《I Can Cultivate And Level Up Infinitely》 Chapter 1 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Great Zhou Empire, Lin¡¯an City. A courtyard that stretched for dozens of kilometers was located in the east of Lin¡¯an City. Above the tall courtyard door, there was a plaque that said ¡°Dragon Gate Escort Agency¡±. To be able to open an escort agency in Lin¡¯an City and do it to such a great extent, it was enough to show how powerful the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was. It was said that the chief escort, He Yushan, was a first-rate expert. Back then, he used a silver spear to sweep through 18 Escort Agencies in Lin¡¯an City and killed his way to the title of ¡°Jade Mountain¡¯s Silver Dragon Spear¡±. Moreover, not only was He Yushan powerful in martial arts, but his business acumen was also outstanding. In a short period of time, he made the name of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency resound throughout a radius of 5,000 kilometers in Lin¡¯an City. There were nearly 100 bodyguards in the entire Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Including the handymen, there were more than 1,000 people. This was also the reason why the Dragon Gate Escort Agency could become the largest Escort Agency in Lin¡¯an City and the area within a radius of 5,000 kilometers. In the backyard of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, there was a horse stall that reared horses. It was smelly and very few people came here. At this moment, a tall young man was skillfully placing the grass into the horse trough. Although the young man was wearing servants¡¯ clothes and doing low-class work, he had a calmness that did not match his status. Even though he was in charge of the smelly horse stable, he did not complain at all. Instead, he did it very seriously. This young man¡¯s name was Zhang Xuan. He was in charge of raising the horses of the escort agency. Moreover, he had another secret that no one knew. He was a transmigrator. A year ago, he transmigrated to this Wuxia-like world. This was a world where martial arts reigned supreme. The stronger the fist, the more reasonable one was. After confirming that he had transmigrated, Zhang Xuan had also hesitated, not knowing how to face this unfamiliar world. After all, he was only a mortal. Apart from being stronger, he had no power or background, it was very difficult for him to establish himself in this world. Fortunately, the golden finger or cheat code that was necessary for transmigrators was quickly transferred to his account. [Longevity Body!] This cheat allowed Zhang Xuan to have an endless lifespan. No matter what world one was in, having an endless lifespan was extremely attractive to anyone. Zhang Xuan was naturally no exception, making him very excited. However, Zhang Xuan quickly discovered that apart from allowing him to live forever, he was still a mortal. Even if an ordinary person wanted to kill him, he would still be killed if he couldn¡¯t defeat them. Endless lifespan did not mean that others could not kill him. However, Zhang Xuan did not care too much. As long as he was careful, no matter how powerful the other party was, he would still be able to outlive them. In this world where everyone practiced martial arts, endless lifespan represented endless possibilities. As long as he cultivated diligently, he would definitely have no problem protecting himself even if he did not become a peerless expert. However, Zhang Xuan quickly realized that he was taking things for granted. It was easy to settle the accommodation, but what about food and drink? After all, he was only a mortal and had to eat, drink, and poop. After some consideration, Zhang Xuan found a mountainous forest and prepared to hunt for a living. However, reality once again told him that it was unrealistic for him to rely on hunting for a living without any skills. After hiding in the forest for three days, he did not even find a wild fruit, let alone wild animals. After personally experiencing how reality could defeat a hero, Zhang Xuan, who was so hungry that his eyes were blurry, had no choice but to dispel his unrealistic thoughts. In order to survive, he had no choice but to join the Dragon Gate Escort Agency and rely on his strong physique to make a living. The Dragon Gate Escort Agency was the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City. The chief escort was a first-rate expert. The businesses he accepted were from either high-ranking officials, noble ladies, or famous sects. Not only could he eat at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, but he would also be protected. As for the dirty and tiring work, Zhang Xuan did not care at all. After all, he only wanted a temporary shelter. Zhang Xuan placed the fodder for all the horses and cleaned up the horse dung in the stall. Then, he sorted out the miscellaneous items and cleaned the courtyard before returning to his residence. Although the work at the Escort Agency was tough, the treatment was not bad. A long-term worker like Zhang Xuan also had his own courtyard, even though it was a little dilapidated. However, they did not each have a courtyard. Instead, several people lived together. The moment Zhang Xuan entered, a black-faced young man walked over and asked Zhang Xuan with a smile, ¡°Zhang Xuan, why are you back so early today? Why don¡¯t we have a drink together?¡± The young man¡¯s name was Zhao Hu. Like Zhang Xuan, he was a long-term worker of the escort agency. They lived together and his greatest hobby was drinking. ¡°Less work today.¡± Zhang Xuan nodded slightly. He had no intention of chatting with Zhao Hu, let alone secretly going out to drink with Zhao Hu. After all, he and Zhao Hu were only acquaintances. They were not even friends. What was there to drink together? Seeing that Zhang Xuan was unwilling to drink with him, Zhao Hu muttered a few words and did not continue to persuade him. He walked away unsteadily. Zhang Xuan returned to the small courtyard and tidied himself up briefly. Seeing that the others had not returned, he started practicing a set of fist techniques in the small courtyard. ¡°Phew¡­¡± Zhang Xuan lowered his waist and swung his fist. The wind from his fist whistled and the air fluttered. Every time Zhang Xuan punched, his speed was extremely fast. Moreover, the coherence of his fist techniques was as smooth as flowing water. This set of fist techniques was called the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. The fist technique moves were simple, but the Great Dao was simple too. This was a basic martial art that everyone knew and was very common in this world. In a world where martial arts were respected, everyone naturally practiced martial arts. Even the hard work of the escort agency would work hard to cultivate in their spare time. There was no need to mention Zhang Xuan. Ever since he came to the escort agency, apart from doing his job, eating, and sleeping, he spent the rest of his time practicing boxing. Only by strengthening himself could he truly settle down. As for the Martial Ancestor Long Fist, it had almost no qualification requirements and was suitable for Zhang Xuan to cultivate. After all, not only did other profound martial arts have requirements for aptitude, but it was also not something that anyone could learn just because they wanted to. A profound martial art could build a top faction. Naturally, it would not be easily taught to others. ¡°Bang!¡± Zhang Xuan punched a big tree in the courtyard at lightning speed. The tree, which was as thick as an adult¡¯s waist, shook violently, and leaves fell like raindrops. Looking at the faint fist mark left on the tree trunk, Zhang Xuan raised his waist and retracted his fist. He heaved out a deep breath. The Martial Ancestor Long Fist was not only a set of fist techniques, but it also cultivated both internally and externally. It required a large amount of time to train. This was also the reason why Zhang Xuan insisted on cultivating the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. Although the upper limit of the Martial Ancestor Long Fist was limited and talented people disdained to cultivate it, there was no upper limit to Zhang Xuan. With his endless lifespan, what he did not lack the most was time to cultivate. Even the most basic Martial Ancestor Long Fist could also increase his strength once he truly mastered it and cultivated it to the limit. After having the ability to protect himself, he would have more opportunities to come into contact with more profound martial arts. It would not be too late to cultivate them by then. After all, what he did not lack the most was time! This was Zhang Xuan¡¯s greatest trump card. Even those talented peerless geniuses could not be compared to him. Talent was only a huge difference compared to ordinary people with similar lifespans. However, to Zhang Xuan, talented people were only slightly stronger than him with their explosive power. In terms of endurance, no matter how peerless a genius was, they could not be compared to him. However, Zhang Xuan was not arrogant because of this. He knew very well that this world was much bigger than what he knew. Chapter 2 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Lin¡¯an City, where the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was located, was only a remote small city under the jurisdiction of the Great Zhou Empire. Zhang Xuan did not have a specific concept of how big the entire Great Zhou Empire was, but he knew one thing very well. The Great Zhou Empire was a country with valiant people. Moreover, the Great Zhou Empire respected martial arts, and there were many martial arts sects in the empire. All the martial arts sects that could be named had experts presiding over them. There was constant friction between the various martial arts sects, but it was rare for big battles to break out. After all, where there was Jianghu[1.Jianghu (¡®rivers and lakes¡¯) is a term that generally refers to the milieu, environment, or sub-community in which many Chinese wuxia stories are set. The term is used flexibly, and can be used to describe a fictionalized version of Historical China (usually using loose influences from across the ~1000 BCE¨C280 AD period); a setting of feuding martial arts clans and the people of that community; a secret and possibly criminal underworld; a general sense of the ¡°mythic world¡± where fantastical stories happen; or some combination thereof.], there would be grudges and entanglements, and there would be competition for benefits. However, the various sects were also restraining each other and would not let any one sect dominate. Moreover, above the various sects was the Great Zhou Empire. The Great Zhou Empire that ruled the endless territories was the true overlord! The dynasty had recruited many hidden experts and it had countless experts that the dynasty had nurtured themselves. No matter what sect it was, it was nothing in front of the Great Zhou Empire. However, as long as the various martial arts sects did not cross the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s bottom line, the Great Zhou Empire would not ask about the matters of the martial arts sects. Take Lin¡¯an City as an example. Even if it was only a remote small city in the Great Zhou, there were more than 10 large and small sects within a radius of 5,000 kilometers of Lin¡¯an City. In the entire Great Zhou Empire, there were countless sects in the pugilistic world. Although the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was considered an overlord within a radius of 5,000 kilometers in Lin¡¯an City, the influence of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was very small in the entire Great Zhou Empire. It could not even be ranked. After all, Lin¡¯an City was only one of the many intermediate cities of the Great Zhou Empire. It was a small city with a population of less than a million. It could not be compared to other large cities. Even if a famous expert was born in Lin¡¯an City, it was impossible for him to stay here forever. As for the hidden experts, since they had all hidden themselves, what could they do? This was also the reason why the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, He Yushan, could lead the Dragon Gate Escort Agency to become an overlord of Lin¡¯an City even though he was only a first-rate expert. However, the reputation of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was only limited to the vicinity of Lin¡¯an City. It could not spread throughout the entire Great Zhou Empire. Furthermore, according to Zhang Xuan¡¯s understanding, it was said that there were even more powerful dynasties outside the Great Zhou Empire. That was something that mortals could not see in their entire lives. After all, mortals had limited abilities and were busy with their livelihoods. For example, most mortals in Lin¡¯an City had never walked out of Lin¡¯an City in their lives. They did not even know how big the Great Zhou Empire was, let alone other countries. Zhang Xuan was the best example. He had transmigrated to this world for a year and had almost never left Lin¡¯an City. He had only heard about the Great Zhou Empire. As for what the empires outside the Great Zhou Empire were like, he had no idea at all. After all, he had only transmigrated to this world for a year and had been working as a long-term worker at the escort agency. There was a limit to the number of people he could come into contact with, so he naturally did not know much. However, this was not important to Zhang Xuan. It was also because the Great Zhou Empire respected martial arts that the development of Great Zhou¡¯s martial arts was thriving. It could be described as everyone in the empire practicing martial arts. Since the Dragon Gate Escort Agency could become an overlord of Lin¡¯an City, it was naturally not weak. Even long-term workers could learn some basic martial arts, such as the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. Although the Martial Ancestor Long Fist was only a basic martial art that anyone could cultivate, there was still a huge difference between the level they were cultivating and the level they could eventually reach. For example, most of the long-term workers in the Escort Agency were ordinary people without talent. Apart from strengthening their bodies, their martial arts ancestor¡¯s Long Fist did not improve much. This also caused many people to not be able to persevere in cultivating every day like Zhang Xuan. They had all come to the escort agency to work as long-term workers. This meant that these were all people at the bottom of the society who had to work hard to survive. These people did not have any ambitions. They were satisfied just to have something to eat. How could they waste more time on martial arts? However, Zhang Xuan was different from the others. He was filled with curiosity and anticipation for this exciting world. He would leave the escort agency to broaden his horizons sooner or later. In a wuxia1-like world, there were many sects in the martial arts world. There must be many heroes who wielded swords and traveled the world. There were also many evil people who had done many evil deeds. This world must be very exciting! Since he had transmigrated to this world and had an endless lifespan, wouldn¡¯t it be very boring if he kept hiding? Not to mention making a name for himself, he had to at least experience this colorful martial arts world. Not only did he have to travel through the Great Zhou Empire, but he also had to visit other empires that mortals could not go to in their entire lives. However, in a world where martial arts were respected, one could not protect themselves without martial arts. There was no right or wrong in this world. There was only a difference in strength. No matter what the strong did, it was right. No matter how reasonable the weak were, their deaths would be in vain. Martial arts were respected. Strength was the reason! Zhang Xuan, who knew this very well, was not in a hurry to walk out. He planned to slowly practice the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. Only when one was strong would they have the ability to protect themselves. Only then would they have the capital and confidence to experience the great rivers and mountains and witness the love and hatred of the children of the martial arts world. However, martial arts was not something that could be done overnight, especially for a mortal like Zhang Xuan who did not have talent or background. It would take an unimaginable amount of time to master a martial art. With the martial arts system that Zhang Xuan understood, there were a total of 13 levels. It was basically impossible for ordinary people to cultivate to the 13th level. Martial arts were different from other arts. Different people could cultivate the same martial arts, but there was a huge difference between their own improvement and the martial power they could exert. Moreover, the further one cultivate, the greater the difference. Many self-proclaimed geniuses improved at lightning speed when they first practiced martial arts, but they often could not improve themselves afterwards for a few years or even decades. Especially the 13th level of martial arts. Every level needed a lot of time to improve. The more profound the martial arts, the more difficult it was to cultivate. Moreover, talented people disdained to cultivate basic martial arts. After all, mortals had limited lifespans and energy. No one would be stupid enough to waste their time and energy on cultivating basic martial arts when they had the chance to cultivate profound martial arts. Everyone knew that there was a limit to basic martial arts. In the opinion of most people, they would not achieve much even if they cultivated their basic martial arts to the extreme. On the other hand, profound martial arts were often even more obscure and difficult to understand. Even talented people needed to spend countless time practicing them. How long could a person live? How much time did they have to practice? This was also the reason why very few people could cultivate martial arts to the 13th level. However, Zhang Xuan was different. He had time and lifespan! Besides that, Zhang Xuan also had the system. This was his greatest trump card! It was also his confidence to remain calm no matter what environment he was in! Chapter 3 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Time flies. I¡¯ve unknowingly been in this world for a year!¡± Zhang Xuan suppressed his wandering thoughts and whispered. Although he did not know much about this world, he was filled with hope for the future. This confidence came from the system. With a thought, a virtual interface appeared in Zhang Xuan¡¯s mind. This interface was very simple. There were only a few messages. [Host: Zhang Xuan] [Cultivation Technique: Martial Ancestor Long Fist] [Points: 0] This system was awakened after Zhang Xuan joined the Escort Agency and started learning martial arts. The system did not have many functions, but it was very suitable for Zhang Xuan, who had transmigrated to a martial arts world. As long as he practiced martial arts, he could obtain one point from the system every year, and points could be used to deduce cultivation techniques. To put it bluntly, the so-called deduction cultivation technique did not need him to cultivate it. The points obtained from the system could help him complete his cultivation and save time. It could be said that no matter how peerless a genius was, he or she paled in front of the system. It had been a year since the decision on the system. Zhang Xuan was about to receive his first point. This was also what he looked forward to the most. Although Zhang Xuan had become very calm after a year of experience, he was still looking forward to the point he was about to obtain. However, Zhang Xuan still looked the same as usual and did not show any emotions. After dinner as usual, Zhang Xuan quietly came outside after everyone else had rested. The wait was always long. Even the usually calm Zhang Xuan could not maintain his composure. When midnight arrived, Zhang Xuan, who had been staring at the system interface, smiled. [Host: Zhang Xuan] [Cultivation Technique: Martial Ancestor Long Fist] [Points: 1] The point that Zhang Xuan was looking forward to the most had arrived. This made him very excited. After all, this was a world where martial arts were respected, and the strength of martial arts determined the height one could stand at in this world. The points obtained from the system could be used to deduce cultivation techniques. It could allow Zhang Xuan to improve himself in a shorter period of time. How could he not be excited? ¡°It¡¯s been a year. I can finally deduce cultivation techniques!¡± Zhang Xuan let out a shaky breath. After calming down, he used his points to deduce the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. The Martial Ancestor Long Fist was the only martial art that Zhang Xuan cultivated at the moment. Although the Martial Ancestor Long Fist was the most basic martial art and Zhang Xuan could only cultivate the Martial Ancestor Long Fist at the moment, he could obtain one point every year. Zhang Xuan did not feel that it was a waste. Only by strengthening himself would he have more chances to obtain stronger cultivation techniques. With a thought from Zhang Xuan, the points on the system interface disappeared, and the Martial Ancestor Long Fist circulated on its own. Although Zhang Xuan had persisted in practicing the Martial Ancestor Long Fist for a year, he had only cultivated it to the second level. It could be seen how difficult it was to improve by relying on one¡¯s own hard work. This was also the reason why almost no one could reach the 13th level! Even if Zhang Xuan had an endless lifespan and had the chance to reach the 13th level with time, it was unknown how long it would take. But it was different now! The points obtained from the system almost instantly deduced the Martial Ancestor Long Fist to the 13th level. Moreover, all his insights were fused into Zhang Xuan¡¯s body at the same time as the deduction was completed. ¡°Crack crack¡­¡± A violent power flowed through Zhang Xuan¡¯s eight extraordinary meridians and refined his body. A series of crackling sounds like firecrackers sounded in his body. Zhang Xuan hurriedly composed himself and guided the power in his body to complete the Heavenly Cycle. The aura around his body also soared crazily. He directly rose from an unproficient practitioner to a second-rate expert. Only then did the violent power that washed through his eight extraordinary meridians disappear. Mortal martial arts were roughly divided into three proficiency, second-rate, first-rate, Connate, Grandmaster and Great Grandmaster. Although second-rate experts looked ordinary, they had already surpassed most people in a place like Lin¡¯an City. A second-rate expert in the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, an overlord of Lin¡¯an City, was comparable to the escort leaders. The status of the escort agency was divided according to strength. The strongest was naturally the first-rate expert, chief escort He Yushan. Below the chief escort was the second-rate experts, the escort leaders and below the escort leader was the third-rate experts, the escorts. Although there were nearly 100 escorts in the entire Dragon Gate Escort Agency, apart from the first-rate expert He Yushan, there were less than 10 second-rate experts¡¯ escort leaders. With Zhang Xuan¡¯s current strength, he could directly become the escort leader of the escort agency. However, Zhang Xuan was not prepared to expose his strength. Instead, he chose to keep a low profile. After all, second-rate experts only had some ability to protect themselves in a small place like Lin¡¯an City. They were still not worth mentioning in the Great Zhou Empire. As for getting rid of his status as a long-term worker and becoming the envied escort leader of countless people, Zhang Xuan did not have this thought at all. This year¡¯s experience had long made Zhang Xuan indifferent to everything. Apart from obtaining some material enjoyment from his false reputation, it was not very helpful for him to see this exciting world. His horizons were different from others. His thoughts were not what others could imagine, so he would not let others know his trump cards for material enjoyment and some false reputation. Zhang Xuan, who had undergone a transformation from the inside out, could not help but want to see how much his strength had increased. He threw a punch. ¡°Phew¡­ Bang!