’The Central Yellow Sect wants to kill him because of what happened with Yang Daohan. That’s why, after hunting me, Wang Hongzu went looking for trouble with him.’
’So, it seems he also ran into this disaster because of me. But it was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. With experts like Duan Chenzhou and Gu Baichuan at the Perfection of the Power Stage, even Wang Hongzu was bound to fall.’
’I don’t know Duan Chenzhou well, but that kid knows my apprentice from before, and he certainly put in the effort this time...’
Han Ying lowered his gaze and suddenly spoke.
"The injuries on my body are from Wang Hongzu. It’s because I was enlightened by that Master Ji and defected from the Central Yellow Sect."
"It was only after hearing that Wang Hongzu had died at their hands that, on his suggestion, I came to deliver this achievement to you."
"Send me back to Jiangyin Prefecture. My Master, and that important person..."
"I will give them an accounting."
Huh?
’You were sent by that kid Ji Xiu, too?’
Gu Baichuan stared blankly for a moment. For the first time, he truly understood the saying about good fortune falling right into your lap.
’Returning the favor, is he...’
’What a proper kid!’
’But that Nourishing Stance Bow Skill is just a family technique, nothing too precious. I passed it to him as a favor to Duan Chenzhou, with no intention of getting anything in return.’
’But after this... I’m definitely the one who owes a favor.’
’Hsss, what does that kid need?’
Gu Baichuan frowned. He recalled Duan Chenzhou once mentioning the Mortal Transformation: Soaring Dragon Gate technique. Then he thought about Ji Xiu’s current stage—already practicing the third volume, True Flood Dragon Transformation—and a headache began to form.
’He needs Seventh-Grade Secret Medicine and Demon Pill Essence to continue refining and quenching his Golden Bones...’
’I mean, I could understand if it were the scions of noble houses in Xuanjing practicing such a Dharma Gate.’
’But out here in the boondocks? Good luck finding the resources needed to master it!’
’Even in Jiangyin Prefecture, I’d say it’s a long shot.’
’But these favors are the hardest to repay. The kid has given me so much... I can’t just do nothing in return.’
’Hmm... some time ago, my department granted me a Seventh-Grade Secret Medicine, personally refined by a Qi Dao Pill Master.’
’Unlike the Seventh-Grade Pills from ordinary Pill Masters, which are only suitable for Skin Refining...’
’This one is an all-purpose medicinal powder that can break through shackles. It can be absorbed by the Flesh, Bone, Skin, and Membrane for cultivation. It’s called Jade Dew Medicinal Powder, and its main ingredient is dust ground from the roots and scraps of an Earth Treasure. It’s incredibly precious.’
’It’s just that my own Flesh, Bone, Skin, and Membrane are already fully tempered, so I no longer need it. I was planning to secretly sell it off for some cash, but now...’
’Sigh.’
’I’ll just have to send it to the kid.’
’I hope he can truly forge the Twenty-four True Flood Dragon Bones. After all, the Bone Barrier is of paramount importance. This volume of Mortal Transformation: Soaring Dragon Gate gets right to the heart of the matter, something few other Bone Tempering Techniques ever touch upon.’
’It would be a true shame if he failed to master it.’
The Second Great Limit of the human body, the Flesh Secret Treasure known as Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, was said to grant a body as mighty as a Dragon Elephant and the power of Blood-Melting Gold.
To master it, one had to refine their internal organs from within and their entire physical form—bones, flesh, and skin—from without!
And such Dharma Gates were the rarest of treasures, the most secret of Secret Inheritances.
How could an ordinary person ever hope to lay eyes on a Secret Manual capable of breaking a Body Great Limit?
The First Great Limit, Bone Marrow, was perhaps more straightforward and easier to understand, which was why more Foundation Establishment Techniques for it existed in the world.
But the further one progressed, the rarer the Secret Techniques for breaking the Great Limits became, and the disparity between them grew more pronounced.
According to Duan Chenzhou, the True Flood Dragon Transformation—which involved opening all twenty-four sections of the Spinal Dragon and transforming the internal organs, limbs, and torso...
...was considered a top-tier method even among the Secret Manuals that could break the Second Great Limit.
As Gu Baichuan finished his thoughts, he was just about to say something.
But Han Ying held up a sheet of paper. His face was pale as he coughed, then spoke again.
"Where is the County Magistrate of Anning County?"
"For Ji Xiu’s sake..."
"I’ll give him—and you—another shared achievement."
"This paper... lists all the gangs and wealthy families in Anning County I know of who have colluded with the Central Yellow Sect..."
’It’s not over? There’s more to be gained?!’
...
Zhao Jiu, his clothes in disarray, was followed by his old servant, Elder Liang. He leaned over his desk, intently studying the still-wet ink on the paper.
"Master Jiu, didn’t you want to go to the Prefecture City to obtain a Prefecture Official post, work in the prefecture government, and serve the officials there?"
"Before, we didn’t have a chance. We had to rely on the clan to pull strings. But things are different now! Now you have a great achievement to your name!"
"The Great Xuan has always been extremely strict about the proselytizing of Divine Beings. Of all the ’Outer Daos,’ it is the most stringently suppressed."
"If you manage to destroy the Central Yellow Sect’s Spirit Summoning and Saint Manifestation Grand General Altar’s influence in Anning in one fell swoop..."
"...you can get transferred back ahead of schedule on your own merit!"
Elder Liang rubbed his hands together, his face alight with excitement.
Zhao Jiu, for his part, leaned against the desk. His face flushed red, his heart pounding with excitement. Sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes, he slammed a fist on the table—THUMP!—and declared with conviction:
"Elder Liang, from this day forward, Ji Xiu... is this magistrate’s own brother from another mother!"
Elder Liang hesitated, "Uh..."
"You can’t do that, Master Jiu. If you two are brothers, then what about our family’s Fifth Master, who caused him so much trouble back then...?"
Zhao Jiu’s eyes widened, and he planted his hands on his hips.
"He’s a brother in name only! I’ve never even met the man! We don’t even have the same mother, how can you compare the two?"
’Seriously?’
’Young Master, your double standards are truly something else. When there’s a benefit to be had, you have no problem casting aside your dignity.’
’Truly worthy of being a top-tier loafer from the streets of the Prefecture City.’
Elder Liang grumbled to himself.
Meanwhile, Zhao Jiu paced back and forth in the candlelight, muttering to himself.
"Hmm..."
"Before, I was acting out of respect for Duan Chenzhou, and because of this kid’s future prospects."