Chapter 40

Zhuang Wudao was secretly amazed, never expecting that the Beiting family would have such extraordinary abilities.

However, for a Golden Core cultivator to take someone as a personal disciple, Beiting Wan'er's talent must be extremely outstanding. If it weren't for her need to cultivate the 'Armor-Piercing Sharp Finger' to the First Heaven realm and her injuries, she would have already entered the Qi Condensation realm.

It's no wonder this girl was chosen as the next head of the Beiting family. A disciple of a Golden Core cultivator has at least the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment realm.

Currently, in the Eastern Wu Kingdom, there are only nine Foundation Establishment cultivators in total. In Yuecheng, only the Southern General is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He is stationed here to guard against the beast tide. The power of the Southern General's residence is even more prominent than that of the Beiting family.

If Beiting Wan'er can safely live for a few decades and then enter the Foundation Establishment realm, the Beiting family of Yuecheng will have at least two hundred years of prosperity.

The mutual support mentioned by Beiting Wan'er is all superficial; she is likely to use me more. However, since her teacher is a Golden Core ancestor, she must be a true disciple in the sect. With their support, I won't be isolated in the Lichen Sect.

Where there are people, there will be conflicts and struggles. I never thought the Lichen Sect would be a monolithic, harmonious place.

"Miss's favor, I will do my best!"

Zhuang Wudao thought for a moment and felt it was not quite right. This isn't something I can achieve just by trying my best. If I can suppress the person from the Guyue family, that would be fine. If I can't, without the protection of the Beiting family, the entire Sword Robe Hall might face a dire situation. I must win this battle against the Guyue family's disciple!

Thinking to this point, his tone changed, becoming resolute and determined, with a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes.

"On the day of the competition, I will not let you down!"

Beiting Wan'er immediately understood, her smile growing wider: "Senior Brother Wudao, you are very smart. I don't need to worry about you. This is also for your own future. You should strive for it. As long as you do your best, even if you don't succeed, Beiting Wan'er will still be very grateful. If you want to pursue the Daoist path in the future, I will ask my master to make an exception and take care of you."

She seemed to be still concerned and added before leaving: "By the way! It's best if you don't go out recently. According to my information, the person from the Guyue family is already investigating your background. They probably know about our meeting a few days ago. The Beiting family is known for its ruthless methods. They might become wary of you and take action. This large courtyard has two Qi Condensation cultivators and a spirit array for alerts, so it should be safe for now. In a few days, another Qi Condensation Eighth Level elder from our family will return to Yuecheng. I will have him guard you."

Zhuang Wudao laughed, as he had been too busy practicing in his dreams to have time to go out.

However, seeing Beiting Wan'er's serious expression, he nodded solemnly, indicating that he understood.

After the two left, Zhuang Wudao fell into deep thought. He was worried about the situation of the Sword Robe Hall and found it strange. It was strange that Beiting Wan'er, being favored by a Golden Core ancestor and with a family that has been prosperous for a long time, should not fear the Guyue family's retaliation. Why is she so concerned about this competition, trying to push the Guyue family out? What is the hidden agenda?

Feeling heavy-hearted, Zhuang Wudao could only temporarily set aside his doubts and took out the Blood Essence Pill that Beiting Wan'er had given him twenty days ago.

For these twenty days, he had not thought of using the pill. As the saying goes, no reward without merit. If Qin Feng and the Beiting family couldn't reach an agreement, he planned to return all the gifts.

Now that the agreement has been reached, he can use the Blood Essence Pill. According to Yun'er, by adding a few herbs, the properties of the Blood Essence Pill can be adjusted to stimulate his bloodline potential without generating true essence in his body.

He can use the Blood Essence Pill to fully open the meridians in his arms, completing the body-strengthening method of the Great Boulder Hand.

In the future, when he uses this palm technique, he can fully unleash its power, reaching the First Heaven realm in just a few days!

However, the herbs mentioned by Yun'er, though not rare, cannot be found in ordinary pharmacies. He would have to go to the two 'Pill Towers' in Yuecheng to buy them.

But just as he was about to step out, he remembered Beiting Wan'er's instructions. He slapped his forehead and laughed bitterly.

It seems he would have to ask Ma Yuan and Lin Han to do it for him. Lin Han is somewhat reliable, but Ma Yuan is a greedy person. If my money goes through his hands, losing half of it would be considered lucky.

※※※※

Almost at the same time, in a large residence covering sixty acres in the northern city. A middle-aged man in his forties, slightly plump, was looking at a young man lying on the bed with a mix of sorrow and anger.