¡± The wind from the punch whistled, and the air seemed to explode. This punch landed on a tree trunk as thick as an adult¡¯s trunk. The tree shook violently, as if it would break at any moment. When Zhang Xuan retracted his fist, the fist mark pierced into the wood. With the fist mark as the center, the tree trunk was covered in cracks like spiderwebs. ¡°So, this is a second-rate expert?¡± Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. He was in a good mood. Previously, he could only leave a faint fist mark on the tree trunk with his full strength. And now, a casual punch without even using half of his strength could leave a fist mark that was deeply embedded. It was enough to show how much his improvement was. The difference between an unproficient practitioner and a second-rate expert was like the difference between heaven and earth. ¡°The effect of the points is also very strong. I deduced all 13 levels of the Martial Ancestor Long Fist with just one point and I still seem to have some strength left.¡± Unfortunately, the Martial Ancestor Long Fist was only a basic martial art after all. There was no follow-up. If there were better martial arts, the effect should be more obvious. Unfortunately, with his current identity, he could only come into contact with the common Martial Ancestor Long Fist. However, Zhang Xuan was not disappointed. He was already very satisfied with being promoted from an unproficient practitioner to a second-rate expert. If he had not obtained points from the system to deduce the Martial Ancestor Long Fist, he would not know when he would be able to advance to a second-rate expert if he relied on himself to practice. Furthermore, he had an advantage that no one else had¡ªan endless lifespan! Coupled with the existence of the system, it was only a matter of time before he became a powerhouse. Zhang Xuan, who was in a good mood, did not think too much about it. He turned around and returned to his room to rest. Chapter 4 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Zhang Xuan woke up on time when the first light of dawn appeared in the east. This was a habit he had developed in the escort agency for the past year. No matter what happened, it had never stopped. Although he was a second-rate expert now, there were less than 10 people in the entire Escort Agency who were stronger than him, Zhang Xuan was not proud of that. He still started another day of work as usual. Arriving at the horse stall, Zhang Xuan had just placed the grass into the horse trough when someone rushed over and shouted at Zhang Xuan, ¡°Zhang Xuan, don¡¯t be busy first. The chief escort has something to announce. He gathers everyone. Follow me quickly.¡± Zhang Xuan was a little surprised. He was a long-term worker of the escort agency. Why did a long-term worker like him need to participate? However, although Zhang Xuan was puzzled, he did not ask further. He nodded slightly and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Zhang Xuan quickly added fodder to all the horses and quickly arrived at the front yard of the escort agency. The Dragon Gate Escort Agency occupied an area of dozens of kilometers and was formed by four connected courtyards. The long-term laborers of the escort agency basically worked in the backyard and were in charge of the escort agency¡¯s daily life and logistics. The west courtyard was where the escorts and the escort leaders lived, while the chief escort¡¯s family lived in the backyard. The front courtyard was used to receive merchants and there was a huge martial arts arena for the escorts to practice martial arts. A long-term worker like Zhang Xuan usually could not come to the front yard casually. Even if he had finished his work, he could only move around in the backyard. Although Zhang Xuan had been in the escort agency for a year, the number of times he came to the front yard could be counted on one hand. After passing through a few doors, the scene in front of him suddenly became clear. The first thing he saw was a three-story hall. It was majestic and spectacular. This hall was the Guest Welcoming Building of the escort agency. Those who could enter the Guest Welcoming Building were all high-ranking officials, noble people, and famous families. In front of the hall was a huge martial arts arena. All kinds of weapons were displayed on both sides of the martial arts arena. When Zhang Xuan arrived at the martial arts arena, not only were there escorts from the escort agency, but there were also many long-term workers who did manual labor like him. Zhang Xuan walked into the group of the long-term workers quietly and waited. ¡°Who knows why the chief escort gathered so many people?¡± ¡°There should be something big to announce!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious? The key is what big thing is he going to announce?¡± Many people whispered to each other, not knowing what had happened. At this moment, a burly middle-aged man walked over with majestic steps, followed by a few burly men. ¡°Greetings, Chief Escort!¡± As soon as the burly man appeared, everyone hurriedly greeted him respectfully. The person who came was none other than the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, He Yushan, a famous first-rate expert in Lin¡¯an City. ¡°I gathered you here today to choose a few henchmen from among you people.¡± Hearing this, everyone had different expressions. Some were expectant, and some were nervous and uneasy. The henchman that He Yushan mentioned could participate in the escort mission and was treated better than a long-term worker. However, he was also the lowest-level person in the escort team. He would do hard work, clear the way when they encountered mountains, and build bridges when they encountered water. This kind of work was very dangerous for ordinary people. This was also the reason why some people were nervous when they heard this news. The people who were looking forward to it wanted to earn more and have a chance to improve. The nervous people did not have any martial arts skills and were worried that they would encounter danger on the way. Zhang Xuan did not react to this. Although the escort agency seldom chose henchmen from the long-term workers, it was not unheard of. Zhang Xuan did not care if he could be chosen. Because he adhered to a low-key style of doing things. He would not stand up for himself when something happened, but he would not retreat either. After all, he only treated the Dragon Gate Escort Agency as a temporary shelter and did not have any intention of having much influence in the escort agency. Otherwise, with his strength as a second-rate expert, he could directly become an escort leader. After He Yushan finished speaking, he chose five to six people from the group of long-term workers. Zhang Xuan was one of the five to six people chosen. ¡°The few of you go back and prepare well. We¡¯ll be escorting at this time tomorrow.¡± After saying that, He Yushan turned around and left. The few people who were chosen were very excited. They gathered together and chatted warmly. ¡°We finally have a chance to participate in the escort mission. The few of us have to work together to leave a good impression on the chief escort.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. This is our chance to perform. If we do well, they¡¯ll choose us the next time there¡¯s an escort mission.¡± Hearing their discussion, Zhang Xuan immediately lost interest. In this world where martial arts were respected, everything was nonsense without powerful strength. Although the income of being a henchman would be higher, there was also danger in it. It was even more ridiculous to try to leave a good impression on the chief escort. This world did not lack long-term workers at all. However, no matter how good a long-term worker was, they were still long-term workers. Although Zhang Xuan did not care about this mission, he still had to make preparations since he had been chosen. After all, this was a world where martial arts were respected. Even if the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was an overlord, they could not guarantee that no one would target them. It was related to his own safety. He could not take it too seriously. After returning to his residence, Zhang Xuan tidied up and went out to find out what the escort mission was tomorrow. After asking around, Zhang Xuan basically learned the information he wanted at night. This escort mission was led by the chief escort¡¯s daughter, He Lingxue, as the escort leader. There were also a few escorts in the group. Although He Lingxue was a female, as the daughter of the local expert, He Yushan, she had practiced martial arts since she was young. Coupled with her talent, she was promoted to a third-rate expert at the age of 20. She was also a famous young elite in Lin¡¯an City. Although Zhang Xuan had almost never interacted with He Lingxue, he still had some understanding of the various rumors about this Missy. Not only was she very talented in martial arts, but she was also beautiful. She had countless suitors. It was not an exaggeration to say that her suitors could form a line that stretched from the east to the west of the city. The goods of the current escort mission were items from the Mount Song Sect, one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou. The Mount Song Sect could become one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire because there were many experts in the sect. Almost no martial arts sect dared to make an enemy of it. Hence, this trip was very safe. After Zhang Xuan found out about this, he understood why He Lingxue was asked to lead the team. It was obvious that she was given a relatively safe opportunity to train. Not everyone could come into contact with Mount Song Sect, one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire. However, if he was chosen to become a henchman, he would have a chance to interact with the people of Mount Song Sect and see more experts. After all, he had lived in an escort agency for almost a year after transmigrating to this world. His understanding of this world was only hearsay, and the information he learned was very limited. No matter how calm Zhang Xuan was, he was still looking forward to the opportunity to walk out of the escort agency and Lin¡¯an City. Chapter 5 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations The next day, outside the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. More than 10 carriages were lined up. They were filled with goods and covered by felt cloth. On the flagpoles erected on both sides of the carriage, flags with the words ¡°Dragon Gate Escort Agency¡± were hung. They fluttered in the wind. Dozens of escorts with swords hanging on their bodies rode on tall horses with an imposing aura. They guarded the convoy. As the henchmen of this escort mission, Zhang Xuan and the selected long-term workers naturally did not have the escorts¡¯ treatment. They could only follow on both sides of the carriage. After all, they were only long-term workers of the escort agency and were here to do manual labor. They could not be compared to escorts. After the convoy and escorts were ready, three riders rushed out of the escort agency and immediately attracted everyone¡¯s attention. At the front was a young woman in a green robe with a red fox fur scarf. Her hair was tied up high and she had a long sword hanging at her waist. The woman sat on the huge horse, looking valiant and heroic. Her face was especially beautiful and flawless, giving off a feeling that one could only look at her from afar and not dare to profane her. ¡°Greetings, Missy!¡± Everyone bowed with cupped fists and was extremely respectful to the woman. From the way everyone addressed her, the woman¡¯s identity was self-evident. She was the daughter of the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, He Yushan, He Lingxue! The two young men behind He Lingxue had thick eyebrows and big eyes. They were all dressed in tight clothes and carried a large saber on their backs. They had powerful auras. These two people were the youngest escorts in the escort agency. Their names were Li Feng and Zhao Zhen. They were childhood playmates with He Lingxue. They still liked to follow He Lingxue after they grew up. ¡°I¡¯ll be leading the team this time. Everyone, perk up.¡± He Lingxue glanced at everyone and waved her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± As soon as He Lingxue finished speaking, the group escorted the goods on their way. Zhang Xuan, who was following the convoy, was naturally curious about the outside world. This was his first time traveling far. Especially after the convoy left Lin¡¯an City, Zhang Xuan saw the surging river and a city that was even taller and more majestic than Lin¡¯an City. There were also chivalrous swordsmen who traveled the world with their swords and Jianghu villains who were being hunted. Along the way, not only did he see more vast mountains and rivers, but there were also all kinds of people. This made Zhang Xuan look forward to the outside world even more. Of course, Zhang Xuan did not forget his mission. While admiring the beautiful mountains and rivers and experiencing the local customs, he would always appear immediately whenever he was needed. With the influence of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, the journey was very smooth and nothing happened to the team. The only interlude was Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, who were beside He Lingxue. In order to show off in front of He Lingxue, not only were they trying to please her, but they were also competing with each other. It was fine if they were jealous, but they had to pull the people in the team to stand on their side. This annoyed Zhang Xuan. However, even if Zhang Xuan was unhappy, he did not show it on the surface. He only treated it as a joke. After all, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen were He Lingxue¡¯s childhood sweethearts. Although they were not very strong in the escort agency, their status was higher than other escorts. As long as these two people did not find trouble with him, Zhang Xuan could not be bothered. He was only a second-rate expert now. In this world where martial arts were respected, he could barely protect himself. There was no need to make enemies over a small matter. On this day, the convoy stopped outside a majestic city to rest. Zhang Xuan could not help but look around, wanting to see the prosperous scenery of this city. However, in the eyes of the others, his curiosity was mistaken for vigilance. One of the middle-aged escorts came to Zhang Xuan¡¯s side and chuckled. ¡°Young man, this is your first time escorting a convoy, right?¡± Zhang Xuan did not understand, but he still nodded. ¡°I could tell long ago that you were very nervous along the way and very vigilant. However, no one dares to touch the escort agency. There¡¯s no need to be so nervous.¡± Hearing this, Zhang Xuan realized that the other party had misunderstood him. ¡°I got it.¡± Zhang Xuan did not explain and nodded with a smile. Although this escort had misunderstood him, he did it out of good intentions. Moreover, Zhang Xuan did not care what these people thought of him. Whether they thought that he was timid or cautious, it did not affect him much. Only by developing in a low profile could he go further and stand higher. After the convoy rested for the night, they sped up under He Lingxue¡¯s urging. After a long journey, crossing three prefectures and spending eight days, they finally arrived at the territory of Mount Song Sect without any mishaps. The prefectural city was a large city under the Great Zhou Empire. Under each prefectural city, there were more than 10 cities. Lin¡¯an City belonged to Longxi Prefecture, and Mount Song Sect was located in Anyang City, Hanzhong Prefecture. The two places were thousands of kilometers apart. It could be said to be very fast to cross such a long distance in eight days. However, the convoy did not enter Anyang City directly. Instead, they waited outside the city for the people from Mount Song Sect to accept the items. After all, the Mount Song Sect was one of the largest sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Not everyone could enter it. The escort agency was only a little famous near Lin¡¯an City. It could not be compared to the Mount Song Sect. However, they did not have to work as hard as on the road when they arrived at the territory of the Mount Song Sect. They could relax. ¡°This trip can be considered the easiest. Moreover, it¡¯s equivalent to our income from working hard in the escort agency for a few months.¡± ¡°We have to do our best to fight for such an opportunity next time.¡± The few long-term workers who had been chosen like Zhang Xuan gathered together and discussed it warmly again. Not only were they happy because their income had increased, but they were also excited because of what they had seen and heard along the way. After all, these people had never even walked out of Lin¡¯an City. It was undoubtedly a huge impact for them to see the exciting world outside for the first time. They yearned for the exciting world outside! However, these people¡¯s yearning for the outside world was different from Zhang Xuan¡¯s. Zhang Xuan not only wanted to see the Great Zhou Empire, but the entire world. Moreover, not only did Zhang Xuan want to see it, but he also wanted to experience this world personally. Zhang Xuan did not participate in the discussions of the few long-term workers, nor did he care what the escorts were doing. He looked at Anyang City, where the Mount Song Sect was located, with a glint in his eyes. It was one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire, so it must have many top-notch martial arts, right? With his trump card, it would not be difficult for him to advance further if he could obtain top-notch martial arts. However, top-notch martial arts could only be chanced upon by luck. Zhang Xuan only thought about it. He did not have any designs on Mount Song Sect¡¯s martial arts. As for joining the Mount Song Sect, Zhang Xuan had no such thought at all. With his endless lifespan and system, did he need to seek protection from others? He had no choice but to work as a long-term worker in the escort agency this year. After all, he was only a mortal when he first transmigrated to this world. In order to survive, he could only rely on others. However, it was different now. He had already become a second-rate expert. The escort agency waited for the entire day, but there was no one from the Mount Song Sect to pick up the goods. This made He Lingxue unable to sit still. She immediately sent someone to contact the Mount Song Sect. Not long after, the person sent to contact them brought back a piece of news. ¡°Missy, Anyang City has been sealed!¡± Everyone was stunned when they heard this. Why was the city suddenly sealed? He Lingxue immediately sent more people to investigate. After all, the goods they were escorting had not been handed over to the Mount Song Sect. It would be the escort agency¡¯s responsibility if anything really happened. Zhang Xuan and the other long-term workers were also sent out to gather information. After all, it was useless for them to stay. However, Zhang Xuan did not act with the others. Instead, he went to gather information alone and quickly figured out the reason why Mount Song Sect suddenly sealed the city. It turned out that a traitor of the Mount Song Sect had stolen the sect¡¯s secret manual and was currently trapped in the city! They sealed the city to catch the traitor who stole the secret manual! Chapter 6 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°The secret manual of the Mount Song Sect?¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard this news. He was even more excited. He had been thinking that if he could obtain the martial arts of Mount Song Sect, he would be able to improve further. However, the martial arts of the Mount Song Sect were not something he could obtain just because he wanted to. However, it was different now. The secret manual of Mount Song Sect had been stolen. This was an opportunity for Zhang Xuan! However, this thought flashed across his mind and was quickly suppressed by Zhang Xuan. To be safe, he did not plan to take the risk. Putting aside the fact that Anyang City was sealed, even if it wasn¡¯t, he might not be able to find the traitor of Mount Song Sect who stole the secret manual. Even if they met, he might not be able to defeat the other party. Zhang Xuan circled around Anyang City. When he passed by a dense forest outside the city, a figure suddenly rushed in front of Zhang Xuan and reached out to grab him. ¡°A third-rate expert!¡± Seeing the other party¡¯s speed, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows and a glint flashed across his eyes. Although Zhang Xuan was shocked by the sudden change, he did not panic. Not only did he not have any intention of dodging, he even took the initiative to welcome it. ¡°Crack¡­ Ah!¡± Zhang Xuan clenched his fists and crippled the person¡¯s hands. The sound of bones breaking was accompanied by a scream. The man who ambushed Zhang Xuan fell to the ground. Zhang Xuan looked up. This was a middle-aged man in his forties. He was the kind of person who would disappear in a crowd. ¡°Sneak attack on me? You¡¯re quite bold!¡± Zhang Xuan took a step forward and stepped on the man¡¯s chest, chuckling. ¡°Hero, please spare me. I fail to recognize a formidable person. Please forgive me this time.¡± The man endured the pain in his hands and his begging voice trembled. He felt even more regretful. Who would have thought that a random person would actually be a second-rate expert? Although the martial arts level could not be seen, as a third-rate expert, the man could sense that Zhang Xuan was at least a second-rate expert. Otherwise, it was impossible for him to be able to attack later under his sneak attack and yet cripple his hands. It was obvious that the difference between him and Zhang Xuan was extraordinary. Especially him, whose hands were crippled, he was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Apart from begging for mercy, he had no ability to resist Zhang Xuan. ¡°Hero, I was chased by Mount Song Sect and finally escaped from the underground river in the city. I had no choice but to find someone to change my identity. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you¡­¡± The terrified man did not dare to hide anything from Zhang Xuan and told him everything. This person was actually the traitor who stole the secret manual of Mount Song Sect? Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He had already given up on the secret manual. He did not expect it to come knocking on his door! ¡°Where¡¯s the secret manual?¡± Zhang Xuan asked in a low voice. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to ask about the grudges between the man and Mount Song Sect. The secret manual of the Mount Song Sect was what he needed the most! ¡°The secret manual is not with me. As long as you let me go, I¡¯m willing to give it to you.¡± The man hurriedly replied. He had already sensed Zhang Xuan¡¯s killing intent just now, so he took the initiative to expose his identity to fight for a chance to survive. After all, the Mount Song Sect was one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Sect secret manuals were extremely attractive to anyone. The man believed that Zhang Xuan would not be an exception. Once Zhang Xuan let down his guard, he would have a chance to escape. However, the man did not know Zhang Xuan well. Zhang Xuan saw through his thoughts at a glance. ¡°Hand over the secret manual or die!