Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Eighth Grade Great Cultivation
Su Yan looked at Xu Guang with a hint of allure in her eyes, a charm that couldn’t be easily described to others.
Looking closely at Xu Guang, it was apparent that he wasn’t exactly a stunningly handsome man. Perhaps due to his experiences and background, his skin was slightly dark, carrying a masculine ruggedness. His stature was tall, and upon close inspection of his features, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, his appearance was quite impressive.
Xu Guang couldn’t imagine that Su Yan would think of so many things at this moment. He was surprised by what she said.
Such a grand gesture, I really can’t refuse it.
Is this the benefit of having a good persona in ancient times?
He knew that by helping Liu Yu, many people would be eager to send him money, just like Tie Kuang.
Never expected Su Yan to also show up.
After some thought, he said softly, "I am a man of the Iron Armor Sect..."
"But you didn’t grow up in the Iron Armor Sect, not to mention, the affairs of the Zhu Family are not unrelated to the Iron Armor Sect. Furthermore, Dharma Protector Xu is well aware that the Iron Armor Sect values the Great Beast, while I value you as a person!"
Su Yan interrupted.
Great Beasts are common, but few in the world can tame them.
Upon hearing this, Xu Guang lifted his head. He had some guesses before about why Zhu Huai chose that time to kill Zhu Fu, but now...
After a brief silence, Xu Guang spoke, "Recently, I have been studying pharmacology and need some precious medicinal herbs. I ask the Workshop Master for help."
The request was simple.
Su Yan immediately agreed.
In her view, as long as something could be solved with money, it wasn’t a big issue.
More importantly, Xu Guang agreed.
"I didn’t expect Dharma Protector Xu to have such skills. In that case, our Black Market can absorb all the elixirs you refine."
As she spoke, Su Yan clapped her hands, and a burly man produced something already prepared.
A box full of gold, worth at least three thousand taels of silver.
"Consider this a token of our intentions and the start of our cooperation. Dharma Protector Xu, do not refuse."
It was only at this moment that Xu Guang felt relieved. The woman before him genuinely seemed to want to collaborate.
"Turn this money into the medicines I need."
Su Yan readily agreed, although she thought Xu Guang was a bit hasty in using precious herbs for practice just after starting pharmacology.
But since this money was meant to win over Xu Guang, how it was used was up to him.
"Tomorrow, I will personally deliver them to Dharma Protector Xu. You won’t refuse a visit from me, will you?"
Su Yan’s tone was soft and her interpersonal skills were impressive. Despite it being only their second meeting, she made Xu Guang feel as if they had known each other for a long time.
Xu Guang shook his head, dispelling any romantic notions from his mind. He marveled at how she managed such a large Black Market enterprise.
"I wouldn’t dare trouble the Workshop Master. Let’s agree on a place, and I’ll retrieve it myself to avoid straining relations between the Iron Armor Sect and the Workshop Master because of me."
"Dharma Protector Xu thinks things through well."
...
Midnight.
Xu Guang poured a Ginseng Pill from a porcelain bottle and slowly chewed it in his mouth.
Tie Kuang, trying to win him over, had given him three centennial ginsengs, all of which he had traded with Fang Chengche for Eighth Grade Ginseng Pills for him and General Wei to use.
Fang Cheng appreciated his assistance to the Liu Family and gave him eighty pills, essentially taking a loss.
After all, although a furnace could produce thirty pills, their potency was quite intense, and there was no guarantee of consistent success each time.
Helping the Liu Family once established his persona, bringing both visible and invisible benefits, which greatly benefitted Xu Guang, even though his initial aim was merely to help Liu Yu.
These days, he felt he had accumulated enough to attempt breaking through to the Eighth Grade Great Practice.
Opening the panel.
[Name: Xu Guang]
[Current Job: 1. beggar Lv5 (1869/600). 2. Level 5 Elephant Envoy (1869/600). 3. Martial Artist Lv5 (1869/600). 4. Pharmacist Lv2 (1869/300)]
[Professional Talent: Horizontal Pressure (When facing martial artists below your realm, it creates a horizontal pressure effect, increasing your momentum and enhancing blood Qi recovery speed)]
[Professional Skills: Iron Pine Unyielding Skill LvMax, White Crane Longevity Technique Lv4 (300/500), White Crane Ladder Cloud Soaring Lv4 (1/500)]
[Next job transfer requires Pharmacist Lv5 or higher]
White Crane Longevity Technique - Lv5!
