Chapter 55

"Speaking of which, is he a member of your martial group? You found your first member so quickly."

Su Shiyi took a sip of tea, with a natural grace, and said to Hao Qi, "Yes, after leaving the Blue Shadow Republic, I went through many things and found my first like-minded partner. My journey has been relatively smooth. How about you?"

Hao Qi also took a sip of tea. For some reason, he always felt relaxed and calm in front of Su Shiyi, a feeling that was quite inexplicable.

After meeting Su Shiyi again, she spoke to the people around her. They carefully examined Hao Qi and Zhang Heng for a moment before leaving. Su Shiyi then found a quiet room with Hao Qi and Zhang Heng. Yes, this was a desert nation, but many merchants from the eastern, northern, and even southern regions of the Blue Sea came here, so it was still possible to find a quiet room in this port city.

In the quiet room, Su Shiyi, in her usual manner, brewed a pot of tea and poured it for Hao Qi and Zhang Heng before inquiring about Zhang Heng's information. Hao Qi had nothing to hide and told her that Zhang Heng was a new member of his martial group, though he didn't go into much detail about Zhang Heng.

Su Shiyi greeted Zhang Heng with a bow, and Zhang Heng hurriedly returned the gesture. Su Shiyi then replied, "After you left the Blue Shadow Republic, there were several battles of the Inner Force Realm in the capital. It's said that the Xu family declined, but they didn't completely fall apart. They just had to give up many of their family interests and then lived a peaceful life. I also gained Inner Force after you left."

"What?"

Hao Qi didn't say much, but Zhang Heng exclaimed, "You and Hao Qi were classmates, right? So you're only nineteen? How is that possible? Could you also be a congenital Dao body?"

Su Shiyi looked at Zhang Heng with a slight surprise but didn't mind. She shook her head and said, "No, I'm already twenty, I had my birthday two months ago. Also, I'm not a congenital Dao body. This should be considered... a family secret, which I can't explain in detail. Anyway, not long after you left, I gained Inner Force. I continued to study in the capital of the Blue Shadow Republic because the technology in the eastern region of the Blue Sea is much more advanced than in our northern region. I hope to learn more."

Hao Qi patted Zhang Heng, signaling him to sit down and drink tea. Then Hao Qi asked, "Why did you come to the western Blue Sea? And who were those people earlier?"

Su Shiyi took a sip of tea and looked at the slightly sandy sky outside the quiet room. "They are from my family. I came to the western Blue Sea for family matters... Hao Qi, can I trust you?"

Hao Qi drank the tea in one gulp and said, "What do you think? I still owe you a favor from the bone soup. So, whatever you have to say, just tell me. Even if it goes against my principles, I won't help, and I won't spread it."

Su Shiyi was silent for a moment and then said, "This time, my family sent me, two uncles, and my two brothers... To be honest, my two uncles and two brothers are all in the Inner Force Realm. The family sent us five Inner Force Realm members, and the main purpose is... a relic, a relic of an ancient sect."

"An ancient sect!?"

Hao Qi didn't react much, but Zhang Heng exclaimed again. He then realized it might be impolite and quickly shut up. Hao Qi patted his shoulder and said, "Go on, since you've already been impolite, just say what an ancient sect is."

Zhang Heng looked at Su Shiyi, who was also looking at him. He organized his thoughts and said, "In many documents and ancient books, it is mentioned that in ancient times, I don't know exactly how ancient, but in ancient times, the Seven Seas were interconnected. People traveled between them, and the Seven Seas were not isolated from each other. On these seas, there was a highly developed civilization and culture. It's said that the technology of that time was much more advanced than ours and had already moved beyond the steam engine civilization to the Inner Force civilization. I don't know exactly what kind of Inner Force civilization it was, as the ancient books don't provide much detail, but it was a very advanced civilization and cultural era."

"According to legend, in that era, due to the advancement of civilization, the probability of reaching the Inner Force Realm was very high. Even those unsuitable for martial arts and with poor physical conditions had various ways to compensate, such as the unique pill technology of that civilization, various Inner Force technology instruments, and even certain pills that could allow a near-Inner Force Realm person to directly cross the threshold and enter the Inner Force Realm. The so-called ancient sects are martial groups that inherited the fruits of this civilization. Although... wait, Su Shiyi, did you take such a pill?"

Su Shiyi didn't speak, just quietly drank her tea. Although she didn't confirm it, her lack of denial already said a lot.

