Chapter 143 - 131: The True Cultivation of the Great Scenic Dynasty! Body Refinement! Qi Refinement! Refinement of the Spirit!_2

After breaking the limit, the benefits it brought would also be greater. But to reach this point, he had to grind it out himself! Jiang Shu’s gaze was sincere and resolute. He knew that Su Mingchun could say these words because he truly cared about him. *But only he himself knew his real situation!* Their eyes met. Su Mingchun’s brows gradually eased from furrowed to relaxed. *A genius from a small place.* *Maybe he would take the wrong path due to a lack of experience.* *But he had already hinted so clearly.* *And still chose this way.* *Either this "Shang Junming" relied on temporary talent for martial arts, cultivated up to this realm, had a narrow vision, was foolish, and hopeless.* *Or it was some opportunity no one else knew about.* *Now, it seemed most likely the latter.* *Just means waiting a while longer.* *A couple more years.* *See the Little Dragon Tiger List.* *He would naturally find out whether this choice was right or wrong.* "As long as you’re sure." "Four Symbols Internal Energy" ranked sixteenth among dynasty Middle Grade Cultivation Techniques, which in itself proved it was far stronger than most of the techniques that trained all five organs. Slow training speed could be compensated for with resources. During Refining Internal Realm, take Internal Fortification Elixir; when reaching Blood Exchange Realm, take Marrow Cleansing Elixir. Great Rejuvenation Elixir was also a good option." "But the value of these elixirs was never cheap, even if you had those gemstone perfumes, those could only be used to make money and buy some entry-level elixirs. Rare Middle Grade elixirs like these, at our chamber of commerce, cost a premium if bought with cash. It’s best to exchange them for Contribution Value. If you’re interested, I could have Manager Zhang watch for certain tasks at our Danxia chamber of commerce—leave some easy and high-paying jobs just for you." "Intelligence is still important, since you’ve already chosen a Cultivation Technique, blade technique, and movement technique, your three slots are all decided. So, I’ll take the liberty of giving you a full introduction to the geniuses on the Little Dragon Tiger List." "Hope you don’t let people down." ... Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts were treasured possessions among great clans. The same was true at the Danxia chamber of commerce! For a full half month, Jiang Shu spent his days in the Hidden Technique Pavilion. He completely memorized one Cultivation Technique and two Martial Arts. Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts were not something Martial Artists could just copy or sell once memorized. Every Cultivation Technique contained Visualization Diagrams. For example, the four Visualization Diagrams of "Four Symbols Internal Energy," Jiang Shu spent a full ten days just remembering them. Moreover, even this memory only existed as a clear impression in his mind. He could not reproduce them by drawing them on paper. Without the Visualization Diagram, simply relying on the written contents, a Martial Artist basically could not formally gain entry into the technique. This was also why Cultivation Techniques and Martial Arts were so precious. Only when truly Great Success, or even Perfection, could a Martial Artist actually spread a Cultivation Technique. Thus, there was a distinction between an original and a copy. It was only at this point. That the value of this Cultivation Technique or Martial Art no longer meant much to the Martial Artist. It was just like how Jiang Shu could now sell "Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength," but how much could he actually get for it? He sat cross-legged. A single Internal Fortification Elixir was swallowed into his stomach, and he felt the medicinal power spread. Jiang Shu picked up a copy of the Little Dragon Tiger List but did not rush to open it. He reviewed "Four Seasons Blade Technique" and "Hurricane Three Changes" in his mind again. "Four Seasons Blade Technique," as the name implied, had four styles—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In terms of power, it was not the strongest blade technique. But Jiang Shu believed it corresponded exactly to the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise of the "Four Symbols Internal Energy." The four kinds of True Force, paired with the changes of the Four Seasons blade styles. This way of matching them together brought the biggest increase in combat strength. And "Hurricane Three Changes" was a highly practical movement technique, entry-level allowed one to create an afterimage in battle to confuse the opponent. With Great Success, it produced three afterimages, impossible to guard against. *Even if the afterimages only lasted a moment, at this level, in a fight all you needed was to seize that flash of change.