blueteamnovel 60. Tearing off the mask of civility
60. Tearing off the mask of civility
Chu Xuan did not go to Jinxiu Pavilion. After arranging for someone to deliver the goods there, he took the looted packages home.
This time, there was a reason for it, so there was no need to hide at the place where the stolen goods were disposed of.
Chu Xuan opened the package.
The majority of the items inside were copper coins and silver, along with a dozen or so silver notes and a pair of jewelry. A rough estimate puts it at seven or eight thousand taels.
In addition, there are two other secret manuals.
Unfortunately, they were all second-rate items, incomparable to Iron Armor Kung Fu. The only thing worth mentioning was the cultivation method for Ming Jin, which could fetch a dozen or so taels of silver.
Chu Xuan didn't even bother with it. After looking at it a few times, he threw it together with the other jewels.
After the inventory was completed, Chu Xuan lay down on the bed.
"Although there was a reason for this incident—Yao Danian stole Jinxiuge's goods first—it's hard to guarantee that the Qian family won't find an excuse to cause trouble! Old Lu will have to take the blame for this..."
The four districts of the outer city appear to be a disorganized mess, but in reality, they are controlled by the five major families.
The East City belongs to the Wang family.
The northern part of the city belongs to the Qian family!
The next morning, Chu Xuan put the four thousand taels of silver notes into his pocket and went to the martial arts school to find Lu Tong. He told Lu Tong what had happened the night before and gave him the four thousand taels of silver notes.
"You can keep it yourself!"
Lu Tong merely glanced at him and said indifferently, "The Qian family won't interfere. Even if they do, I'll cover for you!"
The most urgent matter is the martial arts exam! This money is enough for your continued training! Don't waste your energy on meaningless trifles.
"yes!"
Chu Xuan responded respectfully.
Chu Xuan was full of surprise when he came out of the backyard.
Old Lu refused to accept it!
That's a full four thousand taels of silver. If you put that in the inner city, you could start a small family and live a life of luxury.
But in the eyes of both the other party and the Qian family, it was just a "meaningless trifle"!
Chu Xuan then realized that he had truly underestimated these martial arts masters who ran martial arts schools! Clearly, these masters were not short of money. Their purpose in opening martial arts schools was not to make money.
In the following days, just as Lu Tong had predicted, the Qian family did not cause trouble for Chu Xuan, nor did they demand the money Chu Xuan had plundered, as if nothing had happened.
Chu Xuan was relieved.
Over the next two months, as the martial arts examination approached, the atmosphere inside the martial arts school was electric.
Many disciples arrive early and leave late, wishing they could weld their legs to the wooden stakes.
Lu Tong also became much more diligent than before, frequently coming to the inner courtyard to guide the disciples in their cultivation.
Meanwhile, Chu Xuan's progress was equally rapid during these two months. It's unclear where Ye Zhiyi got the means to have Manager Sun deliver several kilograms of exotic beast meat every month.
Chu Xuan's essence value increased rapidly.
That evening, Chu Xuan was once again the last to leave.
Just as he finished packing his things and walked to the entrance of the martial arts school, he ran into Liang Qiusong, whom he hadn't seen for many days.
"Junior Brother Chu, please wait a moment."
Upon seeing Chu Xuan, Liang Qiusong's tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he quickly called out to Chu Xuan.
"Third Senior Brother, is something the matter?"
Chu Xuan stopped in his tracks.
"Hehe." Liang Qiusong said with a smile, "Junior Brother Chu, I have a favor to ask. As you know, I'm currently trying to break through to the Transformation Realm and I really can't spare the time. So, I'd like to ask you to go to Yunling Mountain and help me find a certain herb."
He said generously, "Don't worry, junior brother, I won't let you help for nothing. Whether you find it or not, I'll give you ten catties of exotic beast meat as a reward. How about it?"
Ten catties of exotic beast meat, that's quite a generous offer.
Chu Xuan's heart skipped a beat: "What herb is Senior Brother looking for?"
"Frost Grass!"
really!
"I'm sorry, senior brother, my strength is too weak to help you," Chu Xuan said, shaking his head.
