CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: POWER SURGE!

"Apart from the Zhang Family we encountered tonight, which other noble families do you know of?"

Jiang Shi continued to ask.

"There are the Wang Family of Luyang, the Zhao Family of Huazhou, the Cui Family of Pingzhou, and the Long Family of Kunshan."

Zhao Houcai said.

"So many?"

Jiang Shi pondered and said, "Since the noble families are already so powerful, why haven’t they competed for the throne to become emperor themselves?"

"Being an emperor is not that easy. Even the strongest dynasty has its decline, yet noble families never fade away. They retreat to the background, controlling the winds and clouds of the world. Whether a dynasty rises or falls, they gain benefits. Who would want to step out and compete for the throne?"

Zhao Houcai replied.

"It makes sense. I didn’t expect your insight to be quite comprehensive."

Jiang Shi nodded.

"You’re too kind, young brother."

Zhao Houcai smiled awkwardly.

"You mentioned how strong the top experts of these noble families are. Do they have those in the Blood Exchange Realm?"

Jiang Shi further inquired.

"Undoubtedly, they definitely do. Remember, all local generals are Martial Saints starting from the Second Realm, let alone noble families."

Zhao Houcai spoke.

"Oh? Local generals are people of the Second Realm of Martial Saints?"

Jiang Shi raised his eyebrows.

Martial Saints progress three steps up, and each step is a leap to the heavens, considered the peak for mortals.

Reaching the Third Realm, any further advancement requires undergoing a Blood Exchange; otherwise, one will forever stay at that level.

"Indeed, this is also why the Great Xuan Dynasty has declined over the years. During its prime, all local generals had cultivation at the Martial Saint Peak!"

Zhao Houcai continued.

Otherwise, the Great Xuan Dynasty couldn’t have suppressed the Jianghu for so many years.

Even today, in a severely weakened state, when the Court sends out an order, all major sects must comply without reward.

This demonstrates the fear of sects towards the Court.

"Hmm, then does the Jianghu Sect in Fengzhou Land have Martial Saints?"

Jiang Shi asked.

"Well... not many, from what I know. It seems only Zen Master Wu Hui of White Cloud Zen Temple, Daoist Qing Song of Wuliang Daoist Temple, and Sect Leader Yue of Wushan Sect possess Martial Saint cultivation. Yet, Zen Master Wu Hui and Daoist Qing Song have not been active in Jianghu for years; they are both almost over three hundred years old. It’s Sect Leader Yue who occasionally descends from the mountain."

Zhao Houcai pondered.

"That’s fine then."

Jiang Shi relaxed.

It seems Fengzhou Land is ultimately a small place.

The vast Jianghu has only three old Martial Saints.

"When talking about the military, there are several Martial Saints in the army: General Yuan Kaitai of Fengzhou Army and Left Road Marshal Lu Zhongshan of Yi Ming Army, among others unknown to us."

Zhao Houcai said.

Jiang Shi nodded slightly.

Suddenly, he felt the heat surge within his body once again, furrowed his brows tightly, immediately closed his eyes, and started to operate his power within his body for refinement.

Zhao Houcai observed Jiang Shi furrowing and closing his eyes; he promptly shut his mouth and dared not continue speaking.

Thus, time passed.

Zhao Houcai and his companions remained sleepless and anxious throughout the night.

Until the morning sun rose, Jiang Shi opened his eyes again, exhaled deeply, his eyes glimmered, feeling exceptionally refreshed.

He immediately opened his interface to check.

Name: Jiang Shi

Cultivation: Entering Strength Fourth Level

Cultivation Technique: Entry-level True Martial Gang Force

Martial Technique: Dragon-Breaking Spear (Second Realm), Shadow-Following Body Technique (First Realm), Bursting Flower Rain (First Realm), Iron Stone Body (Fourth Realm), Red Sun Body Refining Technique (Perfection)

Talent: Dragon Elephant (15,400 pounds)

Reputation Value: 6,480 (Reputation Value accumulated to 10,000 can unlock the next talent)

···

"My Reputation Value has increased again. Besides, the Red Sun Body Refining Technique reached Perfection, and the Iron Stone Body advanced to the Fourth Realm. This Blood Ginseng is unexpectedly potent."

Jiang Shi thought in amazement.

Within just one night, the Red Sun Body Refining Technique, which had not reached perfection, achieved perfection, and Iron Stone Body advanced from the Third Realm to the Fourth Realm.

Moreover, his strength jumped from the previous 12,500 pounds to 15,400 pounds.

He gained an additional 2,900 pounds.

Once he operates the Red Sun Body Refining Technique to increase by another fifty percent, it amounts to a total strength of approximately 23,100 pounds.