* An hour later. "The Da Jing Dynasty had eighteen provinces and two hundred seventy counties. Yunzhou, even though it was small, had thirteen counties. Yongning County’s capital city produced the fewest geniuses in Yunzhou. From one hundred eight people, only five made the list." "The highest ranked, like me, came from the county town and got investment from the Danxia chamber of commerce. Top-tier genius Xiao Hao. Placed thirty-fifth on the Little Dragon Tiger List." "The other four were from the powerful clans, geniuses of the Zhao, Li, Sun, and Wang Families, the top four great clans in the county capital." "So, on the surface, the county capital had ten great clans, but in reality it was down to just four. The Yao and Zhang Families had only been glorious in the past. Now, the gap between them and the four great clans just kept growing." "No wonder, even after the Yao Family lost two elite enforcers, they didn’t dare make a scene or hunt down the killers in the county—just left it to the authorities. All because they lost any true genius to support them. Ordinary Blood Exchange Realm meant nothing in the county capital." "Being called a great clan just made them a bit stronger than the big wealthy families." "The authorities had top-level Blood Exchange Realm experts; the chamber of commerce did, too. Who knew if those two elite enforcers offended the chamber or the true top four clans, so the Yao Family dared not gamble." "And when I first came to the Zhao Family and was treated like that—it was because the Zhao Family hadn’t risen yet. But after Zhao Zhongming made the Little Dragon Tiger List, the Zhao Family fully surged to the top. Now, with Zhao Zhongming leading and Zhao Chengxuan on his heels, unless something went wrong, they could keep their spot as the number-one clan in the county capital!" "No wonder Zhao Yuanchang acted that way. After all, my cheap master was just a Martial Artist of the Refining Internal Realm from a small county. What was that worth in front of a Zhao Family that might have two consecutive generations of geniuses on the Little Dragon Tiger List? Nothing at all." "So, if I wanted to appear before the Zhao Family and question Zhao Yuanchang, just being in the Refining Internal Realm was far from enough. At the very least, I needed to Break Limit in Four Symbols Internal Energy, have the power to step into the Blood Exchange Realm." A single Little Dragon Tiger List had shown Jiang Shu so much information. The strengths and weaknesses of the county capital’s factions. Just who counted as a real genius in one of the great provinces. Not to mention number one on the Little Dragon Tiger List. Even the closest contender, right there in the county, a genius from the Wang Family, Wang Tingcong, ranked ninety-eighth—barely above the bottom. But even so, when facing four Blood Exchange Realm opponents, he killed them all at the cost of only minor injuries! Leaving the Hidden Technique Pavilion, Jiang Shu bought a small courtyard in the county capital outright. He made a trip back to Xuanxing Xia Country and bought up enough moissanite and perfume to exchange for Internal Fortification Elixirs. He reached entry-level in Four Seasons Blade Technique after a few days. He gradually mastered Hurricane Three Changes as well. On Xuanxing, news about Heaven and Earth Secret Realms grew more and more common. But Xia Country had them tightly sealed, with the military stationed everywhere, waiting for Martial Artists to arrive and explore. "Turns out, waiting worked." "The Heaven and Earth Secret Realm in the Thousand Lakes Desert of Western Border province wasn’t bad, but it was still rainy season right now. Even if I went, all I could do was practice Xuanwu True Force. Defense was fine, but I needed more explosive power!" Sichuan-Chongqing province. Jiang Shu stepped into a newly appeared Class-C Heaven and Earth Secret Realm. A wave of scorching heat slammed right into his face. In the distance, a volcano erupted violently with black smoke billowing into the sky. Dark red molten lava, carrying countless rocks, thundered across the land. Up close, a Tier 2 Mutant Beast, not knowing its own limits, charged to pounce on Jiang Shu. Hurricane Three Changes! Jiang Shu’s expression did not change. His figure flickered and an afterimage suddenly appeared. The Mutant Beast swiped a claw at him. Just as a hint of triumph flashed in its eyes, The afterimage vanished. And from behind, Jiang Shu’s alloy blade casually slashed down. The head tumbled to the ground. Blood spurted out! His aura erupted instantly, and all nearby Tier 2 Mutant Beasts, who had been eyeing him, scattered in terror. Jiang Shu had no interest in chasing after them and picked out an excellent spot. He sat cross-legged. This time, he didn’t want slaughter, or to rack up battle achievements! Only for cultivation! Improving his Realm, was the real Great Dao!