¡± Zhang Xuan sneered at the man. He exerted a little force with his feet, and the sound of bones shattering sounded. The man let out another scream. Especially when he met Zhang Xuan¡¯s cold gaze, the man¡¯s heart trembled. Those eyes were too cold and emotionless, giving him the illusion that he was facing a ferocious beast. ¡°You won¡¯t tell me?¡± Zhang Xuan exerted strength again. The man was in complete despair. He could only put away all his thoughts and shout anxiously, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, don¡¯t attack!¡± An hour later, Zhang Xuan received the secret manual that the man had stolen from the Mount Song Sect. Zhang Xuan was very satisfied. ¡°Hero, I¡¯ve given you the secret manual. Is it¡­¡± The man was so frightened that he wanted to beg for mercy, but he was killed by Zhang Xuan with a punch halfway through his sentence. The Mount Song Sect was one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire. How could he leave a hidden danger for himself after taking the secret manual of the Mount Song Sect? Only the dead could really keep secrets, especially in this world where martial arts were respected. There could not be any mercy! After dealing with the man¡¯s corpse, Zhang Xuan returned to the convoy as if nothing had happened. Knowing that the secret manual of Mount Song Sect had been stolen, it was useless for He Lingxue to be anxious. She could only wait. Fortunately, Anyang City was unsealed a few days later. The Mount Song Sect searched the entire city but could not find the traitor, so they could only give up for the time being. After the people from Mount Song Sect finished receiving the supplies, Zhang Xuan and the others returned home. They returned much faster and only took five days. After returning to the escort agency, Zhang Xuan returned to his usual life. He woke up on time every day to feed the horses and clean the courtyard. However, after the others fell asleep, Zhang Xuan would secretly cultivate the Mount Song Sect¡¯s secret manual. This martial art was called ¡°Connate Technique¡±. As the name suggested, this was a martial art that could be cultivated to the Connate realm. Connate experts were already considered martial arts experts! The sect master of the Mount Song Sect was only at the Connate level, and the reason why the Mount Song Sect could become one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire was because it had a Connate expert presiding over it. Not only were Connate experts powerful, but their influence and deterrence were also incomparable. There were only a handful of people in the entire Great Zhou Empire who had broken through to the Connate realm. All of them were sect masters who were famous in the pugilistic world. Under the night sky, Zhang Xuan quietly left the small courtyard and found a place where no one would come to continue practicing his Connate Technique. This was already the 10th day since he returned to the escort agency, and also the 10th day since he cultivated the manual. However, Zhang Xuan had not even comprehended the basics of the Connate Technique these few days. ¡°It¡¯s still not right!¡± He tried to cultivate according to his comprehension, but he realized that it still didn¡¯t work. This made Zhang Xuan very helpless. ¡°Looks like my aptitude is too poor!¡± Zhang Xuan sighed helplessly. He originally thought that after obtaining the Connate Technique, even if he used up all his points and relied on himself to cultivate, he would at least be able to comprehend a level. In the end, he could not even start on the basics, let alone think about anything else. The restrictions of his martial arts talent prevented him from cultivating at all. However, Zhang Xuan only felt that it was a pity. He was not too disappointed or disappointed. After all, he still had the system as his trump card. As long as he waited for a year, he could use the points to deduce it. ¡°Let¡¯s not practice for the time being.¡± After several days of trying, Zhang Xuan finally chose to give up temporarily. Chapter 7 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°It was no wonder there were so few Connate experts. It turns out that not everyone can cultivate profound martial arts.¡± The Connate Technique allowed Zhang Xuan to truly understand why talented people could stand at a higher height. If not for the system, who knew how long it would take to advance to the Connate Realm even if he had an endless lifespan. However, even with the system that could allow him to surpass those talented people, Zhang Xuan still faced many problems. The Connate Technique could be deduced using the system points to increase his strength. However, the Connate Technique was a secret manual of the Mount Song Sect. It was very easy for others to see through it. It would be difficult to explain when the time came. It was not that Zhang Xuan was afraid of the Mount Song Sect. After all, the Mount Song Sect was one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire. It had a Connate expert holding down and presiding over it. He kept strengthening himself not because he wanted to compete with anyone, but because he wanted to have the ability to protect himself when he explored this world. ¡°I still have to think of a way to practice other martial arts.¡± While Zhang Xuan was prepared to use points to deduce the Connate Technique next year, he also wanted to learn other martial arts. However, although there were many martial arts techniques in the world, they could not be learned just because one wanted to. Especially with Zhang Xuan¡¯s current identity, he was only a long-term worker in the escort agency. If he had not been chosen to be the henchman last time, he would not have had the chance to obtain the secret manual of the Mount Song Sect. At the thought of this, Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes darted around. He knew that he couldn¡¯t keep a low profile like before. He had to make some changes to leave Lin¡¯an City. Of course, changing did not mean being high-profile. It only meant that he would not have to be a long-term worker in the escort agency. He still had to keep a low profile. After all, he was only a second-rate expert now and did not have the ability to protect himself. However, with his strength as a second-rate expert, it was still very easy for him to change his identity in the escort agency. Not to mention becoming an escort leader, it was not difficult for him to become a qualified henchman. If he followed the escorts more and slowly displayed some of his strength during this process, he would definitely be appreciated by the escort agency. This was a world where martial arts was respected, especially a force like the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. They relied on their strength to make a living. As long as it could bring benefits to the escort agency, they would be able to obtain the corresponding status and income. At the same time, they would have more opportunities to interact with the outside world. After some consideration, Zhang Xuan quickly came up with a plan. While continuing to keep a low profile, he would use the escort agency to leave Lin¡¯an City and pave the way for him to see a wider world. *** Time flew by like a river. It was the second year since Zhang Xuan came to this world. On this day, the escort agency was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners and was extremely lively. Dozens of long tables were placed in the hall of the Guest Welcoming Building in the front courtyard. The tables were filled with wine and delicacies. All the escorts and escort leaders were gathered in the escort agency. Even the chief escort, He Yushan, was sitting in front of the table. The entire hall was filled with laughter. ¡°Today, our Dragon Gate Escort Agency has three new escorts. Congratulations!¡± At this moment, the burly He Yushan stood up and looked at the three people in front of him. These three people were originally long-term workers of the escort agency. In the past year, they had followed the escorts everywhere and became one of the few henchmen who survived. Zhang Xuan was one of the three. The other two were called Zhou An and Sun Ming. They were both old-timers from the escort agency and were almost 40 years old. The three of them performed well and their strength also advanced by leaps and bounds, especially Zhang Xuan. He slowly improved his strength and gradually reached a third-rate standard. He was very appreciated by He Yushan. He and Zhou An were promoted to official escorts at the same time and could be in charge of escorting missions. Today¡¯s banquet was a celebratory feast for the three of them. Not only was He Yushan powerful, but he was also very forthright. No matter what background one had, he would admire him as long as he was capable. This was also the reason why the Dragon Gate Escort Agency could rope in nearly 100 escorts and become the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City. Only by knowing how to win people over could his subordinates work hard for his escort agency. Just like today¡¯s celebratory banquet, it was enough to boost the egos of Zhang Xuan and the other two. It also let the others see how much he valued his subordinates. They had just become the escorts, but he had already held a celebratory banquet for them to enjoy today¡¯s glory and treatment. How could they not devote themselves to the escort agency? Regardless of whether others could understand it or not, Zhang Xuan understood He Yushan¡¯s intentions. However, he admired He Yushan¡¯s actions. This was the bearing that an expert should have. ¡°Congratulations!¡± ¡°Congratulations!¡± As soon as He Yushan finished speaking, the others congratulated him with cupped fists, making Zhang Xuan and the other two very excited. Of course, Zhang Xuan¡¯s excitement was different from the other two. He was just going through the motions to deal with it. From a long-term worker to an official escort in a year was an unattainable transformation for countless people. Ordinary people would definitely be excited. Especially when the chief escort, He Yushan, personally held a banquet to celebrate it. It was a huge honor to give them such extravagance. Zhang Xuan did not want to appear too special, so he showed the excitement that a normal person would have. However, in reality, he was calm and did not care much about his status as an escort. After all, what he wanted was not his status and income in the escort agency, but to pave the way for him to leave the escort agency. It was not worth showing off. This was just the first step on his path to becoming an expert. ¡°Thank you for your nurturing, Chief Escort. We will definitely not let you down and do our best for the Dragon Gate Escort Agency!¡± The three of them returned He Yushan, the escorts, and the escort leader¡¯s goodwill with cupped fists. ¡°Work hard. The escort agency won¡¯t mistreat anyone!¡± He Yushan nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s drink to our hearts¡¯ content today. We won¡¯t go home until we¡¯re drunk!¡± With He Yushan¡¯s words, the atmosphere in the hall became even warmer. After everyone sat down, they toasted each other, ate meat, and drank. The escort agency was usually very busy and rarely had time to relax like today. At this moment, everyone was drinking freely. There were many people around Zhou An and Sun Ming, all congratulating them. To be able to become an official escort from a long-term worker was still very respected by everyone. In addition, these two people were usually very good at socializing. Many escorts had a good relationship with them. On Zhang Xuan¡¯s side, only a few people came to congratulate him symbolically. Soon, they ran to other tables to drink. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about this. Moreover, he did not like celebratory banquets. It was not that Zhang Xuan did not like crowds, but he did not want to deal with others. This was because Zhang Xuan knew very well that no matter how many people he befriended, it was better to strengthen himself. As long as you were strong enough, everyone would take the initiative to befriend you. In addition, he usually spoke very little and did not have any conflicts with anyone. However, he did not have much friendship with others either, so his side seemed a little cold. Chapter 8 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the Guest Welcoming Building¡¯s hall of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. ¡°Zhang Xuan, let¡¯s go and toast the chief escort.¡± The middle-aged escort sitting beside Zhang Xuan stood up and waved at him. Zhang Xuan smiled and said, ¡°I drank a little too much. I need to take a break. You can go first.¡± The middle-aged escort laughed and did not say anything else. He carried a jar of wine and ran towards He Yushan¡¯s table. Zhang Xuan looked up. Most of the escorts had gathered at He Yushan¡¯s table and were queuing up to toast him. As for He Lingxue, who was beside He Yushan, there were even more young escorts gathered around her, trying to please her. Especially Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, who were not to be outdone. It was unknown if they were under the alcohol¡¯s influence or if they did it on purpose to show off to He Lingxue in front of everyone. Not only did He Lingxue not have any objections, but she also seemed to enjoy the feeling of being sought after. She was amused by Li Feng and Zhao Zhen. Seeing this scene, Zhang Xuan found it a little funny. Li Feng and Zhao Zhen thought that their performance was very eye-catching, but they didn¡¯t know that in Zhang Xuan¡¯s opinion, they were just clowns who only knew how to show off. These two people were destined to not have many achievements. However, Zhang Xuan only treated it as a joke and couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything. This celebratory feast didn¡¯t end until almost midnight. Everyone in the hall drank to their hearts¡¯ content. There were even escorts who passed out drunk in the hall. Zhang Xuan left the Guest Welcoming Building¡¯s main hall with everyone. The moment he returned to his residence, he was no longer drunk. After becoming an official escort, Zhang Xuan moved from the backyard to the west courtyard and had a small courtyard that belonged to him alone. The escort agency¡¯s treatment of escorts was countless times better than that of long-term workers. However, Zhang Xuan was a new escort, so his courtyard was a little remote. Not only was Zhang Xuan not dissatisfied with this, but he also liked it very much. He did not have any intention of interacting much with others. The more remote his residence was, the quieter it would be. It would be convenient for him to do many things and not be disturbed. After washing up, Zhang Xuan did not feel sleepy at all. Instead, he looked excited. ¡°Another year has passed!¡± Today was the day a year after he obtained his first point. It was also the day that Zhang Xuan looked forward to the most. At midnight, Zhang Xuan couldn¡¯t wait to open the system interface. [Host: Zhang Xuan] [Cultivation techniques: Martial Ancestor Long Fist, Connate Technique, Mountain Breaking Fist Technique¡­] [Points: 1] Zhang Xuan was overjoyed when he saw the system points refresh. ¡°I can finally deduce the Connate Technique!¡± Zhang Xuan had traveled extensively in the past year and obtained many cultivation techniques. Coupled with the rewards from the escort agency, he had obtained nearly 10 martial arts techniques. However, the other cultivation techniques were inferior to the ¡°Connate Technique¡±. Now that he had points, Zhang Xuan naturally used them to deduce the ¡°Connate Technique¡±. After all, this was the secret manual of the Mount Song Sect, one of the largest martial arts sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Moreover, it was a top-notch martial art that allowed one to directly cultivate to the Connate realm. This was a top-notch martial art that He Yushan could only chance upon. Zhang Xuan took a deep breath. After suppressing all kinds of thoughts, he used his points to deduce the ¡°Connate Technique¡±. Boom! As the ¡°Connate Technique¡± circulated on its own, the cultivation technique that Zhang Xuan could not comprehend previously turned into the purest comprehension and fused into his mind. These comprehensions were as if he had cultivated the technique for countless years. As they fused into his mind, they directly transformed into his own comprehensions. A domineering power instantly surged into his body and collided crazily in his eight extraordinary meridians, as if it wanted to break through the restraints of his body. Although Zhang Xuan had experienced it before and was prepared in advance, this power was too violent. The moment it surged into his body, his body trembled and he let out a muffled groan. However, Zhang Xuan quickly abandoned all distracting thoughts and guided the power that barged through his body to temper his muscles and broaden his meridians. The biggest reason why martial arts practitioners were stronger than ordinary people was that the power their meridians could withstand was different. The size of an ordinary person¡¯s meridians was innate, and the power they could withstand was limited. As for martial arts practitioners, they used martial arts to constantly temper their bodies and broaden their meridians so that they could withstand a stronger power to circulate and erupt with strength that exceeded the limits of ordinary people. The higher the level of the cultivation technique, the wider the meridians. At the same time, it could also open up many blocked meridians, allowing strength to form a cycle in the body, allowing strength to grow endlessly and maintain at its peak at all times. Under Zhang Xuan¡¯s guidance, the originally barging power slowly became docile and formed a cycle along the eight extraordinary meridians. The aura around Zhang Xuan also soared crazily at this moment, from a second-rate expert to a first-rate expert. This was not the end. His aura continued to soar when he advanced to a legacy expert. Boom! Boom! Zhang Xuan¡¯s body trembled, and it was as if a muffled thunder had exploded in his body. The docile power that was swimming in his eight extraordinary meridians suddenly became violent. Zhang Xuan let out another muffled groan as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. However, he did not have time to think about anything at this moment. He guided the violent power wandering in his eight extraordinary meridians to crazily attack the conception and governor vessels. In an instant, the conception and governor vessels were blasted open, and the violent power formed a huge cycle in his body. The moment his conception and governor vessels were cleared, Zhang Xuan broke through from a first-rate expert to the Connate realm. The aura around him that had been soaring crazily slowly dissipated and finally returned to calm. Zhang Xuan opened his eyes. His eyes were bright and his face was filled with joy. Sitting cross-legged, he suddenly jumped up and punched out, causing the air to explode. BANG! He flew out and punched the fake mountain in the small courtyard, causing the huge fake mountain to explode. The water in the rockery pool boiled, evaporating half of the water. ¡°Connate Realm!¡± Zhang Xuan exclaimed when he saw the terrifying power that erupted from a casual punch. He knew that ¡°Connate Technique¡± was a top-notch martial art and had a chance to break through to the Connate Realm, but he did not expect to break through directly. After all, people in the Connate Realm were already the top experts in the entire Great Zhou Empire. One had to know that the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, He Yushan, was only a first-rate expert. There was no doubt about He Yushan¡¯s martial arts talent. He was definitely a genius, but he could not break through his conception and governor vessels and break through to the Connate realm. Zhang Xuan, who had average talent, only used two years to jump from an ordinary person to a top Connate Realm expert. Who would believe it? Even Zhang Xuan found it unbelievable. At the same time, it also proved that the system points were heaven-defying! ¡°Am I now on par with the sect master of Mount Song Sect?¡± Even Zhang Xuan, who was calm and indifferent, could not help but feel excited. First-rate experts could establish sects, and Connate Realm experts could directly lead sects to become the largest sects. Even if they did not establish a sect, no matter which sect they went to, they would definitely be regarded as equal to or above the sect master. The excited Zhang Xuan could not help but have a thought. Did he still need to stay in the escort agency after breaking through to the Connate Realm? Chapter 9 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Under the night sky, in a quiet courtyard. Zhang Xuan, who had broken through to the Connate Realm, was overjoyed. Whether it was being a long-term worker in the escort agency or becoming a henchman, he was preparing for this day. Now that he had broken through to the Connate Realm in one go, Zhang Xuan¡¯s thoughts drifted. His strength was comparable to the Sect Master of Mount Song Sect. Although he was not invincible in the Great Zhou, he had no problem protecting himself. However, this thought was quickly suppressed by Zhang Xuan. ¡°I¡¯ll observe and solidify my foundation first before making plans.¡± Although he had broken through to the Connate Realm and his foundation was very stable, he had yet to completely control the power of this realm. Moreover, he had not thought of where to start to see this world. After thinking about it, Zhang Xuan finally decided to stay in the escort agency for a period of time. It would not be too late to leave the escort agency after he had decided where to start to see this world. After making a simple plan, Zhang Xuan returned to his room to rest. *** The next day, Zhang Xuan welcomed his first escort mission in his escort career. The mission was very simple. It was to escort an official¡¯s treasures. This mission was not difficult for Zhang Xuan. After all, with his Connate Realm cultivation, it was enough for him to look down on many in the Great Zhou Empire. However, Zhang Xuan did not expect that the person who was doing the mission with him was the chief escort¡¯s daughter, He Lingxue. He Lingxue was also dumbfounded. She flew into a rage on the spot and pointed at Zhang Xuan. ¡°Are you worthy of going on a mission with me?¡± He Lingxue said to Zhang Xuan and went to argue with He Yushan. She was the Missy of the escort agency. It was fine for her to go on missions, but what would others think of her if she was partnered with a newcomer who had just been promoted to an escort? Wouldn¡¯t everyone think that she, the Missy, was on the same level as a newcomer? He Lingxue, who had been pampered since she was young, had always been energetic and did not care about others¡¯ pride. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care much about He Lingxue¡¯s attitude, but he felt a little strange. As for whether He Lingxue would go on a mission with him, he had no intention of forcing her. He would do whatever the escort agency arranged. However, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, who had been following He Lingxue, were very hostile to Zhang Xuan. The two of them looked at Zhang Xuan unkindly and gave him a warning look before rushing after He Lingxue. Not long after, Zhang Xuan received news that he would complete this mission himself. Zhang Xuan was not surprised. He did not intend to rely on anyone to help him. Although this was his first mission, Zhang Xuan did not feel any pressure. He just treated it as an excursion. Zhang Xuan did not need to make any preparations. He directly escorted the goods on their way. It only took three days for Zhang Xuan, who was on his first mission, to return successfully. When he finished his mission and returned to hand over, He Yushan praised Zhang Xuan very much. Zhang Xuan only smiled and did not care about this. After bidding farewell to He Yushan, he went to Lin¡¯an City and only returned at night. Under the silent night sky, Zhang Xuan walked unhurriedly towards his residence. When he passed by the front yard, a familiar voice suddenly reached his ears, making him stop in his tracks. ¡°Lingxue, what do you think of Zhang Xuan?