Zhang Heng suddenly understood, especially when he connected it to the ancient sect Su Shiyi mentioned earlier. He was almost certain about his guess. He was silent for a moment and continued, "According to legend, the ancient civilization was destroyed for unknown reasons, but humanity did not perish. Some people inherited the technological achievements of that era. To survive the destruction and the harsh conditions afterward, they banded together and formed the first martial groups, the ancient sects. I imagine the technology and culture of the ancient sects were far inferior to the ancient civilization but still surpassed our current level. Miss Su Shiyi, the ancient sect you mentioned earlier refers to what I just said, right?"

Su Shiyi sighed. She looked at Hao Qi with a calm gaze, and seeing his calm look, her heart also became calm. After a long while, she said, "Yes, my family's ancestors, by a stroke of luck, obtained a precious pill formula from an ancient sect. The pill made from this formula can help a near-Inner Force Realm person or a quasi-Inner Force Realm person achieve the Inner Force Realm. It is an unparalleled treasure, a rare gem. Such a pill..."

"So!"

Hao Qi stood up, walked to Su Shiyi, and looked at her, "Why tell us? Why tell us such a thing? You know the consequences if even a tiny bit leaks, right?"

Su Shiyi nodded and lowered her head, "Just as you believe I would tell you, I believe you will keep this secret for me. It's actually very simple, not complicated at all, so don't make it too difficult for yourself."

Hao Qi looked at Su Shiyi for a long time before walking back to his seat with a pout and said, "Then continue, I'm listening."

Su Shiyi nodded and continued, "I only learned about the drawbacks of this pill after taking it and becoming an Inner Force Realm practitioner... Yes, how could there be no drawbacks? If there were no drawbacks, I would find it hard to imagine how the ancient civilization was destroyed and how the ancient sects gradually declined and disappeared..."

"An Inner Force Realm practitioner who takes this pill is weaker than an ordinary Inner Force Realm practitioner. If I have to describe it, even though my family's sword technique is at its peak, and I can even glimpse the realm of simplicity, and I am confident in my combat experience, I am only evenly matched with ordinary Inner Force Realm practitioners. When facing veteran Inner Force Realm practitioners, I feel powerless. This is one of the drawbacks of the pill..."

"The biggest drawback is that once you take this pill and achieve the Inner Force Realm, there is no possibility of further improvement. The quantity, quality, and recovery speed of Inner Force are basically fixed. For me and my family, after taking this pill, there is no longer a distinction between new and veteran Inner Force Realm practitioners because our Inner Force Realm will never improve again."

Su Shiyi said with regret, disappointment, and a touch of self-mockery, "But, this is still an unparalleled treasure. Although I know it's too much to hope for, how many people yearn for the Inner Force Realm and can't achieve it? How many martial artists die in despair and weakness, unable to rest in peace because of the Inner Force Realm? I should be content, but... but..."

Su Shiyi lowered her head and murmured these words.

Hao Qi looked up and suddenly said, "You mentioned earlier that your family came to the western Blue Sea for an ancient sect's relic, right?"

Su Shiyi looked at Hao Qi and nodded. Hao Qi continued, "Is there a pill or technique in this ancient relic that can solve your bottleneck?"

"Yes."

Su Shiyi affirmed, "In the pill formula my ancestor obtained, it is mentioned that the pill I took is called the Jade Muscle Pill. This is only the first part of the pill. The subsequent pill is called the Golden Bone Pill. One internal and one external, only then can the bottleneck of the Jade Muscle Pill be broken, allowing for further improvement. About three years ago, ancient books appeared in the desert of the western Blue Sea. My family received the news a few months ago. The text in these ancient books is the same as the text in the pill formula my ancestor obtained, which is the text of the ancient sect. Moreover, the variations in the text indicate that this ancient sect, even if not the same as the one my ancestor obtained the pill formula from, is definitely closely related. So, even for the slightest possibility, my family sent half of its strength, just for this slight possibility..."

"I understand."

Hao Qi stood up again, this time with a very serious expression. He bowed to Su Shiyi and said, "The favor of the bone soup has not been repaid. I am willing to repay the promise I made back then..."

"I and my martial group are willing to help you and your family find and enter the ancient sect's relic. This journey, no matter the outcome, I will have no regrets. The promise I made back then will be repaid today. Miss Su Shiyi, what do you think?"

Su Shiyi was stunned, looking at Hao Qi's serious expression and Zhang Heng, who also stood and bowed beside him. She stared blankly for a long time before breaking into a smile, a smile as beautiful as a flower.

"Good."

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