Are you kidding me!
Xu Yuan went to Yunling Mountain to find the Xuan Shuang Grass, and he almost died there!
If it weren't for good luck in learning the life-saving techniques Lu Tong taught him, none of Xu Yuan and the other three would have made it back alive.
Even now, it's practically useless!
Liang Qiusong himself didn't want to take any risks, so why did he set his sights on him?
Liang Qiusong's smile froze: "Junior Brother Chu, you may have misunderstood. Xuan Shuang Grass isn't found in just one place. Besides, Junior Brother Xu Yuan and the others were just unlucky that time..."
"Sorry, senior!"
Chu Xuan declined, saying, "I really can't help with this. If you have nothing else to say, Senior Brother, I'll take my leave now."
Seeing Chu Xuan's resolute attitude, Liang Qiusong's face immediately darkened, and he said coldly, "Junior Brother Chu, you've taken my benefits but haven't done any work. Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Did you receive a bribe?
Chu Xuan was taken aback, then understood what the other person meant.
He had taken something from Liang Qiusong; it was during their first meeting that Liang Qiusong gave him a blood-clotting pill.
Thirty taels of silver for a blood-clotting pill, and you expect him to risk his life?
That's quite a clever plan!
Chu Xuan calmly said, "Third Senior Brother is referring to the Blood Coagulation Pill that was given to me back then, right? Since Senior Brother wants to take it back, I will return it to you tomorrow."
Liang Qiusong said with a forced smile, "Junior Brother Chu, are you pretending to be stupid with me? Is a Blood Coagulation Pill for Ming Jin (a type of martial arts skill) the same value as a Blood Coagulation Pill for An Jin (another type of martial arts skill)?"
"If it weren't for the Blood-Coagulating Pill I gave you back then, could you have broken through to the Dark Force realm so quickly?"
Chu Xuan's expression also turned cold.
Liang Qiusong has completely abandoned all pretense and shamelessness!
How could someone say such tasteless things?
If a single Blood Coagulation Pill could create a Dark Force martial artist, then the Blood Coagulation Pills from Qianjin Pavilion would have been sold like hotcakes long ago, and Dark Force martial artists would have been as common as dogs in Qingshan City!
"What are your plans, Senior Brother?" Chu Xuan asked coldly.
"One price, three thousand taels!"
Liang Qiusong said calmly, "Junior Brother Chu, didn't you make a fortune from the Ironclad Gang recently? Three thousand taels isn't much for you. Give me three thousand taels, and we're even!"
Three thousand taels?
A blood-clotting pill worth thirty taels has increased a hundredfold in just one year!
Why don't you just rob it?
"Third Senior Brother seems to be drunk," Chu Xuan said calmly. "Then I won't disturb him any longer. Get some rest!"
After saying that, he prepared to leave.
Did I let you leave?
Liang Qiusong's face suddenly turned cold. He let out a low shout and raised his hand to grab Chu Xuan's shoulder. His knuckles gripped Chu Xuan's acupoint on his shoulder blade, and the resulting gust of wind made his clothes flutter loudly.
Feeling the biting wind behind him, Chu Xuan spun around without thinking, his right arm as heavy as iron, his wrist surging with power, and struck the side of Liang Qiusong's palm that was coming down.
boom!
A muffled thud, and a shockwave exploded!
Chu Xuan felt a surge of energy rushing through his arm bone and into his entire body.
A crackling sound came from his body, and he stumbled three times before he was able to dissipate the force.
Three shallow marks were left on the bluestone slab by my feet.
Liang Qiusong's body trembled slightly, his shoulders swayed slightly, but he stood firmly in place. He curled his fingers slightly to stop his stance, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
The gaze directed at Chu Xuan now held a more scrutinizing quality.
They actually failed to capture Chu Xuan!
Chu Xuan stared at Liang Qiusong, his face grim.
As expected of the strongest fighter in the inner court!
Although he was also at the level of internal strength, he was still far behind Liang Qiusong!
I held back my strength just now, and my opponent obviously didn't use their full power either!