¡± He Yushan¡¯s voice sounded in Zhang Xuan¡¯s ear. It was not that Zhang Xuan deliberately eavesdropped, but his senses had improved many times after breaking through to the Connate Realm. Any movement within a certain range could be sensed. Since he coincidentally heard He Yushan mention him, Zhang Xuan naturally had to figure out what the other party wanted to do. ¡°A third-rate expert. He is just so-so.¡± He Lingxue replied impatiently. In the eyes of ordinary people, third-rate experts were experts that they could only look up to. However, He Lingxue, who had become a third-rate expert at the age of 18, disdained them. Which one of the nearly 100 escorts in the agency was not at least a third-rate expert? Seeing his daughter¡¯s disdain for Zhang Xuan, He Yushan frowned slightly and said patiently, ¡°Lingxue, although Zhang Xuan is only a third-rate expert, he relied on his own hard work to improve step by step. Moreover, he¡¯s a steady person. There aren¡¯t many young people at this age who can do this. Don¡¯t always look down on others.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that I looked down on him. Why do you keep mentioning him? Isn¡¯t it annoying?¡± He Lingxue snorted angrily. What did it have to do with her whether Zhang Xuan was outstanding or not? Her father had exaggerated it to her more than once, making He Lingxue a little annoyed. It was not that He Lingxue was very hostile to Zhang Xuan, but she did not want to hear her father praise others all the time. It was as if she was inferior to Zhang Xuan. Seeing that his daughter couldn¡¯t listen, He Yushan sighed in his heart and said in a low voice, ¡°Lingxue, interact less with Li Feng, Zhao Zhen, and the others in the future. It will be beneficial for you to interact more with Zhang Xuan.¡± Although Li Feng and Zhao Zhen had grown up with his daughter and the three of them had a good relationship, He Yushan did not have a good impression of these two people. Young people could be proud, but they could not be frivolous! In He Yushan¡¯s opinion, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen¡¯s usual behavior was too frivolous. No matter what the two of them did, they always liked to be in the limelight and were very exaggerated. It was not a good thing for his daughter to always interact with such people. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan was much calmer than the two of them. Although Zhang Xuan was silent and did not like to interact with others, he was methodical and never took credit. Very few people at Zhang Xuan¡¯s age could do this. He Yushan had also observed Zhang Xuan for a period of time. He saw that Zhang Xuan was not pretending to be calm, so he advised his daughter to interact more with Zhang Xuan. However, He Lingxue did not understand her father¡¯s good intentions at all. She said angrily, ¡°How are Li Feng and Zhao Zhen inferior to Zhang Xuan?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand. You watched Li Feng and Zhao Zhen grow up. How can you help an outsider and badmouth them?¡± ¡°Did that Zhang Xuan deliberately complain about Li Feng and Zhao Zhen?¡± He Lingxue¡¯s reaction made He Yushan frown even more. He felt even more helpless. As a father, everything he did was for his daughter¡¯s own good. She actually did not listen at all. He was a little incompetent as a father. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for your own good. If there¡¯s a chance, try to interact with Zhang Xuan.¡± He Yushan sighed and his tone was a little bleak. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to waste on him.¡± He Lingxue didn¡¯t listen to a single word and was even more unhappy with Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan, who had stopped in his tracks, had a strange expression when he heard He Yushan and his daughter¡¯s conversation. It was true that He Yushan said that Li Feng and Zhao Zhen were too frivolous, but why did he have to get He Lingxue to interact more with him? Zhang Xuan did not expect such a thing to happen. This made him sigh in his heart. It seemed like he had to find an opportunity to leave the escort agency as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would be very troublesome. Chapter 10 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the following period of time, Zhang Xuan was very busy. He went from a newbie escort to a skilled escort. The most difficult missions in the escort agency would usually fall on him, and they were all completed by Zhang Xuan outstandingly. Even the missions that He Yushan found difficult to complete, Zhang Xuan would accept them without thinking and complete them successfully as long as they were handed to him. After seven months of tempering, Zhang Xuan¡¯s status in the escort agency rose. He was highly praised by the escort leaders and the chief escort. It was not an exaggeration to say that Zhang Xuan¡¯s influence in the escort agency was only inferior to the chief escort, He Yushan. Whether it was an escort or a long-term worker, they would give Zhang Xuan a thumbs up whenever he was mentioned. No one in the entire Lin¡¯an City could achieve this in less than a year. On this day, after Zhang Xuan completed his mission and returned to the escort agency, the originally quiet escort agency immediately became lively. ¡°Thank you for your hard work. Did the mission go smoothly this time?¡± Chief Escort He Yushan personally welcomed Zhang Xuan back and did not hide his praise for him. Although He Yushan had personally welcomed the escorts of the escort agency before, he had never been so enthusiastic to them like he was to Zhang Xuan. He Yushan would not personally welcome him every time he returned from an escort mission, but he would definitely appear whenever he had the time. No one in the entire escort agency had enjoyed such value and admiration from He Yushan. Not even He Lingxue had enjoyed such treatment. It was obvious that He Yushan¡¯s admiration for Zhang Xuan had reached an unparalleled level. He Yushan not only valued Zhang Xuan¡¯s ability, but also his character! This was completely not the case for others. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Chief Escort. It went very smoothly.¡± Zhang Xuan smiled and nodded. He Yushan¡¯s concern for him warmed Zhang Xuan¡¯s heart. He Yushan was not the only one who praised Zhang Xuan. The escorts and leaders in the escort agency also admired Zhang Xuan very much. After knowing that Zhang Xuan had returned, the escort leaders who did not go with him rushed over to welcome him. Their praise for Zhang Xuan was not for He Yushan to see. It was all heartfelt approval. After all, not only had Zhang Xuan taken on many missions in the past few days, but his missions were also the most tiring, bitter, and dangerous. Zhang Xuan had never encountered any accidents. No matter how difficult the mission was, he always completed it in the fastest time and completed it very well every time. These escort leaders truly recognized Zhang Xuan¡¯s ability, not just because He Yushan valued Zhang Xuan and they praised him to please He Yushan. In a world where martial arts were respected, the strong were always the most respected. Zhang Xuan was also the first in the escort agency. In less than a year, he was recognized and praised by most people. The reason why it was said that most people approved of him and not all of them was not because Zhang Xuan did not do well enough, but because he was outstanding and was envied by others. Especially when Li Feng and Zhao Zhen found out that He Yushan wanted to matchmake Zhang Xuan and He Lingxue. It was as if a hornet¡¯s nest had been poked. The two of them were so angry that they went to fight Zhang Xuan. Be it Li Feng or Zhao Zhen, they both admired He Lingxue very much. Moreover, they never hid their admiration. It could be said that everyone in the escort agency knew about it. Although the two of them looked down on each other, they were playmates who had grown up together after all. Hence, even if they were competing, they would compete openly. However, Zhang Xuan¡¯s sudden addition made the two of them completely furious. Zhang Xuan was just a long-term worker of the escort agency. Did he think that he could eat swan meat just because he became an escort? He simply did not know the immensity of heaven and earth! The two of them took revenge on Zhang Xuan more and more. No matter what, they would not miss the opportunity. However, Zhang Xuan could not be bothered with such clowns. No matter how the two of them mocked or schemed, he ignored them. However, Zhang Xuan¡¯s low profile was met with even more unrestrained revenge from the two of them. The most difficult mission would fall on him. It was Li Feng and Zhao Zhen who deliberately targeted Zhang Xuan. It was just that these two people did not know Zhang Xuan well. Their difficulties for Zhang Xuan ultimately established Zhang Xuan¡¯s prestige in the escort agency. After all, other escorts and leaders did not have the confidence to complete those missions and did not want to accept them. Zhang Xuan accepting the missions was equivalent to reducing the pressure on the other escorts and leaders. In addition, Zhang Xuan completed it very well every time. Who wouldn¡¯t admire this new escort? After knowing that Zhang Xuan had returned, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen also rushed over. However, the two of them did not welcome him like the others. Instead, they glared at Zhang Xuan viciously, as if they wanted to skin him alive. ¡°This kid is getting more and more arrogant. We can¡¯t let him continue to stay in the escort agency.¡± Li Feng, who had a dark expression, said softly. Zhao Zhen, who had a similarly gloomy expression, nodded. If it wasn¡¯t for He Yushan¡¯s protection for Zhang Xuan which gave him no chance to attack, he would have long wanted to kill Zhang Xuan. Especially when they saw that Zhang Xuan¡¯s prestige in the escort agency was getting higher and higher, and he had already distanced himself from them. Zhang Xuan was even recognized and praised by the chief escort and the escort leaders, making the two of them so jealous that they wanted to vomit blood. However, what the two of them did not know was that Zhang Xuan did not care about his so-called prestige at all. However, the two flies, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, were always endless, annoying Zhang Xuan. He would rather leave the escort agency than have the so-called prestige. It was only because he had not found a suitable opportunity that Zhang Xuan continued to stay in the escort agency. Moreover, Zhang Xuan had only gained prestige from the escort mission for the past seven months. It had also improved his strength a little. It was very difficult to advance to the Connate Realm, but there was still a lot of room for improvement in combat strength. The ¡°Connate Technique¡± mainly increased internal energy. This was also the reason why Zhang Xuan used points to deduce cultivation techniques and directly broke through to the Connate realm. However, the difference in combat strength within the Connate realm was still very huge. Between experts of the same realm, there were external techniques that determined their strength. Martial arts like the Martial Ancestor Long Fist that cultivated both internal and external martial arts could also increase combat strength while increasing one¡¯s realm. However, ¡°Connate Technique¡± was different from the Martial Ancestor Long Fist. It mainly cultivated internal energy and could only increase one¡¯s realm. It did not increase one¡¯s combat strength much. Although many accidents had happened to Zhang Xuan during this period of time, he had also gained a few external skills. This was also one of the reasons why he had never left the escort agency. It was easier for him to keep a low profile with his identity as an escort. Zhang Xuan, who was surrounded by everyone, smiled and rejected He Yushan¡¯s suggestion to hold a banquet for him. After returning to his residence, Zhang Xuan washed up briefly and left the escort agency. Every time he came back from an escort mission, Zhang Xuan would go to Lin¡¯an City to shop. At the same time, he would go to a restaurant to drink and listen to interesting things in the martial arts world. After all, after breaking through to the Connate Realm, it would not be very useful for improvement even if one practiced martial arts without sleep or rest. Chapter 11 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Lin¡¯an City, Yuelai Inn. This restaurant was very famous in Lin¡¯an City. However, it wasn¡¯t famous for its dishes and wine, but for the various rumors in the martial world. Those who practiced martial arts in Lin¡¯an City liked to come here to drink and listen to stories. However, the expenditure of this restaurant was very high. Ordinary people could not afford it. Those who could come here were basically martial arts practitioners with some family background in Lin¡¯an City. When Zhang Xuan walked into the restaurant, he looked up and saw that the restaurant was almost full. It was extremely lively. Zhang Xuan walked to an empty corner and sat down. He ordered some food and wine and drank while listening to the discussions of the people in the restaurant. This was also one of Zhang Xuan¡¯s ways of relaxing. Not only was no one disturbing him, but he could also hear news that he could not hear at the escort agency. ¡°Have there been any major events in the pugilistic world recently?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s the Immortal Sword Case. You don¡¯t even know about this?¡± Zhang Xuan had just finished a glass of wine when he was attracted by the conversation between two men in brocade robes not far away. Zhang Xuan had heard of the Immortal Sword Case mentioned by the man when he was on the escort mission, but he did not know the details. Not only was Zhang Xuan¡¯s attention attracted, but everyone in the restaurant was also attracted by the man¡¯s words. The man did not expect his casual words to become the focus of the restaurant. He immediately felt a little smug. Without waiting for his companion to continue asking, the man cleared his throat and showed off. ¡°Swordsman Ouyang Xue, you should have heard of him, right?¡± The man¡¯s companion nodded and urged, ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know the martial arts expert Ouyang Xue? Could it be that the Immortal Sword Case is related to Ouyang Xue?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Rumor has it that the reason why Ouyang Xue dominated the world was because he obtained an immortal sword!¡± ¡°Those who obtain the immortal sword are invincible!¡± ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of this martial arts legend that Ouyang Xue was surrounded and killed not long ago. However, his treasure sword is missing, and his widow and child are also missing. The entire pugilistic world is surging because of this¡­¡± As soon as the man said this, it immediately attracted the gasps of everyone in the restaurant. The domineering Swordsman, Ouyang Xue, was actually killed? Immortal swords really existed in the world? Immortals? How powerful was that divine weapon? Those who could come here all had martial arts skills. Even if their cultivation levels were not high, they were very concerned about the big and small matters in the pugilistic world. After all, everyone had the heart to become strong. Experts were powerful not only because of their advanced cultivation, but also because of their powerful martial arts and divine weapons. The strongest person these people knew was only at the Connate Realm. There were no legends about immortals at all. Why were there suddenly rumors of immortal swords? Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows and his eyes lit up. His interest was piqued. However, he was not interested in the missing sword, but the immortal that the man mentioned. Did immortals really exist in this world? According to his understanding of this world, this should be a martial arts world similar to the ancient times in his previous life. Moreover, everything he heard was about mortals. Even though there were many experts from the various sects in the pugilistic world, they could not escape their status as mortals. They were only stronger than ordinary people in martial arts, but they would still die of old age and illness. However, immortals were different. They were transcendent existences that surpassed all mortals. Everyone below the Immortal Realm was an ant! Although Zhang Xuan did not know much about this world, he knew the difference between immortals and mortals. Of course, Zhang Xuan was only guessing. Moreover, he was not sure if there were immortals in this world. After all, rumors were just rumors. They could not be completely taken seriously. If Ouyang Xue really obtained the immortal sword, would he still be surrounded and killed? As soon as the man finished speaking, a wave of discussion broke out in the restaurant. ¡°This is definitely great news for us.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If I can obtain the Immortal Sword, won¡¯t I become a powerhouse of the current era?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that I won¡¯t be alive to use it even if I got it¡­¡± The focus of their discussion was the missing immortal sword. Many people¡¯s thoughts became lively. They wanted to try to find the immortal sword. However, more people were just listening to the fun. Even the domineering Ouyang Xue had been killed. Even if they found the immortal sword, they could die at any time. Zhang Xuan listened for a while, but there was no other interesting news. He immediately lost interest. It was true that the Immortal Sword was a divine weapon, but with countless people looking for it, Zhang Xuan naturally wouldn¡¯t take the risk. After all, he only wanted to develop in a low profile manner so that he could become stronger and have more ability to protect himself. He wanted to experience this exciting world. Of course, he was still very interested in the existence of immortals. It was a transcendent existence that he had never heard of before. After eating and drinking to his heart¡¯s content, Zhang Xuan ignored everyone¡¯s guesses about the whereabouts of the sword and got up to leave. When he returned to the escort agency, he frowned slightly. Many escorts gathered together and discussed softly. The atmosphere in the main hall of the Guest Welcoming Building was also solemn. ¡°Zhou An, what happened?¡± Zhang Xuan walked to Zhou An, who was whispering something, and asked him, ¡°The escort agency just accepted a very difficult mission. The chief escort is worried about this¡­¡± Zhou An quickly explained the difficulties encountered by the escort agency. Although Zhou An and Zhang Xuan were promoted to escorts at the same time, Zhang Xuan¡¯s actions in the past seven months had completely widened the distance between them. Even the chief escort, He Yushan, was full of praise for Zhang Xuan. In front of Zhang Xuan, Zhou An was incomparable. Therefore, Zhou An was very respectful to Zhang Xuan and answered all his questions. After Zhou An finished speaking, Zhang Xuan finally understood why the atmosphere in the escort agency was so heavy. It turned out that a mother and son wanted to leave Great Zhou and found the escort agency. The mother and son¡¯s escape route was very dangerous and it would take a long time. The escort agency was open for business. As long as they gave enough money, there was no reason to reject them. Moreover, once they rejected this business, it would greatly affect the reputation of the escort agency. After all, the reputation of the escort agency was built on word-of-mouth. No matter what mission it was, as long as the clients came to the escort agency, the escort agency had to accept the business to show the strength and foundation of the escort agency. If they did not even dare to accept the order, who would trust the Dragon Gate Escort Agency in the future? However, no escort leader was willing to accept this mission. This was also the reason why chief escort He Yushan was worried! The reason why no escort leader dared to accept this mission was because the mother and son¡¯s identities were not simple. That¡¯s right, this mother and son were Ouyang Xue¡¯s widow and child. The Immortal Sword, whose whereabouts were unknown in the entire martial arts world, was causing a secret surge. How could the pugilistic world experts with their own thoughts not keep an eye on the mother and son? Chapter 12 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the main hall of the Guest Welcoming Building of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, the atmosphere was solemn. When Zhang Xuan came in, He Yushan was whispering to a few escort leaders. Seeing Zhang Xuan enter, He Yushan waved his hand and said, ¡°Zhang Xuan, come here for a moment.¡± Seeing the serious expressions on He Yushan and the escort leaders¡¯ faces, Zhang Xuan walked over quietly. Although he had some understanding from Zhou An, he did not say anything and listened quietly. ¡°Ouyang Xue and I are old friends. Now that his wife has found me, I can¡¯t ignore her.¡± ¡°Once I accept this mission, it will definitely be very dangerous. Even if I personally escort them, I can¡¯t guarantee that nothing will happen. What do you think?¡± He Yushan¡¯s gaze swept across the escort leaders and Zhang Xuan as he said in a deep voice. Although he was the chief escort leader of the escort agency, this matter was very important and involved his personal friendship. Hence, He Yushan could not be arbitrary. He wanted to hear the opinions of these escort leaders. After all, this mission was very dangerous. As he wanted everyone to take the risk because of his personal matters, he needed to seek their opinion. ¡°Chief escort, we¡¯ll listen to you!¡± The escort leaders looked at each other and expressed their stance. This mission could be said to be the most dangerous since they joined the escort agency. However, the escort leaders, who knew He Yushan, knew very well that with He Yushan¡¯s loyal personality, he would not reject it. Their opposition might not cause He Yushan to be dissatisfied, but it would definitely not change He Yushan¡¯s decision. Instead of giving He Yushan the impression that he was afraid of death, it was better to agree. What¡¯s more, if they rejected this mission, it would have a bad impact on the entire escort agency. It would also affect their own interests. Moreover, in their years in the escort agency, their escort missions did not always go smoothly. They would also encounter many dangers. They were all people who had been through life and death, so there was nothing to be afraid of. ¡°Zhang Xuan, you can say whatever you have in mind.¡± He Yushan¡¯s gaze finally landed on Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan¡¯s performance in the past year had completely won He Yushan¡¯s approval. He still had to listen to Zhang Xuan¡¯s attitude. ¡°Father, he¡¯s just an ordinary escort. What¡¯s the use of asking him?