation!

"Only those in the Acupoint Passage Realm can become Top-grade Alchemists. Young Master Jiang Shu is currently in the Blood Exchange Realm, so naturally, he cannot be a Top-grade Alchemist. Therefore, there's only one possibility: he knows a Top-grade Alchemist, and has one who's willing to continually perform Alchemy for him. Such a background is not something a martial artist from a small county could possess!"

"He's hidden too deep. A Top-grade Alchemist is an existence that no martial artist in the Acupoint Passage Realm would want to offend. Just mentioning the name of a Top-grade Alchemist is enough to deter all the big clans of any prefectural city, and even the noble families would treat them with the utmost courtesy. If Young Master Jiang Shu had revealed his hand earlier, Zhao Zhongming wouldn't have dared to come seeking a life-and-death duel!"

"No, no, no, you're only seeing the surface. If Young Master Jiang Shu had shown his hand, how could he have slain Zhao Zhongming today? I reckon that in just a few days, the Zhao Family of Yongning County will be wiped out. I heard before that the Zhao Family was the leading clan in Yongning County. But no matter how powerful the clan is, can it compare to a Top-grade Alchemist? Besides, their family's most famous and most talented genius, Zhao Zhongming, is already dead. Not only will no one stand up for the Zhao Family, some will even kick them while they're down to curry favor with Young Master Jiang Shu."

"This battle has been too shocking! Ranked twenty-second, Zhao Zhongming actually didn't manage to force out Young Master Jiang Shu's true trump card. Young Master Jiang's real strength could even propel him directly into the top ten of the Little Dragon Tiger List."

"Not just that, if he were to fully unleash his Treasure Patterns, he might even have had a chance to break into the top five, but probably no higher than that. After all, the few monsters at the top are definitely holding back their own trump cards. Each of them, when faced with strong Acupoint Passage Realm opponents, has a means to fight for his life or flee."

The colossal ship was gradually approaching the dock of the prefectural city.

Vice President Jiang, carrying Jiang Shu's baggage, was ecstatic. He couldn't believe that in a duel certain to end in death, Jiang Shu could win so effortlessly! An absolute genius! If only Jiang Shu wasn't from Tianqing County! That damned Su Mingchun!

Cursing bitterly in his heart and irritated by the slow speed of the huge ship, Vice President Jiang could not restrain himself any longer— he leaped from the ship, chasing over the waves.

"Young Master Jiang, your baggage is here. Since this is your first visit to the prefectural city and you're not familiar with it, should I take you around first, or go directly to the Danxia Chamber of Commerce..." Vice President Jiang said with a low chuckle.

Previously, he thought Jiang Shu was a genius, alright, but like him, Jiang Shu was also just in the Blood Exchange Realm; there was no need to be so obsequious. But now, Jiang Shu had reached the twenty-second position on the Little Dragon Tiger List and had even gotten his hands on a repaired incomplete Treasure. With such combat power, although not quite on par with a martial artist in the Acupoint Passage Realm, he wasn't far off. What's wrong with a bit of flattery!

"Vice President Jiang, you are too kind. I can carry my own baggage. However, I plan to familiarize myself with the prefectural city first. When the opportunity arises, I will visit the Danxia Chamber of Commerce on my own," Jiang Shu said. "I'm truly grateful for your company and guidance along this journey, Vice President Jiang. I will surely keep it in mind." He cupped his fists in thanks and politely declined the Vice President's invitation.

He couldn't forget that the Danxia Chamber of Commerce was currently dominated by the Great Elder's faction. Going there after killing their genius might not end well. It was better to wait calmly for the Chamber President to return. In the meantime, he could focus on cultivating his Four Symbols Internal Energy; if he could successfully Break Limit... Among those in the same realm, if he was present, who would dare claim invincibility? Who would dare claim to be undefeated?

Retrieving his package, he took a step forward and entered the prefectural city.

Countless martial artists looked up at that departing figure with longing, shock, and admiration.

「Years later, the memory was still vivid.」

...

「Danxia Chamber of Commerce Headquarters.」

The news of the life-and-death battle outside the prefectural city had long since reached here.

"Trash! Trash!"

A finely-crafted porcelain teacup was smashed to the ground by an elder who had always looked after Zhao Zhongming, tea spilling in all directions.

His face was grim, his hand clenched tightly, and the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi around him began to rage uncontrollably.

The other elders nearby and the attendants outside all turned toward the Great Elder, waiting for further instructions.

Zhao Zhongming was not just any genius. The Chamber of Commerce had invested countless Martial Arts resources into getting him where he was. His death today meant that all the past resources were like water flowing east, never to be recovered! Jiang Shu must take some responsibility. Moreover, if they didn't stand up for Zhao Zhongming, how could they expect the plethora of geniuses who had joined them to keep looking up to them?

"The Hundred Dynasties War is upon us; let's not allow this issue to cause unnecessary complications," the Great Elder finally spoke slowly from his soft jade seat.

As a Detachment Realm expert who had lived in the Da Jing Dynasty for over a hundred years, he knew all too well how seriously the imperial court took each Hundred Dynasties War. If Jiang Shu had merely managed to kill Zhao Zhongming after going to great lengths, with Chamber President Qiao Hong absent, he had a hundred ways to ensure that this promising young genius would be confined to the prefectural city, destined to reach merely the Acupoint Passage Realm at most in his lifetime. But now, after this battle, the story would surely reach the Emperor's ears. With such Martial Arts Talent, even if Jiang Shu could not participate in the Hundred Dynasties War in two years, he could make preparations to shine in the one twelve years later.