Hiss!

He gasped directly in surprise.

Over twenty thousand pounds of power—who can withstand it?

"Hahaha..."

Suddenly, Jiang Shi laughed aloud, stood up from his seat, and said, "Elder Zhao, thank you for your guidance last night. I shall take my leave now."

He picked up his Wolf Fang Club and clothes beside him, strode out of the temple, and quickly mounted his steed, galloping away.

Zhao Houcai and the two young men beside him immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Spending a whole night with Jiang Shi, it was impossible not to be afraid.

"This person’s power is so strange... could it be that he is also from a Noble Family?"

Zhao Houcai’s expression changed as he said, "Hate Heaven for No Handle, now I understand there’s a reason this man calls himself that. Given some time, he will likely become famous throughout the world."

···

Riding back on horseback.

Soon, Jiang Shi returned to the village again.

As soon as he returned, the village chief, Liu Feng, quickly came over, showing a broad smile and said, "Brother Jiang, how did it go with this transaction?"

"The people over there were pretty decent, spoke nicely and were talented. As I was leaving, they insisted on giving me two big Blood Ginsengs and several thousand silver notes, refusing wasn’t an option. I plan to go again for future transactions."

Jiang Shi dismounted and laughed.

The village chief looked perplexed.

Two big Blood Ginsengs were given when he left?

Such a treasure like Blood Ginseng can be given away so casually?

But he didn’t ask more questions and quickly led the horse away.

Once back in the room, Jiang Shi first prepared food, and after wolfing down a meal, he took out the remaining Blood Ginseng, gritting his teeth against the bitterness, and forced it into his mouth.

Knowing how miraculous this item was, no matter how bad it tasted, he had to swallow it by force.

···

As expected.

The entire Fengzhou Martial Arts was indeed significantly shaken.

The news spread rapidly, in just two days various sects were in an uproar, everyone was stunned.

They simply couldn’t believe it.

In the martial gathering hosted by the Luoxia Sword Sect, a young man appeared out of nowhere, dominating all sides, and no one could stop him.

The elders and deputy sect leaders of various sects all died tragically, and the Luoxia Sword Sect, which had a heritage of hundreds of years, was destroyed in a day, leaving everyone scattered like stray monkeys.

This result left many people in Jianghu completely bewildered.

They just couldn’t imagine how such a thing could suddenly happen?

When the news reached the Zhang Family, they were infuriated and quickly dispatched experts to investigate the situation that night.

At this moment.

Inside the ruined Luoxia Sword Sect.

Two elderly men dressed in snow-white robes stood side by side, their faces solemn, silently watching the devastated Luoxia Sword Sect, with a terrifying invisible aura swirling around them, like two terrifying humanoid demon beasts.

Before them, the corpses of Jianghu people were scattered, uncollected until now.

As for their two Zhang Family clansmen, they had long since turned into charred remains, burnt to a gruesome state.

"Bastard!"

One elder spoke in a grim tone, shouting angrily, as a powerful aura swept the area, sending stones and sand swirling with a whooshing sound.

"Dare to offend my Zhang Family, whoever you are, I will grind your bones to dust!"

"Let’s go, and ask others who exactly did this?"

The other elder spoke coldly.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Their bodies, like shifting form and shadow, lightly flickered, leaving multiple afterimages as they appeared at the gate, then flickered again, and in an instant, appeared dozens of meters away.

Thus, they continuously flickered and disappeared in no time.

···

Time passed.

In the mountain village.

Jiang Shi frowned, feeling the tingling sensations in his body for several consecutive days, and noticed his Reputation Value was increasing almost daily.

Sometimes by 20 points, sometimes by 50 points, and sometimes by 80...

This made him secretly amazed.

This was probably because of the bloody incident he caused at the Luoxia Sword Sect spreading around.

For several consecutive days, the uproar hadn’t subsided.

"The Reputation Value now has reached 7000 points, just 3000 points more to unlock the next talent, truly exciting."

Jiang Shi’s eyes flashed.

Of course, he hadn’t been idle these days, diligently cultivating all along.

With the ingestion of the second Blood Ginseng and some Entering Strength Pills, his power increased rapidly once again.

Cultivation: Entering Strength Sixth Level!

Power: 17,600 pounds!

This is still in a normal state; if he used the Red Sun Body Refining Technique, it would be even more amazing.

"My Iron Stone Body also reached the Fifth Realm with the help of the Blood Ginseng. It won’t be long before it’s fully perfected."

Jiang Shi muttered to himself.

He smiled, deciding to keep a low profile in the village for a few more days.

···

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