"Third Senior Brother, is that enough?"
Chu Xuan spoke coldly, "If Third Senior Brother insists on keeping me here, why don't we go find Master to settle this matter?"
"Trying to use our master to intimidate me?" Liang Qiusong sneered at Chu Xuan. "Junior Brother Chu, you're quite something!"
After saying that, he ignored Chu Xuan and turned to walk towards the backyard!
Chu Xuan watched Liang Qiusong's figure disappear, and soon he too vanished into the darkness.
night.
Lying in bed, feeling the dull pain in his arm bones, Chu Xuan opened the control panel.
[Energy Value: 563/1000]
[Two Elements Stance Mastery (5342/10000)]
【Mastery of Bajiquan (3056/10000)】
[Mastering the Heart-Shattering Palm Technique (6023/10000)]
[The Heavenly Ladder to Mastery (1135/10000)]
[Iron Armor Skill, Minor Mastery (963/3000)]
If his Iron Armor Skill hadn't already reached a minor level of mastery, that previous palm strike would have been enough to injure his arm.
Chu Xuan considered it over. He had now stepped into the threshold of mastering the Dark Force, but compared with Liang Qiusong, who had perfected the Dark Force and was in the process of breaking through to the Transformation Force, there was still a huge gap between them.
Even if the three forces were combined, they would probably still be no match for Liang Qiusong.
Liang Qiusong is a smiling tiger; he probably won't let this go easily.
Chu Xuan muttered to himself, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
The progress of the Heart-Shattering Palm technique has now surpassed that of the Two-Element Stance.
At this rate, it should be completed in just a few months!
The thing that's really falling behind is the increase in essence value.
"Spend money, we have to spend a lot of money!"
Chu Xuan hardened his heart.
For the next month, Chu Xuan started spending money to buy Blood Clotting Pills again.
Although Lu Tong had said that the Blood Coagulation Pill from Qianjin Pavilion was not a real Blood Coagulation Pill, as long as it did not harm his body, it didn't matter to him.
Chu Xuan also learned from Ye Zhiyi where she got the exotic beast meat!
black market!
It was bought at five times the market price.
It was only because Chu Xuan helped Jinxiu Pavilion resolve its life-or-death crisis that Ye Zhiyi was willing to buy it.
As the martial arts examination approaches, the price of exotic beast meat on the black market has skyrocketed, doubling again to ten times the market price!
And this is still a limited edition!
Unfortunately, although there is a price for it on the market, there is no meat from exotic beasts for sale at all.
Chu Xuan finally gritted his teeth and asked Ye Zhiyi to buy him twenty catties of second-tier alien beast meat!
For two consecutive months, Chu Xuan spent all seven or eight thousand taels of silver he had plundered from the Ironclad Gang.
Correspondingly, Chu Xuan's essence value also increased rapidly, directly breaking through 800. The experience points for the Heart-Shattering Palm also soared.
For the past two months, Chu Xuan has mostly been practicing the Heart-Shattering Palm at home, only going to the martial arts school every few days.
He occasionally ran into Liang Qiusong.
Both of them were smiling, and neither of them mentioned the previous incident again, as if the conflict that night had never happened!
Of course, this is also related to Liang Qiusong's failure to break through to the Transformation Realm!
Just a month ago, Liang Qiusong planned to reach the Transformation Realm in one fell swoop before the martial arts examination!
In that case, there's almost no need for a competition; he will be the champion of this martial arts examination!
Fortunately, Liang Qiusong failed!
Although he wasn't seriously injured, it took Liang Qiusong a month to recover.
With one month left until the martial arts examination, Lu Tong was instructing his disciples more and more frequently.
Whether it was due to his diligence or the efforts of his disciples, two more disciples broke through to the Dark Force level in these four months!
This made Lu Tong feel much better.
"Father! Junior Brother Xu Yuan has recovered!"
That day, Lu Tong was instructing a disciple who had just entered the Dark Force realm in the inner courtyard when Lu Xiaoshuang rushed in from the backyard, her face full of joy.
"What did you say?"
