Chapter 226 - 197: Magic Forest

Words : 1013 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 226: Chapter 197: Magic Forest ... Yin Zhiqiang was a young man of just twenty-three years old. He was among the first batch of ambitious students who began attending Martial Arts School at the age of five. Though he lacked the talent to enter the Royal Art Academy, within a few months of the entrance exam, he successfully rose to the fifth position on the Star Student rankings through his own cultivation efforts. Yin Zhiqiang’s parents were very poor, but his uncle owned a shop and had just enough money to help the young boy train. His uncle saw this as an investment, as the demand for cultivators was high—and he was right. Currently, Yin Zhiqiang holds the title of top-ranked Star Practitioner. Although he had reached the Practitioner level, he bravely fought through the arduous difficulties of the first bottleneck that every cultivator encounters during their journey, before eventually achieving his breakthrough, as his Qi was slightly below average. His Qi was so mediocre that it was impossible for Yin Zhiqiang to open his Middle Dantian; however, if he were to consume a large amount of Qi Refining Pills, it might become possible. As for whether he could open his Dantian at all, trying to do so would be futile and unfavorable—like attempting to fuel an engine with dirt. He could never accomplish such a task. During the first few years working hard in his uncle’s store, he trained diligently and appeared nightly as a guard under the moonlight. However, once he entered the student ranks, Ren Zhiqiang joined a mercenary group and ventured repeatedly into the Magic Forest. At that time, his cultivation level was quite low, and he worked as an errand boy to earn some money. Although his job was considered the least important among the group—which made for the lowest wages—he never let Qi Zhiqiang falter in danger, as no one expected him to participate in battles against Magical Creatures. After five years of working in the mercenary group, Ren Zhiqiang finally ranked among the last few stars of the Disciple Team, and he now had the possibility of joining the military, which had always been his goal from the beginning. The Sun Kingdom’s Royal Army is a renowned force. Even the lowest-ranking infantry must be cultivators of seven-star level, as their abilities allow them to demand salaries far higher than non-cultivators. The monthly salary from the Royal Army that Yan Zhiqiang received equaled half a year’s income from his uncle’s shop. This money alone lifted his entire family out of extreme poverty—and still afforded him the ability to set aside savings for purchasing Qi Boosting Pills. Just as Yin Zhiqiang was planning to enlist, he came across a recruitment advertisement from the Ma family for guards to bolster security at the Black Market Auction House. While the Royal Army offered slightly higher wages, working at the Black Market Auction House promised greater benefits. One obvious perk was that he wouldn’t have to go to war. Although the Three Kingdoms were currently allied, every year, magical beasts would occasionally leave the Divine Domain in hordes, and the army’s job was to ensure the Kingdom’s safety by eliminating these creatures. Joining the Ma family ensured that Yin Zhiqiang would not have to participate in such conflicts. Another benefit was that Yin Zhiqiang wouldn’t have to leave home and could stay close to his family and friends. He had always been deeply grateful to his parents and uncle for providing him the opportunity to cultivate, and now he hoped to repay them by ensuring their safety. A final, significant perk was that every guard in the Ma family was the first to learn about the rumors spreading in the city, and these scattered, often crucial tidbits of information could sometimes fetch a handsome price—they were akin to "ears" that filled one’s wallets. The Ma Family had risen to nobility through their own power, and their family continued to strive aggressively for expansion. Since the Ma Family was a newly established noble house, ancient lineage and concepts like "honor" held little to no relevance to them; such things were luxuries they couldn’t afford. For the Ma Family, the only things that mattered were the practical value of matters and the amount of potential an individual possessed. No matter the capabilities of the family leader’s son, if he fell short compared to any other child—whether the elder’s son or another member of the family—the Ma Family collectively appointed the most capable individual from the younger generation as heir without prejudice. This philosophy extended to how they treated their guards. Anyone who joined the Ma Family was given equal opportunity for promotion. As long as one possessed specific talents or worked exceptionally hard, they could forge a stable and well-paying future for themselves. Yin Zhiqiang was one of those who carved his path with his own hands. Though his Qi was lackluster, his ranking was still exceptionally high for someone his age, and he had worked his way up from a mere patrol guard to the rear gate sentinel. As he stood tall, Yin Zhiqiang felt a deep sense of importance, watching many people approach the Black Market Auction House. Whether the auctions were taking place or not, the building was always bustling with merchants eager to sell their goods or buyers looking to retrieve their purchases. These merchants all knew that the Black Market Auction House was a major faction in Liluo City, with connections in every major city, including the Capital. It was definitely not a place to stir up trouble recklessly, so most of the passing crowds would keep their heads lowered respectfully, and tension was evident whenever someone walked past a guard. When a subtle sense of self-satisfaction welled up within him, a sly smile spread across Yin Zhiqiang’s face. Born in the poorest districts of Liluo City, he had been regarded as trash during his childhood—but now, as a young man, even those he once thought were wealthy would be filled with fear when they saw him.

Chapter 226 - 197: Magic Forest

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