¡± He Lingxue, who was standing behind He Yushan, said unhappily. Initially, she did not have any hostility towards Zhang Xuan, but she did not have a good impression of him either. Moreover, He Yushan¡¯s previous words and Zhang Xuan¡¯s recent limelight in the escort agency made He Lingxue even more unhappy with him. Moreover, He Lingxue had already become a second-rate expert and became an escort leader. She looked down on Zhang Xuan even more. ¡°Lingxue is right. It doesn¡¯t matter if the escort agency has him or not. The chief escort doesn¡¯t have to waste time on him.¡± ¡°In my opinion, he¡¯s not qualified to listen.¡± Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, who were also unhappy with Zhang Xuan, hurriedly echoed. Zhang Xuan¡¯s prestige in the escort agency was getting higher and higher. In Li Feng and Zhao Zhen¡¯s opinion, this originally belonged to them, but it was snatched away by Zhang Xuan. However, because He Yushan valued Zhang Xuan, the two of them restrained themselves much more than before and did not deliberately target Zhang Xuan. However, their displeasure and envy towards Zhang Xuan grew. With a chance to suppress Zhang Xuan, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen jumped out. He Yushan looked at Zhao Zhen meaningfully and said lightly, ¡°Zhang Xuan is also a member of the escort agency and has contributed a lot to it. It¡¯s only right to listen to his opinion.¡± Although he didn¡¯t scold Zhao Zhen in public, he was still very protective of Zhang Xuan. Li Feng and Zhao Zhen looked at Zhang Xuan hatefully and didn¡¯t dare to say anything else. Although He Lingxue was a little willful, she still knew the situation. She knew the pressure faced by the escort agency. After mocking Zhang Xuan, she did not say anything else. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care about this at all. He didn¡¯t have much interaction with He Lingxue and the other two, so he couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with them. He cupped his fists at He Yushan and said, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you, Chief Escort.¡± Although this mission was definitely very dangerous, Zhang Xuan knew that danger often came with opportunities. Although he did not care about the Immortal Sword, if there was a chance to obtain it, Zhang Xuan would naturally not miss it. Furthermore, with his Connate Realm cultivation, no matter how difficult this mission was, he still had the ability to protect himself. His cultivation level was comparable to the Sect Master of Mount Song Sect. Although he was not the top expert in the world, he had at least surpassed most people. Moreover, he was just an ordinary escort in the escort agency. He actually did not have much say in such a big matter. He Yushan had only asked for his opinion because he thought highly of him and wanted him to feel respect. This would give him a greater sense of belonging to the escort agency. Zhang Xuan could tell that. What he had to do was to do his job well. As for making decisions, he would just listen and not really participate in it. When he heard that the escort leaders and Zhang Xuan did not object, He Yushan¡¯s slightly furrowed brows relaxed. He Yushan naturally knew the best about the Immortal Sword Case. It was also because he was clear that he felt worried. It was obvious that the whereabouts of the sword were in the hands of these two people. The risk of this mission was huge, and it was easy to be implicated if one was not careful. It was not easy to resolve the escort agency. It was a hot potato. However, since Ouyang Xue¡¯s widow had begged him, he could not reject her. At this moment, the main supporters of the escort agency had no objections, which made He Yushan feel less pressured. ¡°Since no one has any objections, let¡¯s accept this mission.¡± Although He Yushan had already made up his mind, he acted as if he had just made a decision in front of the escort leaders and Zhang Xuan. It was not that He Yushan was hypocritical, but he respected these people. When He Yushan first debuted, he had to show off his ability. However, over the years, he had become more and more stable. Especially after the Dragon Gate Escort Agency became the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City, He Yushan no longer did things according to his own preferences. Everything was more important than the overall situation. After deciding to accept this mission, the next step was to discuss how to successfully and safely complete the mission. ¡°I will personally lead the team this time. Who is willing to stay and preside over the escort agency?¡± He Yushan rarely carried out escort missions personally, but this mission was not only dangerous. It was also related to him personally. Therefore, he had to carry out the escort mission personally to convince everyone. ¡°Chief escort, we¡¯ll listen to you.¡± The escort leaders said in unison. They naturally understood what He Yushan meant. He was asking those who were unwilling to go to stay. Since they were part of the escort agency, how could they retreat when they encountered danger? No matter who He Yushan sent, they would not have any objections. He Yushan pondered for a moment and left dozens of escort leaders to preside over the escort agency. He brought most of the escorts to participate in this mission. Zhang Xuan was naturally among them, but he was still an ordinary escort. Although He Yushan appreciated Zhang Xuan very much, Zhang Xuan was only a third-rate expert in front of outsiders. Compared to the escort leaders, who were second-rate experts, there was still a considerable gap in strength. Even if He Yushan thought highly of Zhang Xuan, he couldn¡¯t pin his hopes on Zhang Xuan when it concerned the escort agency. However, He Yushan, who had high hopes for Zhang Xuan, finally arranged for Zhang Xuan to protect the mother and son. Chapter 13 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations The next day, outside the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Hundreds of escorts rode on huge horses with swords at their waists. Their auras were imposing. It had been a long time since He Yushan personally led a team. He held a silver spear in his hand and rode out of the escort agency on a big horse. ¡°Greetings, chief escort!¡± Seeing He Yushan appear, nearly 100 escorts shouted in unison. Back then, He Yushan, who had made a name for himself in Lin¡¯an City with his spear, had once again raised his spear to fight today, making everyone feel ardor and zeal coursing through their blood. Even though they knew that this mission was very dangerous, He Yushan¡¯s personal appearance made the escort agencies very confident. After all, He Yushan was a first-rate expert. Apart from the few sect masters and elders in the pugilistic world, not many people could compete with him. At the same time that He Yushan rode his horse out, a carriage slowly drove out of the escort agency, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. He Yushan looked at Zhang Xuan, who was standing in the carriage, and waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With He Yushan¡¯s order, a team of nearly 100 people set off majestically, attracting the attention of countless people in Lin¡¯an City. ¡°Why did the Dragon Gate Escort Agency create such a huge commotion?¡± ¡°Is something big about to happen?¡± Everyone discussed it animatedly when they saw this scene. They were all very curious about what mission the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had accepted. It had been a long time since they had seen such a scene. After the escort agency¡¯s horse team left Lin¡¯an City, they were very careful along the way. More than 10 escorts were scouting ahead, and more than 10 escorts were arranged behind to guard against any accidents. The remaining escorts guarded the left and right of the carriage. Everyone had swords in their hands and were prepared to attack at any time. It could be said that everyone was extremely tense, but there was an accident. Zhang Xuan, who was in charge of protecting the mother and son, had a calm expression. There was no pressure or nervousness. Zhang Xuan¡¯s indifference came from his confidence in his own strength. Under everyone¡¯s cautiousness, the journey was relatively peaceful. However, when they walked out of Lin¡¯an City¡¯s territory, they were suddenly blocked by men in black. There were about 30 over men in black. They were all dressed in the same black outfit. The leader was burly and held a machete in his hand. He had a powerful aura. As this group of men in black appeared, all the escorts tightened their grip on their weapons and stared at this group of people warily. He Yushan raised his eyebrows and said loudly, ¡°Who are you? What are you doing here?¡± Although he had guessed the intentions of these people, He Yushan did not attack immediately. The other party did not seem to have many people, but there was no guarantee that there was no one in the dark. After all, He Yushan could be considered an overlord. He had experienced all kinds of storms. ¡°Leave the people in the car!¡± The leader pointed at Zhang Xuan¡¯s carriage and said in a deep voice. Upon hearing this, He Yushan¡¯s expression darkened, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re quite bold. Do you think you can touch the escort agency¡¯s business?¡± ¡°Retreat quickly, or I¡¯ll kill you without mercy!¡± He Yushan shouted and pointed his Silver Dragon Spear at the leader of the men in black. All escorts also withdrew their swords and sabers. A murderous aura filled the air, enveloping this space. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want face, we can only take them ourselves!¡± ¡°Brothers, follow me and kill!¡± The leader of the men in black raised his machete and charged towards He Yushan. Dozens of men in black followed closely behind the man. They raised their weapons high and charged forward. ¡°Protect the people in the car!¡± He Yushan roared and charged towards the man in the lead. The silver spear swept out, and an explosion sounded in the air. It was like a silver snake coming out of its hole and stabbing out. Apart from more than 10 escorts protecting the carriage, everyone else raised their weapons and charged towards the group of men in black. A chaotic battle broke out in an instant. The combat strength of the men in black was not weak. They were on par with the escort agency. In particular, the black-robed man in the lead was also a first-rate expert. His combat strength was on par with He Yushan¡¯s, and they were locked in a stalemate. Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Xuan, who was guarding the mother and son, looked at the chaotic battle in front of him. His eyes flickered. With his Connate Realm cultivation, it was actually very simple to deal with these people, but he did not do anything unusual. Since He Yushan was personally leading the team, no matter what happened, as long as he was not in danger, there was no need for Zhang Xuan to expose himself. After all, this mother and son were involved in the Immortal Sword Case. The faction that had designs on this mother and son was definitely not simple. He was just an ordinary escort in the escort agency. It was enough for him to do what He Yushan instructed him to do and be worthy of the treatment of the escort agency. The chaotic battle only lasted for a moment. After the leader¡¯s machete was broken by He Yushan¡¯s spear, he shouted, ¡°Retreat!¡± Dozens of men in black retreated without hesitation and quickly disappeared. ¡°The chief escort is mighty!¡± All the escorts looked at He Yushan in admiration and cheered. On the other hand, He Yushan felt that something was amiss. These men in black were not weak, especially the man leading the team. He was on par with him. How could they retreat so easily? ¡°Everyone, stay alert.¡± Although He Yushan was puzzled, he did not dwell on it. After instructing everyone, he continued on his way. After walking for a while, the men in black who had retreated earlier suddenly charged out again when the people from the escort agency let down their guard. However, these people did not shout and kill like before. They rode their horses and attacked the escort agency¡¯s formation before quickly leaving. He Yushan¡¯s expression turned even uglier. He could tell what these men in black were up to. They were deliberately harassing them and draining their energy. He Yushan¡¯s worries were quickly confirmed. For the next part of the journey, the men in black did not fight the escort agency head-on. They just harassed them in all kinds of ways, causing the escort agencies to be exhausted from dealing with them. It was obvious that they were exhausted. This harassment lasted for a few days. All the escorts became very tired, but no one dared to relax at all. That night, when the convoy passed by a valley, their path was blocked again. It was still the same group of men in black, but there were a lot more of them. Their number of men was almost the same as the escort agency¡¯s, and every man in black was in their peak state. ¡°He Yushan, leave that mother and son behind and let you leave safely. Otherwise, you will all die with them.¡± The leader of the men in black stepped out of the crowd and stared coldly at He Yushan. ¡°You think you¡¯re qualified to threaten me?¡± He Yushan smiled coldly and had no intention of compromising. However, although He Yushan looked domineering, he was actually very uneasy. The other party had obviously come prepared. Coupled with the fact that the escort agency had exhausted too much energy, they might not be able to protect the mother and son. As he berated the man in black, he whispered to Zhang Xuan, ¡°I¡¯ll bring people to hold them back. Don¡¯t worry about anything else. Leave with the two of them first.¡± Although He Yushan was very confident in himself, he was not arrogant. He had to make two preparations. ¡°Alright!¡± Zhang Xuan nodded slightly and left with the mother and son in the carriage. Chapter 14 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations The chaotic battle in the valley instantly erupted, and the sounds of killing shook the sky. However, Zhang Xuan did not participate in this chaotic battle. He drove the carriage away quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t let them escape. Chase them!¡± Seeing that Zhang Xuan was about to leave with his clients, the leader shouted at his subordinates. A few men in black tried to chase after Zhang Xuan, but they were stopped by the escort agency. Zhang Xuan successfully left the chaotic battlefield and drove the carriage away quickly. However, although he had escaped from this mess, the rest of the journey was still filled with trouble. It was mainly because the identity of the mother and son was too sensitive. It was unknown how many forces had their eyes on this mother and son. In just over 10 days, he had encountered several people from various forces trying to capture the mother and son. Zhang Xuan had relied on his powerful strength to avoid wave after wave of searches. Through these days of interaction, Zhang Xuan and Zhou Lingzhen slowly became familiar with each other. Zhou Lingzhen was Ouyang Xue¡¯s widow. In his chat with Zhou Lingzhen, Zhang Xuan tried to find out if the legend of the immortals was true. However, Zhou Lingzhen and her son were very cautious. Every time Zhang Xuan mentioned this topic, they would remain silent and not reveal anything. Although he didn¡¯t find anything, Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t really care. He was just curious about whether there were immortals in this world and didn¡¯t have any other thoughts. Since Zhou Lingzhen was unwilling to tell him, Zhang Xuan would not force her. After all, he had an endless lifespan and had the system as his trump card. He would not seek the Immortal Sword that everyone wanted. However, Zhang Xuan was most interested in whether there were immortals in this world. Even Ouyang Xue, a famous swordsman, had fallen because of this. It was definitely not groundless. There were also countless people who pursued Zhou Lingzhen and her son relentlessly. This proved that this mother and son were perhaps the only ones who knew the whereabouts of the Immortal Sword. Apart from beating around the bush, Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t do anything overboard because he didn¡¯t forget his current identity. He was the escort agency¡¯s escort. It was his duty to protect Zhou Lingzhen and her son. The rest of the journey was still full of trouble. However, with Zhang Xuan¡¯s Connate Realm cultivation, he could sense the danger ahead of time, so those who had ill intentions had no chance to take advantage of it. After a long journey and two months, Zhang Xuan brought Zhou Lingzhen and her son to the border of Great Zhou and entered Great Yu. The Great Yu Empire and the Great Zhou Empire were neighbors. Although they were two dynasties, the Great Yu Empire was very similar to the Great Zhou Empire. The Great Yu Empire was also filled with martial arts sects and everyone practiced martial arts. Furthermore, the Great Yu Dynasty was also the destination of Zhou Lingzhen and her son. After arriving here, Zhang Xuan¡¯s mission could be considered completed. ¡°My mission is complete. The rest is up to you.¡± Zhang Xuan looked at Zhou Lingzhen and her son and said calmly. He had only escorted this mother and son for the escort agency¡¯s mission. Since the mission had been completed, he had no obligation to continue helping this pair deal with other dangers. As for finding out the whereabouts of the Immortal Sword from Zhou Lingzhen and her son, he had never thought of doing so. The Immortal Sword was definitely a divine weapon that could increase one¡¯s combat strength. However, true experts did not rely on external forces to become stronger. Zhang Xuan had enough time to improve himself. Coupled with the existence of the system, it would be his good fortune to obtain the sword. However, if he was not fated to obtain it, there was no need to force it. Furthermore, it was unknown if the Immortal Sword existed or not. Zhou Lingzhen had a good impression of Zhang Xuan. Not only did he escort them safely to Great Yu, but he was also calm and knew his limits. Zhou Lingzhen admired him very much. After all, her son¡¯s and her identity were rather sensitive. When it came to the Immortal Sword Case, there were very few people she could trust. When she was taken away by Zhang Xuan alone, Zhou Lingzhen was still very wary of him. She was worried that he would have other thoughts. Especially when Zhang Xuan beat around the bush about immortals, Zhou Lingzhen felt that her son and her were in danger. However, after spending some time together, she knew that she was overthinking. Zhang Xuan was as trustworthy as He Yushan. Apart from inquiring about immortals, Zhang Xuan had never done anything overboard. ¡°Give this to He Yushan.¡± Zhou Lingzhen took out a token with the words ¡°Dragon Gate Escort Agency¡± engraved on it and handed it to Zhang Xuan. This token was a token given to the client by the escort agency. Only by taking the client¡¯s token back could he prove that the mission was completed. Zhang Xuan nodded and put away the sign. Just as he was about to go back, Zhou Lingzhen suddenly said, ¡°The rumored Immortal Sword in the martial arts world was deliberately rumored to target my husband.¡± Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He was not surprised by this, nor did he care. He was just puzzled why Zhou Lingzhen suddenly told him about it when she was unwilling to say it previously. However, although Zhang Xuan was puzzled, he did not say anything. He knew that the other party had not finished speaking. Indeed, after a pause, Zhou Lingzhen continued, ¡°The Immortal Sword doesn¡¯t exist, but immortals do!¡± ¡°Back then, my husband accidentally entered the cave and obtained an immortal pill and a piece of brocade. The immortal pill was given to my child. There were mysterious words on the brocade. Before my husband could study the words on the brocade, the matter of meeting an immortal was exposed. He was surrounded and killed. Before he died, he handed the brocade to me for safekeeping.¡± As Zhou Lingzhen spoke, she took out a piece of ancient brocade from her pocket. There were complicated words engraved on the brocade. Immortals really existed? Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He was very interested in the brocade left behind by the immortals. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll snatch it from you?¡± Zhang Xuan looked at Zhou Lingzhen with a faint smile and asked. Who wouldn¡¯t be tempted by something left behind by an immortal? Even Zhang Xuan was tempted by the brocade. Of course, Zhang Xuan had his own bottom line. He was not someone who would do anything for treasures. He was just puzzled by Zhou Lingzhen¡¯s intentions. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re a principled person. It¡¯s all thanks to your protection that we can return safely. Not only is this brocade useless to me, but it¡¯s also trouble. If you want it, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Zhou Lingzhen handed the brocade to Zhang Xuan. It was true that she was grateful to Zhang Xuan for protecting her and her son. It was also true that she did not want to cause trouble for herself because of the brocade. There were too few people like Zhang Xuan who were not tempted by treasures. After experiencing her husband¡¯s death, Zhou Lingzhen only believed what she saw and would not listen to anyone else. And Zhang Xuan¡¯s actions had convinced her. ¡°Then it would be impolite of me to decline.¡± Zhang Xuan understood what Zhou Lingzhen meant and accepted the brocade with a smile. He was indeed very interested in the things left behind by the immortals. As for the trouble that Zhou Lingzhen was worried about, Zhang Xuan did not care at all. In the entire Great Zhou, there were less than 10 people who could fight him head-on. After bidding farewell to Zhou Lingzhen and her son, Zhang Xuan returned to the Great Zhou Empire with the token and the brocade left behind by the immortal. Chapter 15 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations At the border between Great Zhou and Great Yu, a horse galloped past. The young man on the horse was none other than Zhang Xuan, who had returned to the Great Zhou Empire. Zhang Xuan had gained a lot from this mission. Not only did he obtain the brocade left behind by the immortal, but he also found out the location of the cave that Ouyang Xue had accidentally entered. At this moment, Zhang Xuan was considering a question. Should he just leave and take the opportunity to leave the escort agency, or should he go back to report? ¡°With my current cultivation, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem for me to protect myself. However, if I leave directly, there won¡¯t be a good place to stay for the time being.¡± Zhang Xuan, who was riding his horse, weighed his options and decided to return to the escort agency first. After all, he had just obtained the brocade left behind by an immortal. Even Ouyang Xue had not fully comprehended it. It would definitely take some time for him to do so. The things left behind by immortals were definitely not ordinary grade. If he could comprehend them completely, he might be able to improve even more. Even if Zhang Xuan sped up, it still took him nearly a month to return to the escort agency. ¡°Zhang Xuan is back!¡± When the news of Zhang Xuan¡¯s return spread throughout the escort agency, it immediately attracted the attention of all the escorts. Even the chief escort, He Yushan, quickly walked up to him. ¡°Zhang Xuan, have you delivered them to their destination?¡± He Yushan asked. That day, he had led the escort agency to hold back those men in black, giving Zhang Xuan a chance to bring Zhou Lingzhen and her son away. However, he had also lost contact with Zhang Xuan. After the men in black retreated, He Yushan led his men to search for them. There was still no news. In the end, He Yushan could only bring his men back first. He trusted Zhang Xuan a lot. No matter how difficult the missions were, they would be completed successfully. He Yushan believed that Zhang Xuan would not disappoint him this time. ¡°I won¡¯t let the chief escort down. I¡¯ll send them safely.