In a daze, Xu Guang transformed into a crane!
His meridians and bones were illuminated by blood Qi, faintly emitting a blood-red glow, the light radiating through his body as his tendons and bones continued to make creaking stretching sounds, like bowstrings about to break through their limits.
Steel tendons and iron bones, copper skin and jade flesh.
From his entire body, sound resonated like thunder, like a tiger’s roar spreading through his tendons and bones, appearing quite loud under the night.
This was almost a complete reconstruction of his tendons and bones.
As two Bone-Forging Pills went down his throat!
Eighth Grade Great Practice, achieved!
With a bang.
A shadow pushed open the door, a figure clad in night attire, blending almost seamlessly into the night using the White Cloud Ladder Cloud Soaring technique.
This moonless night was shrouded in darkness.
Xu Guang, dressed in night attire, resembled a bat spreading its wings as he swiftly flew over rooftops, the fragile tiles under his feet seemingly becoming remarkably sturdy, moving silently.
A moth perched on a rooftop, diligently searching for light.
The shadow passed over its body, and only after a long moment did the moth dazedly take flight, as if unaware of what had just occurred.
Covering a distance of several miles, Xu Guang hadn’t walked a single step on the ground.
He finally landed on a rooftop adorned with carvings of Exorcism Beasts.
The large courtyard in the distance was where Wang Family’s young master Wang Chong resided.
After several days of tracking, Xu Guang had some understanding of this person. Like in ordinary affluent families, Wang Chong had married early, and his wife was a young lady from the Wei Family.
In the courtyard, several snot-nosed children were running about, with some robust women chasing after them, constantly calling out.
On the training ground separated by a wall, Wang Chong was sparring in martial arts with someone.
Xu Guang frowned. After observing for several days, he concluded that Wang Chong likely didn’t know the secret of the turtle shell.
The turtle shell fragment hanging around his neck seemed more like a gift from someone important to Wang Chong.
Thinking it over, Xu Guang decided not to continue observing Wang Chong and quietly turned to leave the Wang Family.
Confirming that Wang Chong didn’t know the secret of the turtle shell meant there was no more need for surveillance. He would simply seize the turtle shell when Wang Chong was alone.
"Xiao Chong, don’t overexert yourself in cultivation, you might harm yourself."
The boxer training with Wang Chong spoke with concern.
Wang Chong wore a look of anger.
"I don’t want to... but when I think about that day... I just can’t swallow this anger!"
"That Xu Guang, using a beast, snatched away the Bone-Forging Pills my father paid a hefty price for. If I don’t avenge this, I swear I’m not human!"
"I will definitely kill him!"
The boxer’s silence was preferable; speaking only incited Wang Chong’s stormy anger.
Even though this anger wasn’t directed at him.
Hearing this, he merely sighed.
Faced with Xu Guang, who was always in the company of that Great Beast, he was at a loss too.
"The master has already arranged for someone to watch him. Once Xu Guang is alone, they’ll capture him and let you have your revenge."
Hearing this, Xu Guang’s eyes narrowed.
...
The next day, Xu Guang went as usual to the Martial Arts Academy to sign in with the group of young children.
"Have you all been slacking in practicing lately? Some say the sleepiness of spring and the fatigue of autumn make them reluctant to practice. I ask you, is that a reason?"
"With my poor talent, I can still take on dozens of you at once. Some of you might think, one day I’ll catch up to him and teach him a lesson. Tell me, how many of you think like that?"
"Don’t overemphasize talent; it will only distort the value of your own effort and dedication."
As usual, he started with a motivational effort, trying to inspire the children’s fighting spirit.
It must be said, the children were rather naive. Despite having gone through this several times, there were still some who fell for his rhetoric.
Experience +75.
Du Shizhen, this child, was truly sincere. In two months, he’d provided Xu Guang with nearly a thousand experience points.
Nowadays, Xu Guang increasingly believed that this child’s future was bound to be limitless.
"Shizhen, come to my house for a meal later."
Seeing Du Shizhen isolated, Xu Guang thought for a moment and spoke.
This child came from a challenging background and was very young, so being ostracized was normal.
Du Shizhen blushed, trying to refuse.
But then Han Song quickly walked in from outside, "Dharma Protector Xu, there’s been an incident outside."