The young man was Zhuang Tong, and the middle-aged man was the head of the northern city's Zhuang family, Zhuang Xun. He was sad for his misfortune and angry at his lack of talent.

"Just now, I invited the last famous doctor in Yuecheng. He said your ankle is completely shattered. To be able to keep your leg without being crippled is because the other party didn't truly intend to harm you. To recover in three months is a delusion. Unless a Foundation Establishment cultivator helps you to mend your bones and connect your meridians."

Zhuang Tong's face turned pale. This was just a redundant statement! The only Foundation Establishment cultivator in Yuecheng is the Southern General. To invite this high-ranking official, even the first wealthy family in Yuecheng, the Beiting family, wouldn't have the face to do so.

If our family could invite him, why would we need to invite these mediocre doctors?

"What about the competition in three months? I can only watch Zhuang Wudao live freely?"

"What more do you want?"

Zhuang Xun's anger grew: "Just focus on your martial arts in the academy. Even if you stay at home every day, I won't say anything! Why do you have to pick on Zhuang Wudao? He is a reckless person who doesn't care about his life. You, Zhuang Tong, are like porcelain. No matter what, you will be the one to suffer! Who gave you the power to spend so much money to buy those Flame Wind Boots? Five hundred gold taels, are you crazy? I told you, don't show off your wealth! There are so many eyes on our family in Yuecheng. Do you want to destroy our family?"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. Zhuang Xun thought of the difficulties over the years and felt dizzy. To prevent the jealousy of other noble families in the city, he had never dared to expand the family's strength. With the money, he could only hide it and not hire protectors. With insufficient manpower, they were constantly under threat. If not for their connections with the Guyue family and the Southern General's residence, the Zhuang family's business would have been swallowed long ago.

Zhuang Tong's breath caught, and he clenched his fists: "I also wanted to contribute to the family. My talent is close to the third rank. If I can become the top disciple and join the Lichen Sect, there is at least a seventy percent chance of becoming a true disciple. At that time, which family in Yuecheng would dare to touch our family? Even if we show off our wealth, so what? Do you think those people with ulterior motives don't know our family's financial situation?"

Zhuang Xun laughed in anger: "Are you really thinking about the family, or are you just不服这口气 (unwilling to lose face)? You are always competitive, but you can't stand seeing a ruffian like Zhuang Wudao above you?"

Seeing Zhuang Tong about to argue, Zhuang Xun didn't want to waste words and waved his sleeve: "You don't need to think about the Lichen Sect's competition. The situation has changed, and you probably won't have a chance to win. This year, stay at home and recover. I will plan to send you to Hanguang Mountain. It is also a major sect in the southeast!"

"Hanguang Mountain? How can it compare to the Lichen Sect? Please reconsider, Father. Even if I go to Hanguang Mountain, it won't benefit the family!"

Zhuang Tong was in a panic. The Lichen Sect is the second largest sect in the southern sky, dominating the southeast and overseeing a hundred countries. It has a history of countless years and is very powerful.

Hanguang Mountain, however, was only established two hundred years ago by a group of scattered cultivators. It is said to be rife with internal strife. Disciples often die at the hands of their own people rather than their enemies.

At the very least, it should be the Yishan Sect. It is also a major sect with the qualifications to challenge the Lichen Sect's position. Especially in Yuecheng, the Yishan Sect's influence is the strongest. Almost all the noble families in Yuecheng are under the protection of the Yishan Sect.

"Besides Hanguang Mountain, where else can you go? It's better than nothing!"

Zhuang Xun was exhausted and disheartened, waving his sleeve to make the decision. With Zhuang Tong's experience in the Lichen Academy, other sects would be wary. Only Hanguang Mountain wouldn't care about his background.

Originally, after graduating from the academy and reaching the Sixth Level of Qi Condensation, he could join the Lichen Sect. However, during the small competition, Zhuang Tong offended the supervisor. If this person makes a note and mentions it to the Lichen Sect's real person, Zhuang Tong will have no chance of joining. Unless he wins the competition—

"Also, Shen Quan from Nanping Street proposed to marry your sister as a concubine a few days ago. I have thought about it carefully and decided to agree."

Zhuang Tong's pupils dilated, his expression filled with shock and anger: "Father, how can you do this?"

Shen Quan, the leader of the third-largest gang in the city, the Leilong Gang, controls seven streets in the city.

It is said that he was originally from a noble family but ended up in Yuecheng and became successful. He has two thousand subordinates, nine of whom are Qi Condensation cultivators, and he himself is at the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation. The gang's strength is not inferior to some of the major families in the city.

However, he is extremely ugly, disfigured, and has one eye. His personality is cruel. How can my sister become his concubine?

"I have made the decision