¡± As Zhang Xuan spoke, he took out the token that Zhou Lingzhen had given him and handed it to He Yushan. ¡°Good! I knew you wouldn¡¯t disappoint me!¡± After confirming that Zhang Xuan had safely sent them to their destination, He Yushan smiled brightly. This made him admire Zhang Xuan even more. ¡°He¡¯s really young and promising. With such a young man in the escort agency, there¡¯s no need to worry about not becoming stronger!¡± ¡°Zhang Xuan has contributed the most this time. He should be rewarded.¡± The escort leaders who thought highly of Zhang Xuan also praised him generously. Upon hearing this, He Yushan nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. You should be rewarded for your contributions. From today onwards, Zhang Xuan will be promoted to escort leader!¡± He Yushan had high hopes for Zhang Xuan. Now that Zhang Xuan had contributed to the escort agency, he should be rewarded accordingly. Although Zhang Xuan had only been the escort for a year and it was a little too fast for him to be promoted again, the escort agency was not a place where seniority was ranked. Whoever contributed the most to the escort agency could be promoted. ¡°Chief escort is wise!¡± ¡°Congratulations to Zhang Xuan for being promoted to escort leader!¡± Everyone praised and congratulated He Yushan and Zhang Xuan. However, He Lingxue¡¯s expression turned ugly as she glared at Zhang Xuan unhappily. A long-term worker had actually reached the same level as her in less than two years? She could not understand why her father was so good to Zhang Xuan. Needless to say, Li Feng and Zhao Zhen were furious. They were still only escorts and yet the ant that they originally didn¡¯t take seriously, was actually more highly-ranked than their status in the escort agency? The two of them stared coldly at Zhang Xuan, who was surrounded by the crowd. They were to be green with envy. What He Lingxue didn¡¯t know was that the reason why He Yushan treated Zhang Xuan so well was to nurture a trusted aide for the escort agency. A steady young man like Zhang Xuan would be valued wherever he went. After exchanging a few pleasantries with everyone, Zhang Xuan declined He Yushan¡¯s suggestion to hold a celebratory feast and returned to his residence. For this mission, he had been busy for nearly three months. It was not easy for him to come back, so he naturally had to rest. After returning to his residence, Zhang Xuan quickly washed up. After changing his clothes, he sat at the table and studied the brocade Zhou Lingzhen had given him. The ancient brocade was very soft to the touch, but it was very firm. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen any of these words before. I wonder if they¡¯re martial arts manuals or something?¡± Zhang Xuan stared at the brocade for a long time. He knew nothing about the ancient words recorded in the brocade. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan also realized that this piece of brocade was very extraordinary. It was invulnerable to fire and water and could not be destroyed by sabers. This shocked Zhang Xuan greatly. ¡°As expected of something left behind by an immortal. It¡¯s indeed extraordinary!¡± One had to know that Zhang Xuan was at the Connate Realm now. Not to mention a piece of brocade, he could even shatter a huge rock with a casual slash. However, after trying a few times, not only was this brocade not torn apart, but not even a trace was left behind. Apart from being shocked, Zhang Xuan was more curious about what material this brocade was made of. And the ancient words on the brocade. What do they mean? Zhang Xuan, who had been researching for nearly a day, did not find anything, but he was not disappointed at all. The material of the brocade had already proven that it was extraordinary. Compared to the words on it, it was definitely extraordinary. It didn¡¯t matter if he didn¡¯t recognize them. He could get someone to translate it for him. Zhang Xuan copied the words and left the escort agency to the liveliest Yuelai Restaurant. The entire Lin¡¯an City and even the surrounding martial arts practitioners were gathered here. Some of them were extraordinary and experienced. The reason why he went to the restaurant to ask someone instead of He Yushan was mainly because Zhang Xuan did not want to cause unnecessary trouble. After all, this piece of brocade was given to him by Zhou Lingzhen, and Zhou Lingzhen¡¯s husband was old friends with He Yushan. There might be some unhappiness. When Zhang Xuan arrived at the restaurant, he first listened to the interesting stories of the pugilistic world. Then, he chatted with the people beside him and intentionally changed the topic to ancient words. However, like him, these people knew nothing about those ancient words. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t mind. He didn¡¯t expect to find someone who could read the ancient language. In the next few days, Zhang Xuan went to the restaurant every day. He, who usually only listened and didn¡¯t say anything, became active in the restaurant. On this day, Zhang Xuan came to the restaurant as he did a few days ago. As soon as he entered, he heard an old scholar discussing the language of this world with others. Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He found a seat and sat down to listen carefully. From the old scholar¡¯s conversation, Zhang Xuan heard the ancient words on the brocade. He immediately became expectant. However, Zhang Xuan was not in a hurry to ask the old scholar for help. Instead, he first got to know the old scholar and deliberately wrote an ancient word to test him. In the end, not only did the old scholar recognize it, but he also explained the meaning of this ancient word very clearly. It was him! Zhang Xuan knew that his hope of unraveling the ancient words on the brocade was on this old scholar. Chapter 16 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the following period of time, Zhang Xuan would appear in the restaurant almost every day. The old scholar also came punctually every day to chat with Zhang Xuan. Although Zhang Xuan placed his hopes on the old scholar, he did not take out all the ancient words in the brocade. Every day, he would listen to the old scholar explain the meaning of one or two ancient words. When he returned, he would ponder over it. After treating the old scholar to wine for a month, Zhang Xuan finally understood the meaning of all the words. It turned out that what was recorded on the brocade was not a martial arts secret manual, but a pill formula. It was a medicinal pill called the Immortal Ascension Pill. ¡°Could there really be immortals in this world?¡± Zhang Xuan looked at the brocade in his hand, his eyes filled with shock. Back then, when Zhou Lingzhen told him that this was something left behind by an immortal, Zhang Xuan actually didn¡¯t believe her. After all, although he had not been in this world for long, after becoming an escort, his career as an escort had given him a better understanding of this world. This world was huge, and there were countless people who practiced martial arts, but there had never been any mention of immortals. Even if he heard about the Immortal Sword Case, in Zhang Xuan¡¯s opinion, it was just a rumor deliberately spread by Ouyang Xue¡¯s enemies. However, the pill formula on the brocade made Zhang Xuan believe in the existence of immortals even more. This was the only formula that dared to add the word ¡®immortal¡¯ to the name of the pill! Perhaps there were really immortals in this world. The mortals could not come into contact with them, so there were no words about immortals. ¡°By the way, the cave that Ouyang Xue went to previously might have something that proves that there are immortals in this world.¡± Zhang Xuan, who wanted to find out if there were immortals in this world, thought of the cave that Zhou Lingzhen had told him about. The brocade that recorded the pill formula was obtained by Ouyang Xue from that cave. There might be treasures that Ouyang Xue had yet to find. Since he knew the location of the cave and it wasn¡¯t far from Lin¡¯an City, he had to investigate. The next day, Zhang Xuan found He Yushan and said that he had to go out for a few days. This trip was different from his usual trips to the restaurant to drink. It would take a lot of time. Zhang Xuan, who had decided to stay in the escort agency for a period of time, did not want to cause any misunderstandings for He Yushan because he went out. Therefore, he would personally find He Yushan and tell him that he wanted to go out. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard for so long. It¡¯s time to relax. Go!¡± He Yushan nodded with a smile and agreed immediately. Zhang Xuan had already made enough contributions to the escort agency. It was normal for him to go out and relax for a few days. He did not think too much about it. Moreover, he had already made up his mind to nurture Zhang Xuan into a trusted aide of the escort agency. He Yushan would agree to any other request as long as it was not too much, let alone going out to relax for a few days. Of course, with Zhang Xuan¡¯s understanding, he knew that Zhang Xuan would not make excessive requests. However, Li Feng was secretly delighted when he saw this scene. After Zhang Xuan left, he went straight to He Yushan. ¡°Chief escort, I suspect that Zhang Xuan has obtained the immortal sword and is preparing to escape.¡± Li Feng¡¯s disdain for Zhang Xuan had increased to hatred for him. He had been looking for an opportunity to scheme against Zhang Xuan. Over the past month, he had long known that Zhang Xuan went to the restaurant to drink with the old scholar every day. Li Feng immediately sensed that something was wrong and kept watching Zhang Xuan. After all, Zhang Xuan was very cold to everyone, but he was very concerned about an old scholar. This was not in line with Zhang Xuan¡¯s personality. After knowing that Zhang Xuan was leaving the escort agency for a period of time, he immediately thought of a way to defame Zhang Xuan. These were the words he had said to Zhang Xuan. One had to know that Zhang Xuan was the only one who had escorted Zhou Lingzhen to her destination. Who knew if Zhang Xuan had done anything in secret? Even if he didn¡¯t, as long as He Yushan was dissatisfied with Zhang Xuan, his goal would be achieved. Hearing this, He Yushan¡¯s face instantly darkened. He snorted coldly and said, ¡°There¡¯s no immortal sword! Even if the immortal sword exists, if Zhang Xuan wants to leave the escort agency, would he need to come back before escaping?¡± ¡°Well ¡­¡± Li Feng was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond. He did not expect He Yushan to treat Zhang Xuan like this. Not only did he not believe him, but he also scolded him? This not only made Li Feng hate Zhang Xuan even more, but he also hated He Yushan. As for He Yushan, he was also even more dissatisfied with Li Feng. It was fine if he was frivolous, but he actually tried to sow discord. Did he think he was a fool? ¡°Don¡¯t ever let me hear that again, understand?¡± He Yushan stared at Li Feng and said coldly. ¡°Chief escort, I understand.¡± Li Feng hurriedly nodded, not daring to reveal his thoughts. However, the moment he turned around, a cold glint flashed across his eyes. He Yushan¡¯s protection of Zhang Xuan and his disregard for him made him hate him. *** After Zhang Xuan left the escort agency, he spent a week finding the cave according to the location Zhou Lingzhen told him. ¡°This should be the place.¡± Zhang Xuan raised his head and looked around. Just as Zhou Lingzhen had described, he found a flashing entrance on a steep mountain wall and walked in. The cave was dark and chilly, but it did not affect Zhang Xuan at all. At the Connate Realm, even at night, it was like daytime in the eyes of Connate Realm experts. After walking for more than 10 breaths in the dark cave, everything became clear. This was a space about the same size as the small courtyard he lived in, but there was nothing in the empty cave. After sizing up the cave, Zhang Xuan carefully searched the cave with anticipation and anxiety. Since it is an immortal¡¯s cave abode, there couldn¡¯t be nothing left behind, right? However, after searching the entire cave, he found nothing. This made Zhang Xuan speechless. ¡°Since Ouyang Xue was able to find this place, he must have taken all the good stuff. I¡¯m actually looking forward to finding some treasures.¡± Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly. He wasn¡¯t disappointed. He had come here with the intention of trying and did not insist on gaining anything. After all, the existence of immortals in this world did not affect him much. After leaving the cave, Zhang Xuan returned to the escort agency. After resting for a day, Zhang Xuan decided to learn alchemy. ¡°Whether there are immortals or not, I¡¯ll know once I try to refine the pill on the pill formula.¡± Zhang Xuan prepared to try refining pills. There were also pills in this world, be it to heal injuries or to increase cultivation. However, the pills he knew were no longer of any use to him, who had broken through to the Connate Realm. If the Immortal Ascension Pill was useful to him, it would prove that there might really be immortals in this world. Chapter 17 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In Zhang Xuan¡¯s small courtyard of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, there was a small bronze cauldron. ¡°Seven Leaf Clover, Mysterious Dragon Root¡­¡± Zhang Xuan, who was standing in front of the small bronze cauldron, had a solemn expression. He quickly placed the herbs into the small bronze cauldron. The herbs that were thrown into the boiling water quickly melted, and the water became turbid. A rich medicinal fragrance spread out and filled the entire small courtyard. After placing all the herbs into the small bronze cauldron in an orderly manner, Zhang Xuan¡¯s serious expression finally relaxed a little. ¡°It¡¯s better to practice more.¡± Zhang Xuan sighed. In the past two months, he had gone on many escort missions. At the same time, he had found a doctor from the escort agency and learned a lot of medical skills from him. Doctors had a very high status in the escort agency, even exceeding the treatment of ordinary escorts. After all, the escort agency was in the business of accepting missions. The escorts in the escort agency traveled all day long. It was normal for accidents to happen, so they needed a doctor to treat them. On the other hand, not everyone could become a physician. They needed to study for a long time and a certain amount of talent to become a qualified doctor. It could be said that there were even fewer doctors than experts. No matter which faction it was, there would always be doctors with brilliant medical skills presiding over it. As the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was famous for thousands of miles. Naturally, there were doctors presiding over it. In the past two months, apart from going on missions, Zhang Xuan spent most of his time learning from doctors. Zhang Xuan knew that his talent in martial arts was average. When he first went to learn medicine, he did not have much confidence and did not expect to gain much in a short period of time. However, after coming into contact with medicine, he was surprised to discover that he had a photographic memory. Not only did medical skills involve many types of herbs, but there were also many combinations of various herbs. It was extremely complicated, especially the characteristics of herbs and the mutual reinforcement and suppression of different herbs. Without sufficient time to learn and settle down, it was impossible to understand it. This was also the reason why there were so few physicians. Without talent in this aspect, even if he spent his entire life, he might not be able to recognize all the herbs, let alone anything else. When Zhang Xuan was learning to recognize the herbs, he realized that as long as he looked at them once, everything he learned would be imprinted in his mind. What he remembered the most was that after the doctor from the escort agency explained the characteristics of dozens of herbs to him, he asked him about them. He memorized them so proficiently that he shocked the doctor. The doctor continued to explain more about medical skills to Zhang Xuan. After explaining, he asked Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan still answered proficiently, which made the doctor even happier. He praised himself for picking up a treasure. When the chief escort, He Yushan, heard the news, he was extremely moved. He didn¡¯t expect Zhang Xuan to be so talented in medicine. This made He Yushan value Zhang Xuan even more, and he was even more determined to nurture Zhang Xuan into a trusted aide. However, Zhang Xuan was not happy at all. He only treated the escort agency as a temporary transition and had no intention of staying in it forever. After two months of learning, Zhang Xuan had almost mastered the basic medical skills. Today was his first time trying to refine pills. Zhang Xuan, who had been guarding the small bronze cauldron, carefully controlled the fire according to the doctor¡¯s instructions. As time passed, the turbid medicinal liquid became more and more viscous. Finally, it condensed into medicinal paste. ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± Even if Zhang Xuan was calm enough, he could not help but be happy at this moment. He quickly extinguished the fire and took the medicinal paste out of the small bronze cauldron. Then, he pinched it into pills. This was how mortals refined pills. To be precise, it could not be called refining pills, but an upgraded version of refining pills. However, Zhang Xuan was very happy about this. After all, this was his first time refining pills. As long as it was not for nothing, it was a good thing for him. The pills that Zhang Xuan was refining now were not the Immortal Ascension Pills recorded on the brocade. Instead, they were ordinary pill formulas given to him by the doctor in the escort agency. Zhang Xuan was using them to practice. ¡°Let Elder Hong comment.¡± The Elder Hong that Zhang Xuan was talking about was the best doctor in the escort agency. He was also the doctor that Zhang Xuan had learned from. The doctor lived in the front yard of the escort agency, which was behind the main hall of the Guest Welcoming Building. It occupied a huge area, which showed how much the escort agency valued the doctor. Zhang Xuan passed through a few doors. When he arrived at the front yard, he heard a familiar laughter from afar. This made Zhang Xuan raise his eyebrows. The next moment, a woman and two men walked over. When the three of them saw Zhang Xuan, they were stunned and revealed undisguised disgust in their eyes. Especially Li Feng and Zhao Zhen, they were even more jealous. The two of them subconsciously clenched their fists. Ever since Zhang Xuan became an escort, almost all the limelight had been snatched away by him. This made Li Feng and Zhao Zhen lose their status in the escort agency. It could be said that Zhang Xuan was the person Zhao Zhen hated the most. Especially Li Feng. The last time he went to complain to He Yushan, not only did he fail to chase Zhang Xuan out of the escort agency, but he was also scolded by He Yushan. This was simply a great humiliation to Li Feng. He would also bear a grudge against He Yushan. However, due to He Yushan¡¯s status, no matter how angry Li Feng was, he didn¡¯t show it at all. He still looked normal. Sensing the dissatisfaction of He Lingxue and the other two, Zhang Xuan did not mind. In any case, he did not plan to stay in the escort agency for long, so Zhang Xuan did not mind. However, just because he didn¡¯t care didn¡¯t mean that He Lingxue and the other two didn¡¯t care. He Lingxue¡¯s expression turned cold when she saw Zhang Xuan walk past her without even looking at her. ¡°Halt!¡± He Lingxue stared at Zhang Xuan and berated him. Zhang Xuan frowned and turned to look at He Lingxue. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Although he didn¡¯t care about He Lingxue¡¯s attitude, she was the Missy of the escort agency after all. He couldn¡¯t not give her face. If Li Feng and Zhao Zhen called him, Zhang Xuan would have ignored them. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you greet me when you saw me? Do you think you¡¯re better than me and look down on me?¡± He Lingxue asked with a cold expression. In the entire escort agency, who wouldn¡¯t respectfully call her Missy? Did Zhang Xuan think that he could ignore her just because her father valued him? What a joke! However, He Lingxue no longer looked down on Zhang Xuan. She was angry because Zhang Xuan ignored her. After all, He Lingxue had witnessed Zhang Xuan¡¯s actions. Especially after escorting the mother and son last time, He Lingxue stopped looking down on Zhang Xuan. However, she just couldn¡¯t stand Zhang Xuan¡¯s pretentiousness. He gave her the feeling that he was high and mighty. ¡°Missy, don¡¯t misunderstand. I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± Zhang Xuan waved his hand and explained, ¡°I still have something on. I¡¯ll talk to Missy when I have the chance.¡± After saying that, he left without waiting for He Lingxue to react. Looking at Zhang Xuan¡¯s disappearing figure, He Lingxue became even angrier. She pointed at him and berated him again. ¡°Self-righteous b*stard, don¡¯t think that just because you have some ability, everyone is inferior to you¡­¡± Li Feng and Zhao Zhen also mocked Zhang Xuan and wished they could get rid of him. The three people¡¯s words clearly reached Zhang Xuan¡¯s ears. This made him decide to stay away from these disputes. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid, but he was a little sick of them. Chapter 18 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations After passing through a few more doors, Zhang Xuan arrived at the doctor¡¯s residence. ¡°Elder Hong, quickly come and take a look at the pills I refined.¡± Although Zhang Xuan was taciturn to others, he had learned medical skills from Elder Hong for more than two months, so he could still get along well with him. Hence, he did not have to deliberately keep a low profile in front of Elder Hong. As Zhang Xuan finished speaking, an old man with slightly white hair walked out of the room. This person was the Elder Hong that Zhang Xuan had mentioned. Apart from Elder Hong, there were three other doctors in the escort agency. However, the other three had their own residences and usually worked in the medical center in the escort agency. Elder Hong was the only one in this small courtyard. ¡°You refined the pill so quickly?¡± Elder Hong walked out of the room. There was obvious surprise and anticipation in his eyes. Although Zhang Xuan was very talented in medicine, he had only learned from him for two months. It was much more difficult to refine pills without concocting herbs. Even he could not guarantee success every time. Zhang Xuan smiled and took out the pill he had refined and placed it on the table in the small courtyard. When he saw the pill, Elder Hong¡¯s eyes lit up. He hurriedly picked up the pill and sniffed it. Then, he examined it carefully. ¡°In just two months, your alchemy skills have already surpassed mine!¡± Elder Hong looked at Zhang Xuan again with excitement in his eyes. He did not hide his admiration for Zhang Xuan. This young man¡¯s talent was much more advanced than he had imagined. ¡°Elder Hong, is there anything wrong with this pill?¡± Zhang Xuan asked with a smile. ¡°No problem. It¡¯s even better than what I personally refined.¡± Elder Hong nodded heavily and sighed. ¡°Zhang Xuan, you don¡¯t have to look for me in the future. I have nothing else to teach you.