Lu Tong turned to look at Lu Xiaoshuang, somewhat incredulous.
Lu Xiaoshuang exclaimed with delight, "Father! I'm telling the truth! Junior Brother Xu Yuan is completely healed! I just sparred with him, and it was definitely internal force! Moreover, his physical constitution... seems to have improved to Grade A?"
Whoosh!
In the next instant, Lu Tong's figure had vanished from the spot.
The disciples in the inner courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment.
Xu Yuan has actually recovered?
They all saw clearly how serious Xu Yuan's injuries were back then, and according to Lu Tong's estimate, it would take at least half a year to recover!
But now, not only has Xu Yuan recovered, but his physical attributes have even improved?
If that's the case, then it's truly a blessing in disguise!
You should know that your physical constitution is determined at birth and is almost impossible to change!
At the very least, there is no way to improve one's physical constitution in the entire Green Mountain City!
"Let's go take a look!"
Dongfang Lin called Chu Xuan to come along.
When everyone arrived at the backyard, they saw Xu Yuan standing calmly in the yard, while Lu Tong was constantly kneading several bones on his body with his large hands, making creaking sounds.
A moment later, Lu Tong released his grip.
"It's top-tier physical constitution, no doubt about it!"
Lu Tong's face was filled with ecstatic joy as he patted Xu Yuan's shoulder heavily: "Good! You're very good!"
Xu Yuan's expression was calm, his aura was refined, and his brows revealed a sharp edge that had been transformed!
It seems that this setback has changed him quite a bit.
"Master, this time, I will not let you down again!" Xu Yuan said firmly.
Although there was only one month left until the martial arts examination, his breakthrough and subsequent rise were still very fruitful.
In addition, there's the improvement of physical constitution.
One month is enough!
His gaze swept over all his fellow disciples, finally landing on Chu Xuan, a flash of disgust in his eyes.
When the tiger is away, the monkey is king!
If I hadn't been injured these past few months, would I have let a mere second-rate talent like him steal the limelight?
Chu Xuan was somewhat stunned.
Just now, he seemed to sense a... malice from Xu Yuan?
I don't think I've offended him at all!
Although both of them were sponsored by the Bai family and entered the sect on the same day, their relationship was very cold, even colder than that of their fellow disciples.
This malicious intent seems rather inexplicable!
Lu Tong's face was full of relief; the furrowed brows that had been furrowed for the past few months finally relaxed at this moment.
Liang Qiusong!
Xu Yuan!
In other words, the Lu family martial arts school will secure at least two spots in this martial arts competition.
This isn't a spot for passing the imperial examinations, but a spot to enter the Xuan Yang Sect!
More importantly, it concerns whether he can break through the shackles of the Transformation Realm!
Chu Xuan watched the commotion for a moment, then went back to continue his cultivation.
In the following days, Lu Tong continued to frequently visit the inner courtyard to instruct the disciples, and his face became more cheerful. However, his focus had shifted from the disciples to Xu Yuan alone.
Everyone could see that Lu Tong had high hopes for Xu Yuan!
It's no use if others are envious.
……
night.
Moonlight filtered through the branches of the old sycamore tree, scattering silver fragments across the ground.
Chu Xuan stood amidst the shadows of the trees, his feet firmly planted on the bluestone slabs, surrounded by a faint white mist.
His palm strikes were initially gentle, but gradually became more powerful, with a faint buzzing sound coming from his muscles and bones, and muffled "thump thump" sounds that made the branches tremble slightly.
The fallen leaves were swept away by the force of the air as soon as they got close.
I don't know how much time passed.
Chu Xuan let out a low growl, and his inner energy surged.
The moment the palm struck, the energy burst forth from the dantian, instantly spreading throughout the limbs and bones!
Wherever it passed, the skin, flesh, and bones became more and more aligned, and the loose, weak feeling completely disappeared, replaced by a heavy and restrained strength.
His previously tanned skin now looked as if it had been tempered with cold iron and stained with bronze, gleaming with a matte metallic texture under the moonlight.
Chu Xuan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
[Iron Armor Skill Mastery (1/10000)]