Chapter 73

"Ten days, I give you ten days." Jiang Chen made a gesture, "Within ten days, no matter what methods you use, you must break through to the Seventh Pulse True Qi realm."

Jiang Chen issued a strict order, which made the eight bodyguards feel a sense of urgency.

From the time the second mission was drawn until now, only five or six days had passed. Time was still relatively ample for Jiang Chen.

The reason he set a ten-day deadline was after careful calculation, giving a reasonable time frame. It was slightly tight but not too tight, just enough to stimulate their potential.

Jiang Chen planned to make good use of these ten days.

Firstly, the unexpected event of the Purple Thorn Department in the Jiang Han territory needed time to digest.

Secondly, Jiang Chen did not want to waste these ten days. He planned to cultivate well in the Jiang Han territory.

Time is gold, and for Jiang Chen, every second after his reincarnation was incredibly precious.

During these ten days, Jiang Chen was persistent and highly disciplined. However, every day, he would set aside some time to handle matters in the territory and listen to intelligence reports from the Purple Thorn Department.

This mess was his doing, and he had to handle the aftermath. Otherwise, it would affect the overall situation and undermine the foundation of the Jiang family's rule, which was not what Jiang Chen wanted to see.

Fortunately, the usual arrogance of the Jing family had indeed lost them much of the people's support. After the Jing family was eliminated, the reactions in the Jiang Han territory were calm, with no signs of resistance.

"Xiao Yu, I hope you can mature through this opportunity." Jiang Chen hoped deep in his heart. He knew better than anyone that if the Jiang Han territory continued to be controlled by the Jiang family, Jiang Yu would inevitably be the successor to the future Jiang Han Marquis.

Jiang Chen had lofty ambitions and would never give up his pursuit of martial arts for just a Marquis Order.

The ten days passed quietly.

"Time really flies. These ten days passed quietly and swiftly. Although I haven't broken through to the Ninth Pulse True Qi, I already have the conditions to challenge it. I wonder how the eight of them have fared?"

These eight did not disappoint Jiang Chen. Through ten days of effort, they all advanced.

Xue Tong was the first to break through, achieving it on the fourth day.

Wen Ziqi and Guo Jin took six days.

The Qiao brothers broke through on the seventh day.

The other three broke through on the eighth and ninth days, respectively.

"Very good, you have not let me down." Jiang Chen nodded, "This mission not only requires recruiting eight bodyguards but also passing a test. This test will certainly be related to martial arts. Now that each of you has reached the Seventh Pulse True Qi, you should be able to handle the test. However, to be on the safe side, I will teach you some martial techniques and a set of offensive and defensive formations. This will ensure that you can fight as a team and not individually, thereby unleashing astonishing group combat power."

Jiang Chen had spent a lot of time thinking about how to arrange these eight bodyguards.

Of course, at this stage, Jiang Chen would not be overly aggressive and teach them transcendent techniques. The techniques he chose were selected based on their individual characteristics, being among the best in the Eastern Kingdom but not exceeding the kingdom's acceptance range.

Although they were bodyguards, Jiang Chen did not want to rush their growth. First, martial arts cultivation cannot be achieved overnight; second, not giving them transcendent techniques was also for their protection.

Of course, in terms of formation selection, Jiang Chen had many options.

For the eight-person formation, Jiang Chen chose a relatively advanced one.

"This set of 'Eight Desolate Spirit Capture Formation' is an eight-person formation, both offensive and defensive. When facing enemies, it has many variations, making it unpredictable. If you can understand it to about 70%, with your current cultivation, even several True Qi Masters would find it hard to break the formation. Against opponents of the same level, even a hundred of them, you could handle them calmly."

"A few True Qi Masters? Eight against a hundred of the same level?" Qiao Shan's big eyes blinked, shocked again.

"Qiao Shan, don't be so surprised. If the young marquis says this, he must have his reasons." Through the positioning of the True Qi acupoints, the eight bodyguards had already fully recognized Jiang Chen's strength and mystery.

"Hehe, I'm just scared. Fighting a few True Qi Masters sounds thrilling."

"This is only if you understand it to about 70%. If you can understand it to 80%, killing True Qi Masters is not impossible; if you can understand it to 90%, killing True Qi Masters would be like killing a dog."

Jiang Chen was actually being a bit conservative in his statement.

"Then... what if we understand it to 100%?" Qiao Shan asked hesitantly.

"100%?" Jiang Chen smiled, "Let me put it this way, if the eight of you can understand it to 100%, within the Eastern Kingdom, except for Spirit Dao experts, you would be invincible. If you can reach the True Qi Master realm in the future, even a newly ascended Spirit Dao expert would have to give you a wide berth!"

"Spirit Dao experts, giving us a wide berth?" Qiao Shan's tongue almost tied, his eyes shining with intense excitement, eager to start practicing this formation and find a Spirit Dao expert to test it!