¡± Elder Hong wasn¡¯t being modest. He was speaking from the bottom of his heart. With his experience, he had seen too many outstanding talents, but none of them could be compared to Zhang Xuan. ¡°Elder Hong, you¡¯re too humble. I still have to trouble you for things I don¡¯t understand.¡± Zhang Xuan did not take Elder Hong¡¯s praise to heart because he only had a photographic memory. It was not because he was talented in medicine. After asking about alchemy, he bade farewell to Elder Hong and left. However, Zhang Xuan did not return to his residence directly. Instead, he headed to Yuelai Restaurant. He had been busy studying medicine for the past two months and had almost no time to come to the restaurant. Now that he had some achievements in his medical skills, it was time for him to come out and relax. He could also listen to the interesting things and major events in the martial arts world recently. On the way to the restaurant, Zhang Xuan suddenly raised his eyebrows when he passed by an ordinary-looking man. The next moment, Zhang Xuan grabbed the man and said with a playful smile, ¡°Take it out yourself, or should I do it?¡± The man¡¯s expression clearly changed. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a money bag from his pocket and pretended to be surprised. ¡°This is the money bag I just picked up. Is it yours?¡± Zhang Xuan sneered and didn¡¯t say anything. The man felt a chill down his spine and hurriedly handed the money bag to Zhang Xuan. ¡°I failed to recognize a formidable person. Please spare me this time.¡± The man could sense the killing intent in Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes. He knew that he had kicked an iron plate and could only admit defeat and beg for mercy. Zhang Xuan took back his money bag and did not argue with the man. Thieves existed everywhere. Since the other party had admitted his mistake, Zhang Xuan could not be bothered to argue and let the man go. However, this thief gave Zhang Xuan a special feeling. After all, he was a Connate Realm expert, but this thief could actually take his money bag when he brushed past him. If not for his sharp senses, even a first-rate expert might have been tricked by this thief. However, Zhang Xuan did not want to cause trouble, so he did not probe further with the thief. After arriving at the restaurant, Zhang Xuan drank and listened to everyone¡¯s discussions. However, they were only talking about small matters and he was not interested in them. This also made Zhang Xuan lose interest in staying. He returned to the escort agency before the sky turned dark. *** The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Zhang Xuan was told that he had a mission and needed to go on an escort mission. When he arrived at the main hall of the Guest Welcoming Building and saw He Lingxue angrily smashing things, he immediately sensed that something was wrong. Could this mission be related to He Lingxue? Just as this thought appeared in Zhang Xuan¡¯s mind, He Yushan¡¯s angry voice sounded. ¡°Lingxue, stop throwing a tantrum. You have to go on this mission.¡± He Yushan said coldly to the angry He Lingxue. ¡°I can go on missions, but why do you want me to go with Zhang Xuan?¡± He Lingxue asked unhappily. It was not as if she had never gone on a mission before. She had even gone on a mission alone more than once. However, He Lingxue could not accept the fact that she had to go on a mission with Zhang Xuan, whom she hated the most. When Zhang Xuan, who had just arrived, heard the conversation between He Yushan and his daughter, his expression turned strange. He did not expect that a simple mission would be related to He Lingxue again. ¡°Can¡¯t you see Zhang Xuan¡¯s contribution to the escort agency in the past year? I want you to learn more from him.¡± He Yushan said in a deep voice. He knew that his daughter had a problem with Zhang Xuan because she could not stand him treating Zhang Xuan so well. However, outstanding people should receive the treatment they deserve. Moreover, with Zhang Xuan¡¯s ability, he believed that his future achievements would definitely not be too low. He might even surpass him. He naturally had to think of a way to keep such a young genius with potential by his side. After all, such outstanding talents could only be chanced upon by luck. If he missed them, he did not know when he would meet them again. Moreover, what Li Feng and Zhao Zhen had done recently made He Yushan extremely dissatisfied. He couldn¡¯t watch his daughter hang out with such frivolous and evil people all day long. ¡°Whoever wants to learn can go. I¡¯m not going!¡± He Lingxue did not know He Yushan¡¯s good intentions and said willfully. ¡°If you don¡¯t go, you¡¯ll be grounded for a month!¡± He Yushan said coldly. Sensing that her father was really angry, He Lingxue snorted unhappily, but she did not continue to object. Although she was willful, she was still a little afraid of her father. Hearing this, Zhang Xuan smiled helplessly. He did not quite understand He Yushan¡¯s thoughts. Forget about letting He Lingxue go on a mission with him. There were only the two of them as escorts. Wasn¡¯t their intentions too obvious? Why did he have to matchmake him with He Lingxue? After all, He Lingxue had never been nice to him. It would be strange if He Lingxue didn¡¯t explode when they got together. Zhang Xuan originally thought that He Yushan would still compromise like last time. He would be the only one left. However, what he did not expect was that He Yushan¡¯s attitude was very firm. He did not give He Lingxue a chance to object at all. No matter how angry He Lingxue was, under He Yushan¡¯s pressure, He Lingxue still went on her way with Zhang Xuan in the end. Along the way, He Lingxue kept a cold face towards Zhang Xuan and was even more displeased with him. However, Zhang Xuan ignored He Lingxue and her displeasure with him. After all, he didn¡¯t have any thoughts about He Lingxue, and he didn¡¯t plan to stay in the escort agency for too long. However, what puzzled him the most was He Yushan¡¯s attitude. Zhang Xuan could understand that He Yushan admired him. What did she mean by insisting on matchmaking him and He Lingxue? Chapter 19 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations On the official road, a convoy with the flag of the ¡®Dragon Gate Escort Agency¡¯ was moving quickly. This team was Zhang Xuan and He Lingxue¡¯s escort team. However, the atmosphere in the team was very strange. Not only did the two escort leaders not say a word along the way, but He Lingxue¡¯s expression had been cold since the moment she set off. Zhang Xuan, who was in the limelight in the escort agency, was also silent. It made the henchmen following the team very depressed. Even when they were resting, they did not dare to speak carelessly. Under this strange atmosphere, the escort convoy traveled for five days and arrived at Feng City. The mission was completed easily and the goods were delivered perfectly. However, the commissioning party did not come to collect the goods immediately. They still had to wait for some time. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t want to see He Lingxue roll her eyes at him. He left the team and went out alone. Feng City was similar to Lin¡¯an City and was also a small city of the Great Zhou Empire. However, there were more pedestrians on Feng City Street than in Lin¡¯an City. Walking on the lively street, listening to the laughter of the pedestrians and the shouts of the peddlers, Zhang Xuan finally relaxed. However, when he turned a corner, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. Looking at the man who quickly walked past him, a playful smile flashed across his lips. ¡°This thief is really everywhere.¡± Although Zhang Xuan had always been relaxed, he still instantly noticed that his money bag had been taken away. Looking at the figure of the thief who quickly blended into the crowd, Zhang Xuan slided and passed through the crowd like a fish, grabbing the man. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The man who was grabbed by Zhang Xuan asked with a puzzled expression. Seeing the man pretending not to understand, Zhang Xuan chuckled and said, ¡°Your acting skills can fool others, but it¡¯s useless against me.¡± He stole his money bag and even gave a perfectly guileless look. He was a repeat offender. Upon hearing this, the man¡¯s expression changed. Just as he was about to continue quibbling, a glint flashed across Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes. He grabbed the thief, intending to take back his money bag. After all, thieves were everywhere, and there was no need to let a thief affect his mood. However, when Zhang Xuan was talking to the man, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura from the man. Figures quickly flashed through his mind, and he quickly remembered who this man was. With his Connate Realm cultivation, he could sense the aura of ordinary people the most clearly. The man in front of him was the man who stole his wallet in Lin¡¯an City last time. However, this man¡¯s face was different from the last time, but his aura was the same. Zhang Xuan was confident that he was not mistaken. This discovery immediately piqued Zhang Xuan¡¯s interest. Before the man could argue, he used his internal energy to control the man and pulled him into an alley. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. What do you want?¡± The man who was controlled by Zhang Xuan panicked and shouted anxiously. Zhang Xuan stared at the man with a burning gaze, but he couldn¡¯t see how the man changed his appearance, which made him even more interested. How did the other party do it? One had to know that he was a Connate Realm expert and could definitely be considered a top expert in the martial arts world. It might not be that everyone¡¯s disguise could fool his eyes, but any ordinary man¡¯s disguise could definitely be seen through at a glance. At this moment, Zhang Xuan could not see any flaws at all. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. ¡°Last time in Lin¡¯an City, you took my money bag once. You didn¡¯t forget, right?¡± Zhang Xuan asked with a smile. Upon hearing this, the man panicked even more, especially after seeing Zhang Xuan¡¯s face clearly. ¡°You¡­ What a coincidence. So it¡¯s Big Brother. Look at what happened.¡± The man¡¯s quibbling words finally changed to admitting defeat. Although he had only met Zhang Xuan once last time, the man had a deep impression of Zhang Xuan. He knew that Zhang Xuan was different from the others. He was not someone a small thief like him could offend. ¡°Big Brother, this is a misunderstanding. Let me explain¡­¡± The man rolled his eyes and took the initiative to hand over the money bag, wanting to fool him. However, he was interrupted by Zhang Xuan. ¡°Tell me how you managed to change your appearance.¡± Zhang Xuan was not interested in the thief. What he was interested in was the way the man changed his appearance. Even he could not see any flaws. This wasn¡¯t something that anyone could do. ¡°Well ¡­¡± The man hesitated for a moment. Sensing that Zhang Xuan¡¯s gaze was getting colder and colder, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Big Brother, since we¡¯re destined to meet, I¡¯ll tell you my unique skill¡­¡± The man quickly explained how he changed his appearance. Disguise technique? There was actually such a technique in this world? After understanding the man¡¯s technique, Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes lit up. This disguise technique was still useful to him. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve told you everything I know. Can I leave now?¡± After revealing the disguise technique, the man carefully asked. After getting what he wanted, Zhang Xuan did not make things difficult for the man and let him leave. After walking around the streets and not encountering any unexpected gains, Zhang Xuan returned to the team. Coincidentally, the client had also received the goods. The escort agency¡¯s team returned the way they came. The way back was as strange as when they came. He Lingxue¡¯s face was still cold. Every time she accidentally saw Zhang Xuan, she would snort coldly and turn her head to the side. Zhang Xuan couldn¡¯t be bothered. He had been learning the disguise technique along the way, so he naturally didn¡¯t have time to care about He Lingxue¡¯s displeasure. The so-called disguise technique was actually a group of techniques that required memorization and special methods to change one¡¯s appearance. If one could not remember the other party¡¯s aura like Zhang Xuan, they would almost not be seen through. It didn¡¯t take long for Zhang Xuan to master this disguise technique. This gave him another trump card in his future journey in the pugilistic world. Especially with his Connate Realm cultivation, he could change his aura at any time. Those who were not more advanced than him would not be able to sense it. With this disguise technique, he could use another identity to do many inconvenient things. This way, his true identity would not be exposed. He had gained a lot from this escort mission. The team returned much faster. After traveling day and night, they returned to Lin¡¯an City in less than three days. He Lingxue, who had been tense, finally looked better when she returned to Lin¡¯an City. However, when she glanced at Zhang Xuan, she couldn¡¯t help but snort. Those who didn¡¯t know better would think that Zhang Xuan had done something wrong to her. However, Zhang Xuan kept a distance from He Lingxue. No matter how He Lingxue glared at him, he remained indifferent and ignored her. However, when the team approached the east side of the city, everyone¡¯s expression changed, especially He Lingxue and Zhang Xuan. The Dragon Gate Escort Agency was set ablaze, illuminating half of Lin¡¯an City. Chapter 20 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In Lin¡¯an City, flames soared into the sky. Zhang Xuan and the others, who had returned from completing their mission, were shocked by the scene in front of them. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Why is the escort agency on fire?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with nervousness and uneasiness. They were all panicking. He Lingxue, in particular, had a look of disbelief on her face. She could not accept the fact that the escort agency had been set on fire. ¡°Impossible! It can¡¯t be the escort agency that is on fire!¡± At this moment, He Lingxue was no longer as cold and arrogant as before. She shouted unacceptably. After all, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was not only the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City, but also an overlord. Zhang Xuan also did not understand what was going on. Apart from He Yushan, who was a first-rate expert, holding down the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, there were also nearly 100 escorts who were skilled in martial arts. There were nearly 10 second-rate experts, and these people were all experienced. With such a powerful lineup, who would dare to cause trouble at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency? The shocked crowd did not have time to think too much and rushed to the escort agency as quickly as possible. Zhang Xuan was the first to arrive at the escort agency. Looking up, half of the originally majestic escort agency¡¯s door had collapsed under the fire. Corpses were everywhere in the escort agency, and the ground was dyed red. The scene in front of him made Zhang Xuan¡¯s pupils constrict. This was the first time he had seen such a bloody scene in this world. Even though he was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the scene in front of him. Almost all the escorts and long-term workers in the escort agency were killed. ¡°Who! Who did this!¡± He Lingxue, who had rushed over, seemed to have fallen into a crazy state as she roared at the top of her lungs. These people were the foundation of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, but they had all died tragically. As the Missy of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, how could she accept this? The culprit was too ruthless. He did not even let those long-term workers off! Zhang Xuan looked at the indignant He Lingxue and did not comfort her. Instead, he shouted to the people who followed him, ¡°Quick, see if there are any survivors.¡± Looking at the scene, it should have happened not long before they returned. Perhaps there were still some who were not dead. Hearing this, the frightened crowd finally reacted and hurriedly checked. Zhang Xuan quickly walked around the escort agency and swept his gaze across the people who had been killed. He heaved a sigh of relief when he did not find the corpses of He Yushan and the core escort leaders of the escort agency. There were no corpses of He Yushan and the core members of the escort agency, which meant that those people still had a chance of survival. At this moment, a few people suddenly ran out from the horse stable in the backyard. ¡°Missy is back! It¡¯s Missy!¡± The person running at the front shouted hoarsely. ¡°Zhou An, what¡¯s going on?¡± Zhang Xuan hurriedly went up to them and asked in a deep voice. Zhang Xuan knew these people. They were long-term workers who had lived together with him and Zhou An, who had been promoted to an escort. ¡°Zhou An, where¡¯s my father?¡± He Lingxue, who had heard the commotion, also ran over at this moment and asked anxiously. ¡°Missy, that bastard Li Feng colluded with the people from Black Wind Stockade and schemed against the chief escort¡­¡± Zhou An¡¯s voice became choked again. If not for the fact that he and a few long-term workers were lucky enough to hide behind the horse stable, they would have been killed too. Even if the mountain bandits left, Zhou An and the rest did not dare to come out. They were afraid that the mountain bandits would return and they would be so lucky. ¡°Li Feng, I swear I won¡¯t be human if I don¡¯t kill you!¡± He Lingxue, who knew the cause and effect of the matter, roared at the sky. Both her father and her treated Li Feng very well. Especially her. Just because her father didn¡¯t think highly of Li Feng, she was so angry that she quarreled with her father several times. In the end, Li Feng poisoned her father and the higher-ups of the escort agency. What was even more hateful was that he even colluded with the mountain bandits of the Black Wind Stockade and slaughtered the escorts and long-term workers of the escort agency. This kind of beast deserved to die the most! Was it actually Li Feng who colluded with the mountain bandits to poison them? Zhang Xuan was very surprised. He didn¡¯t expect that the miserable scene of the escort agency was caused by Li Feng. Could it be that Li Feng was jealous because He Yushan wanted to matchmake him with He Lingxue? It wasn¡¯t a secret that Li Feng liked He Lingxue in the escort agency. It was just that even Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t expect him to use such an extreme method. It was reasonable that the others weren¡¯t on guard. ¡°He deserved to die!¡± ¡°Kill Li Feng and avenge our dead brothers!¡± The others were filled with righteous indignation as they roared angrily. They were all members of the escort agency. How could Li Feng be so ruthless? Moreover, the escort agency had never mistreated Li Feng. This was something that everyone in the escort agency could see. Amidst their grief and indignation, a murderous aura filled the entire escort agency. Everyone gripped the weapons in their hands tightly, wanting to take revenge on Li Feng. ¡°Missy, what should we do?¡± Zhou An looked at the furious He Lingxue who was filled with cold killing intent and asked. Now that most of the people in the escort agency had been killed, the escort agency would also burn down. However, those who were still alive could only roar in grief and indignation. They could not change anything. What shall we do? As soon as Zhou An said this, the furious He Lingxue regained some rationality. Now that her father and the higher-ups of the escort agency¡¯s whereabouts were unknown, as the daughter of the chief escort, she had to pull herself together. He Lingxue took a few deep breaths and suppressed the towering anger in her heart. Then, she said, ¡°Bury these dead brothers first.¡± These people who were killed had all contributed to the escort agency. Yet, they were implicated because of the escort agency. She could not let these people die without anyone caring. ¡°Missy is right, but what about the chief escort and the rest?¡± Zhou An had no objections to He Lingxue¡¯s arrangement, but he was more concerned about the lives of He Yushan and the others. Once He Yushan was killed, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency would be finished. He had to make plans for himself. It was not that Zhou An was afraid of death, but he knew very well that they could not take revenge alone. Black Wind Stockade was not ordinary mountain bandits. It was a large faction near Lin¡¯an City that was almost as famous as the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. However, the Black Wind Stockade was in the business of plundering houses. It was not tolerated by others, so they went to Black Wind Mountain to set up camp. Moreover, it was said that the leader of the Black Wind Stockade was also a first-rate expert, even stronger than He Yushan. Facing such a force, how could they take revenge? He Lingxue was more anxious than anyone to save He Yushan, but she was not blinded by hatred. ¡°Zhang Xuan, do you have any good ideas?¡± He Lingxue struggled internally for a moment. In the end, she could not help but look at Zhang Xuan. Although she was unhappy with Zhang Xuan¡¯s pretentious attitude, she knew that Zhang Xuan was stronger than her and had more ideas than her. Furthermore, the current situation required Zhang Xuan¡¯s help, so she chose to lower her arrogant head to Zhang Xuan. At this moment, a figure rushed in and shouted anxiously, ¡°Missy, the Black Wind Stockade mountain bandits just sent someone to pass a message. They want Missy to bring people to surrender. Otherwise, they¡¯ll kill the chief escort!¡± The moment he said that, everyone was shocked! Chapter 21 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Black Wind Stockade is too shameless. Damn it!¡± He Lingxue, who had just calmed down, was instantly enraged. After killing so many people in her escort agency, they actually used her father¡¯s life to threaten her. She had never seen such a despicable and shameless person. ¡°Let¡¯s fight it out with them and save the chief escort!¡± The others looked indignant as they picked up their weapons. Although they knew that the mountain bandits were very powerful and they were very nervous, no one cowered. Because the escort agency was their home, the people who were killed were all brothers they had been with for a long time. ¡°If I don¡¯t kill all the mountain bandits, I, He Lingxue, swear that I¡¯m not human!¡± He Lingxue took out her sword and led everyone out of the escort agency. Outside the escort agency, dozens of mountain bandits sat on big horses and stared fiercely at the collapsed door. When He Lingxue led everyone out, all the mountain bandits were stunned by her peerless beauty. Especially the leader, he couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva. ¡°You¡¯re He Lingxue?¡± The man in the lead stared at He Lingxue and asked loudly. ¡°Beast, hand over your life!¡± The enraged He Lingxue shook the longsword in her hand, ready to fight the mountain bandit to the death. However, before she could do anything, the leader laughed out loud. ¡°He Lingxue, take the initiative to surrender. I can let the others go. If you continue to be stubborn, we will kill everyone in your Dragon Gate Escort Agency today!