"Qiao Shan, you're getting too excited. The young marquis means that each of us must reach the True Qi Master realm and fully understand this formation to have the qualifications to face a Spirit Dao expert." Guo Jin promptly cooled him down.

"Hehe, reaching the True Qi Master realm, we can definitely do it! But I've never seen a Spirit Dao expert. My uncle, who has such a high position and has been in the capital for so many years, seems to have never seen one either."

No wonder Qiao Shan was so excited. Spirit Dao experts, for the secular kingdom, were almost mythical figures, existing only in legends.

Throughout the Eastern Kingdom, although there were rumors of Spirit Dao experts, very few people had actually seen one.

Therefore, in the hearts of all martial arts youths in the kingdom, Spirit Dao experts were legendary figures, like totems.

Imagine, being able to face a Spirit Dao expert, what a temptation, what an honor! No wonder Qiao Shan was so out of control.

Spirit Dao experts, in the eyes of secular martial artists, were absolutely myth-level figures.

"Formation practice is not something that can be achieved overnight. Your current priority is True Qi cultivation and martial technique cultivation. Guo Jin, focus on the Dao of the saber; Qiao brothers, one with an axe and the other with a bronze staff, both heavy weapons, broad and open; Wen Ziqi, Ke Mu, and Bi Yun, you all use swords. The Dao of the sword is vast and profound, and each of you follows a different path; Shen Yifan uses a spear, direct and powerful, following a fierce path; Xue Tong, you are different from them, your martial techniques are not yet formed."

Xue Tong's face darkened. Although he was the young marquis's cousin, he had no parents and lived with his mother's family, being bullied by his cousins and surviving in a difficult situation. Reaching the Sixth Pulse True Qi was already quite an achievement.

As for martial techniques, the Lan family of the Blue Thorn Department had not prepared any for him. In fact, the Lan family, intentionally or unintentionally, suppressed Xue Tong.

They did not want Xue Tong to overshadow the Lan family's children. After all, Xue Tong was also a relative of the marquis, and if his talent was too strong and he was promoted by the marquis, he might suppress the Lan family in the future.

Due to these reasons, Xue Tong's life in the Lan family was very difficult, and his martial techniques were very rudimentary.

"Xue Tong, what do you like? Or, what weapon do you feel the most comfortable with?"

"I like hidden weapons, especially bows and arrows."

"Bows and arrows?" Jiang Chen's heart stirred. Among these eight, there was indeed a lack of someone skilled in surprise attacks. Xue Tong had the highest martial talent, and if he focused on the path of surprise attacks, it would be a good choice.

"Good, once we return to the capital, I will immediately acquire a good bow for you. From today, you will start practicing with the bow."

"Bi Yun, I heard you like to study the use of poisons. You can spend more time on this. You are my bodyguards, and you need to be proficient in various skills. The more skills you have, the more ways you have to protect yourself in the future."

The eight all nodded, finding the young marquis's words very reasonable.

In martial arts cultivation, having more skills and more means to protect oneself is an additional safeguard. After all, in the martial arts world, the situation is unpredictable, and often, being strong is not enough to ensure victory.

Just as Jiang Chen was training these eight bodyguards, Jiang Tong came to visit, and he was very urgent.

"Uncle, what's so urgent?"

"Chen, an urgent report just came from the Purple Thorn Department, marked with three feathers, indicating the highest level of emergency."

"What kind of intelligence?"

"The letter doesn't say, it only mentions that something strange happened in the Purple Thorn Department and asks the young marquis to come and take charge of the situation!"

"Is the letter a fraud?" Jiang Chen asked.

"It can't be a fraud. The letter has our family's secret code, and the handwriting is Xiao Yu's."

A major event had occurred, and the letter couldn't say it clearly.

A rebellion by subordinates? This was unlikely, as the remnants of the Purple Thorn Department had been completely eliminated. Other departments had no reason to rebel.

Moreover, if it were a rebellion by other departments, the urgent report wouldn't come from the Purple Thorn Department.

Encountering a strong enemy invasion?

This also didn't seem likely. If it were a strong enemy invasion, there would be no need to keep it confidential in the letter.

"Since that's the case, I will set out immediately and ride fast. I should be able to arrive by noon."

Jiang Chen was not indecisive. He immediately gathered his subordinates, prepared the horses, and set off.

In the Jiang Han territory, Jiang Chen was not afraid of any conspiracy. From the letter, it seemed that something unusual had happened in the Purple Thorn Department, and it needed to be kept confidential.

Otherwise, Jiang Yu could have clearly stated it in the letter.

Riding fast, they galloped all the way. By noon, Jiang Chen and his group had entered the Purple Thorn Department.

"Brother, you're here." Jiang Yu saw Jiang Chen and welcomed him into a secret room as if he had seen a savior.

"Xiao Yu, what's going on?" Jiang Chen asked, frowning.

"Brother, something strange, something incredibly strange. I've ordered the news to be sealed. Even the elders of the family, except for Elder Xi, are still in the dark. I dare not announce it."

"Oh?"