¡± He Yushan had already been captured, but He Lingxue still tried to resist. She was simply courting death. If not for the orders from above that they had to capture them alive, these mountain bandits would not have bothered to waste their breath and would have long charged forward. Their target was He Lingxue, and they couldn¡¯t let her die. That was why the leader used others to threaten He Lingxue. Hearing this, He Lingxue, who was originally furious, froze. Although she was extremely furious and wished she could kill all these mountain bandits, she did not completely lose her rationality. With their numbers, even if they risked their lives, they would only be courting death. So many people had already died in the escort agency. Should she let the remaining people continue to follow her to their deaths? He Lingxue, who had slowly calmed down from her rage, suppressed the thought of risking her life and said coldly, ¡°Let them go. I can go with you.¡± He Lingxue had no choice but to compromise. ¡°Hahaha¡­ At least you know what¡¯s good for you. Everyone else can scram!¡± The man in the lead laughed arrogantly and pointed at the people behind He Lingxue. As long as they could bring He Lingxue back alive, their mission would be completed. As for the lives of the others, these mountain bandits did not care. ¡°Missy¡­¡± The expressions of everyone in the escort agency changed drastically. They wanted to show that they were not afraid of death. He Lingxue interrupted everyone and said indignantly, ¡°All of you can leave. There¡¯s no need to court death for nothing because of me.¡± Everyone opened their mouths, but in the end, they lowered their heads. Although they were hot-blooded, they all knew that their so-called risking their lives was just tempting fate. It was obvious that these mountain bandits had come prepared. They were not someone they could contend with. ¡°Go! All of you, go!¡± He Lingxue looked at everyone and shouted. Everyone¡¯s body trembled. They took a deep look at He Lingxue and turned to leave. Only Zhang Xuan remained calm. He looked at He Lingxue and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± These few simple words made He Lingxue¡¯s delicate body tremble violently. She never expected that Zhang Xuan, whom she hated the most, would choose to stay even though he knew that he would die if he stayed. This made He Lingxue have mixed feelings. At the same time, her attitude towards Zhang Xuan underwent a tremendous change. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of death?¡± He Lingxue asked softly. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Zhang Xuan shook his head and said firmly. One of the reasons why he stayed was because the chief escort had taken good care of him for the past year. Saving He Yushan could be considered repaying his kindness. In addition, he wanted to take the opportunity to leave the escort agency. The current situation was a good opportunity. Zhang Xuan already had a plan in mind. ¡°You¡¯re still thinking of saving the damsel in distress at a time like this? You¡¯re courting death!¡± ¡°Arrest them both!¡± The man in the lead looked at Zhang Xuan coldly and sneered. In the man¡¯s opinion, Zhang Xuan¡¯s so-called fearlessness was just for He Lingxue to see. Since Zhang Xuan had a death wish, he could only fulfill it. However, what the leader did not know was that Zhang Xuan could kill them with a wave of his hand. With Zhang Xuan¡¯s Connate Realm cultivation, not to mention a third-rate mountain bandit, even a first-rate expert would not be able to resist. However, Zhang Xuan had his own plan, so he did not attack directly. The two of them were tied up by the mountain bandits and left on horseback. Under the night sky, a group of mountain bandits brought He Lingxue and Zhang Xuan back to Black Wind Mountain. Black Wind Mountain wasn¡¯t too far from Lin¡¯an City. It was the largest mountain range near Lin¡¯an City, and the Black Wind Stockade that occupied Black Wind Mountain was the largest mountain bandit group near Lin¡¯an City. No one dared to provoke it. The two people, who were pressed into the stronghold, saw the bandit chief in the hall of the stronghold and the traitor of the escort agency, Li Feng, standing beside the chief. ¡°Li Feng! You beast, you¡¯ll die a horrible death!¡± He Lingxue stared at Li Feng with glaring eyes and roared crazily. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that her acupoints were sealed and she couldn¡¯t move, He Lingxue would definitely fight Li Feng to the death. On the other hand, Li Feng sneered at He Lingxue, who was roaring helplessly. He sneered and said, ¡°You forced me to do this. If you want to blame someone, you can only blame yourselves!¡± As he spoke, his gaze landed on Zhang Xuan. He sneered and said, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. I¡¯ll let you know the price of offending me!¡± Not only did Zhang Xuan¡¯s rise steal his limelight, but he also wanted to snatch He Lingxue away. How could Li Feng tolerate this? If he couldn¡¯t get her, he would destroy her himself. He wouldn¡¯t let Zhang Xuan have her. However, Li Feng¡¯s threat had no effect on Zhang Xuan at all. His expression was as indifferent as ever. ¡°Where¡¯s my father?¡± Although He Lingxue was furious, she wanted to know more about her father¡¯s situation. She looked at the bandit chief and asked. The bandit chief was a first-rate expert. He did not care about third-rate experts like He Lingxue and Zhang Xuan at all. He laughed and said, ¡°They¡¯re not dead yet. Why are you in such a hurry to see them? I shall fulfill your wish. Throw them into the dungeon first.¡± The two of them were quickly brought to the dungeon where He Yushan and the higher-ups of the escort agency were imprisoned. In the dark prison, He Lingxue finally saw her father. However, the current He Yushan no longer had his previous dignity. He was lying on the cold ground on his last breath. He Yushan wasn¡¯t the only one. The higher-ups of the escort agency weren¡¯t any better. They were all on their last breaths. ¡°Father, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Tears streamed down He Lingxue¡¯s face as she choked and asked. Seeing that He Lingxue and Zhang Xuan had been captured, He Yushan¡¯s pale face flashed with despair and unwillingness. He had ended up like this because he didn¡¯t know how to read people. His greatest hope was that his daughter could escape this calamity, but he didn¡¯t expect to be captured in the end. ¡°Black Wind Stockade¡¯s bandit chief cultivated an evil and sinister art that can absorb one¡¯s internal energy. All of our internal energy was sucked dry by him.¡± He Yushan explained weakly and asked, ¡°How did you guys get caught?¡± His daughter and Zhang Xuan had escaped a calamity as they were on a mission. Why were they still captured? Chapter 22 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°A bunch of despicable people. How hateful!¡± He Lingxue was shocked and angry when she found out that her father and the higher-ups of the escort agency had their internal energy sucked dry. The evil internal energy absorbing skill was a taboo in the pugilistic world. Anyone who cultivated it would be surrounded and killed by the orthodox sects. He Lingxue did not expect the bandit chief of Black Wind Stockade to cultivate that. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. In the past two years, he had also obtained many cultivation techniques, but this was the first time he had heard of the evil internal energy absorbing technique. ¡°Lingxue, how did you and Zhang Xuan end up in their hands?¡± He Yushan asked the question in his heart. The two of them had escaped a calamity, so why were they still captured? ¡°Father, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m useless¡­¡± He Lingxue sobbed and told him what had happened. Upon hearing this, He Yushan coughed violently and clenched his fists. ¡°Fools! You¡¯re too stupid. How can you trust them so easily?¡± How could they so easily believe the mountain bandit¡¯s words? Furthermore, they had already fallen into the hands of the mountain bandits. How could those murderous beasts let them off? If He Lingxue, Zhang Xuan, and the others were not caught, there might still be a chance to save them. Now that they had been captured, their chances of survival were even smaller. However, He Yushan was very touched to hear from his daughter that Zhang Xuan was loyal to the escort agency. Even though he knew that he would die if he was captured, Zhang Xuan still accompanied He Lingxue without hesitation. This friendship was really rare. ¡°Zhang Xuan, if we can escape this calamity alive, we will be a family in the future!¡± He Yushan, who was touched by Zhang Xuan¡¯s loyalty, said seriously. He had indeed chosen the right person! Not only was Zhang Xuan capable, but he was also good at dealing with people. Hearing this, He Lingxue did not object like before. Instead, she looked at Zhang Xuan with a complicated gaze. The person she trusted the most had betrayed the escort agency and caused the entire escort agency to fall into eternal damnation. Zhang Xuan, whom she had always disliked, did not care about her previous actions. This made He Lingxue feel guilty towards Zhang Xuan. It turned out that she had been wrong all along! Her father was the one with the best taste! However, Zhang Xuan did not care about this. He pretended not to hear He Yunshan¡¯s words and did not respond. After all, he already had a plan in mind. After settling this problem, it would be time for him to leave the escort agency. Zhang Xuan¡¯s attention was focused on the dungeon. Although he could not see the surroundings above the dungeon, with his Connate Realm cultivation, he could clearly sense everything that was happening above. In the hall of the Black Wind Stockade. At that moment, there were long tables filled with fine wine and delicacies. A group of mountain bandits indulged in fine wine and delicacies as they shouted and laughed. On the main seat, a few higher-ups of the Black Wind Stockade sat beside the bandit chief. All of them looked very excited. This sneak attack on the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had made them rich. How could these people not be excited? After all, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency was the largest escort agency in Lin¡¯an City. The businesses they did were all high-ranking officials and nobilities. They were very rich. The gains this time were comparable to their total gains in the past one or two years. Especially when He Yushan and the escorts were all wiped out, the strength of the bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade increased greatly. ¡°Chief, congratulations on winning and taking down the Dragon Gate Escort Agency in one go.¡± Li Feng, who was beside the bandit chief, squeezed out a fawning smile and said. The bandit chief was very satisfied with Li Feng¡¯s flattery. He patted his shoulder and smiled. ¡°You contributed greatly to the easy takeover of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency this time. Tell me what reward you want.¡± After all, the Dragon Gate Escort Agency had nearly 100 escorts, and the chief escort, He Yushan, was a first-rate expert like him. In terms of foundation, the Black Wind Stockade was actually slightly inferior to the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. If it wasn¡¯t for Li Feng cooperating from the inside and poisoning He Yushan and the others, they wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to wipe out the Dragon Gate Escort Agency in one fell swoop. Li Feng had contributed to the Black Wind Stockade, so the rewards he should receive couldn¡¯t be any less. After all, these mountain bandits had gathered together for benefits. As the bandit chief of Black Wind Stockade, he could not disappoint his subordinates. Upon hearing this, Li Feng¡¯s expression immediately lit up. He hurriedly said, ¡°Thank you, Chief. Forget about the reward. I only want He Lingxue.¡± The reason why Li Feng had poisoned He Yushan and the others was because he was jealous of Zhang Xuan. He had taken the risk to get He Lingxue. Now that the plan had been successfully completed, it was time for him to enjoy it. ¡°He Lingxue is still very useful to me. Change to another reward.¡± The bandit chief frowned and directly rejected Li Feng¡¯s request. Even he was moved by He Lingxue¡¯s beauty. How could he give it to Li Feng? Even if Li Feng had contributed a lot, it was impossible for the bandit chief to give up the beauty he coveted to Li Feng in order to win people¡¯s hearts. Li Feng¡¯s expression froze. However, no matter how dissatisfied he was with the bandit chief, he didn¡¯t dare to show it. He could only retreat and ask for some other rewards. Halfway through the celebration banquet, the bandit chief got up and left, arriving at the dungeon. The reason why he could dominate the vicinity of Lin¡¯an City and no one dared to provoke him was because of his powerful strength. At any time, he would strengthen himself first. When He Lingxue and Zhang Xuan were brought into the village, he noticed that Zhang Xuan was a second-rate expert and could be used to improve himself. Seeing the bandit chief suddenly appear, He Lingxue looked at him warily and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Seeing He Lingxue¡¯s angry and nervous expression, the bandit chief laughed. ¡°Little beauty, don¡¯t be anxious. I¡¯ll come and find you after I deal with this kid.¡± After the bandit chief finished speaking, he carried Zhang Xuan away and walked deeper into the dungeon. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan had a calm expression as he allowed the bandit chief to lead him into a sealed room. Not only was he not nervous or uneasy, but a playful sneer flashed across his lips. After learning from He Yushan that the bandit chief cultivated an evil martial art. He guessed that the bandit chief would definitely look for him. This was a good opportunity for him. ¡°You guys stand guard outside.¡± After the bandit chief finished speaking to his two confidants, he closed the door. The sealed room was not big and empty, exuding a sinister aura. While Zhang Xuan was sizing up the sealed room, the bandit chief stared at him and sneered. ¡°Kid, being my nourishment is the greatest honor in your life.¡± He sneered and formed complicated hand seals with both hands, preparing to absorb Zhang Xuan¡¯s internal energy with the evil technique. At this moment, Zhang Xuan suddenly chuckled. ¡°Honor? You think too highly of yourself?¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s internal energy erupted and instantly broke through his acupoints. Before the bandit chief could react, Zhang Xuan flipped his hands and grabbed the bandit chief¡¯s arm, using his internal energy to control him. Everything happened too quickly. By the time the bandit chief reacted, he realized that he could not move. This made the bandit chief¡¯s smile freeze on his face, and panic flashed across his eyes. Chapter 23 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Black Wind Stockade, in a sealed room in the deepest part of the dungeon. The bandit chief, who was being controlled by Zhang Xuan, was panicking. He had kicked an iron plate! Zhang Xuan, who was clearly controlled by the acupoints, could easily open his acupoints. What did this mean? Zhang Xuan was not a second-rate expert. He was hiding his strength. Especially since Zhang Xuan had always kept a low profile and only revealed his strength now. He was clearly waiting for him. As for Zhang Xuan¡¯s motive, it was obvious that he was plotting against him. The completely panicked bandit chief knew very well that he had no ability to resist in front of Zhang Xuan. The only thing he could do was beg for mercy. However, he realized that his mute acupoint had been sealed. Even if he wanted to beg for mercy, he had no chance. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± Under the bandit chief¡¯s terrified gaze, Zhang Xuan smiled coldly. As soon as he finished speaking, he twisted his hand that was holding the bandit chief¡¯s neck gently. The bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade, who no one in Lin¡¯an City dared to provoke, died on the spot. With a muffled bang, the bandit chief fell to the ground. This was the second time Zhang Xuan had personally killed someone, but he did not feel any discomfort. For an evil mountain bandit like the bandit chief, his death was not worth pitying. He did not need any pity at all. Zhang Xuan looked at the bandit chief, then took out a few things from his pocket and started working on them. He had already made preparations when he took the initiative to come to Black Wind Stockade. However, he did not expect the bandit chief of Black Wind Stockade to cultivate an evil martial art. Furthermore, he wanted to absorb his internal energy. This made Zhang Xuan change his plan at the last minute. What he needed to do now was to swap his identity with the bandit chief of Black Wind Stockade. Although Zhang Xuan had already mastered the disguise technique on the way back, this was his first time using it. It was still a little difficult to do. Even if he didn¡¯t need to do it perfectly and could fool the mountain bandits for some time, it still took Zhang Xuan a lot of time. After all, not only did he have to disguise himself, but he also had to disguise the bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade. This was a very complicated process. Outside the sealed room, the two trusted aides guarding outside waited for a long time, but there was no movement coming from inside. This made the two of them frown. ¡°Did something happen to the chief?¡± Doubt flashed across the eyes of one of them as he asked his companion solemnly. This was not the first time they had helped the bandit chief guard the door. In the past, the bandit chief would come out in at most an hour. Now, more than four hours had passed, but the bandit chief still did not come out. It was too abnormal. ¡°Wait, if the bandit chief still doesn¡¯t come out, we¡¯ll knock on the door.¡± His companion thought for a moment and said in a low voice. Their bandit chief was a first-rate expert. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan¡¯s acupoints had been sealed. How could anything happen to the bandit chief? Moreover, this was not the first time the bandit chief had done such a thing. It was even more impossible for an accident to happen when he was absorbing someone¡¯s internal energy. Just as the two of them were feeling puzzled, the door slowly opened and the bandit chief walked out with a corpse. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s dead!¡± The bandit chief casually threw the corpse on the ground and instructed his two trusted aides, ¡°Take care of it.¡± The bandit chief who spoke was none other than Zhang Xuan, who had used the disguise technique to change his identity. The two trusted aides did not suspect anything. They carried the corpse and left quickly. This was not the first time they had encountered such a situation. Countless so-called experts had died at the hands of the bandit chief. When the two of them passed by the dungeon, He Yushan and the others were shocked when they saw the familiar clothes on the corpse carried by two trusted aides. ¡°Zhang Xuan! It¡¯s Zhang Xuan!¡± He Lingxue recognized the corpse at a glance. This made her feel endless grief. Zhang Xuan, whom she had always misunderstood, was dead just like that? She didn¡¯t even have time to apologize! Various scenes of her targeting Zhang Xuan flashed past He Lingxue¡¯s eyes. The more He Lingxue recalled the past, the more her heart ached. From the beginning to the end, Zhang Xuan had never said anything bad about her. At the beginning, she looked down on Zhang Xuan, and towards the end, she was envious. She mocked and sneered at Zhang Xuan, and even targeted him. All these were like steel needles that pierced her heart. He Yushan and the higher-ups of the escort agency were all stunned. At the same time, they were furious. Although their internal energy had been sucked dry, at least they were still alive and had a chance to start over. As for Zhang Xuan, he had completely lost all opportunities. Such an outstanding young man was gone just like that? Especially He Yushan. He had high hopes for Zhang Xuan and had repeatedly tried to matchmake his daughter and Zhang Xuan. Because he saw the hope of strengthening the escort agency in Zhang Xuan. What was even more precious was Zhang Xuan¡¯s loyalty. He Yushan had never seen anything like that before. The heavens were jealous of geniuses! A sorrowful atmosphere spread throughout the dungeon, making He Yushan, his daughter, and the higher-ups of the escort agency extremely angry. However, they couldn¡¯t even protect themselves now. Apart from feeling sorry for Zhang Xuan, they couldn¡¯t do anything. However, no one knew that what He Yushan and the others saw was not real. Zhang Xuan, who had disguised himself as the bandit chief, had returned to the celebration banquet hall of the stockade. ¡°The chief is back!¡± ¡°Congratulations to the chief for reaching a new height.¡± ¡°Let us toast to the chief.¡± Seeing the bandit chief walking over with a smile, everyone hurriedly went up to him and praised him. These mountain bandits had followed the bandit chief for many years, so they knew him quite well. One look at the bandit chief¡¯s happy expression and one could guess that he had gained a lot. ¡°Come, let¡¯s toast!¡± The bandit chief laughed and raised his cup as he spoke to the mountain bandits. As he spoke, his gaze swept across everyone in the hall, and a meaningful smile flashed across his lips. As soon as the bandit chief finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became even warmer. Everyone raised the wine glasses in their hands, raised their necks, and drank the wine in one gulp. After a few glasses of wine, the mountain bandits completely let loose. They shouted vulgarities, and many of them shouted to commit a few more big deals. Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold killing intent when he saw everyone talking about murder and arson. However, he quickly hid it and the bandits did not notice it. At this moment, the two men who had been guarding outside the secret room walked back. The two of them came in front of the bandit chief and bowed respectfully. Just as they were about to report the mission, the bandit chief sitting on the high seat suddenly flipped his hands and punched the two of them. BANG! BANG! The fist wind whistled, and a series of explosive sounds erupted in the trembling air, directly piercing through the two of them. The two subordinates didn¡¯t even have time to scream before they died on the spot. They fell straight to the ground with two muffled sounds. What¡¯s the situation? This scene stunned everyone in the hall. The originally noisy hall fell into a strange silence. Everyone¡¯s gaze landed on the bandit chief. Chapter 24 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the hall of the Black Wind Stockade. Everyone¡¯s gaze landed on the bandit chief, their eyes filled with disbelief. Their bandit chief killed his trusted aides in front of them? Even though they had seen it with their own eyes, everyone still found it unbelievable. No one could understand why the bandit chief would suddenly attack his own people. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about their reactions. After killing the two his trusted aides with one punch, he jumped up and charged towards the second-in-charge. While everyone was drinking, Zhang Xuan already had a rough understanding of the identity of these mountain bandits. The bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade was a first-rate expert. The second-in-charge had the next highest cultivation level, close to a second-rate expert. It was fine if he did not make a move, but since he did, he naturally had to get rid of the second-in-charge with the highest cultivation first. ¡°Chief, what do you mean by this?¡± Sensing the threat of death, the second-in-charge reacted and roared in shock and anger. He had followed the bandit chief through life and death for so many years. Even if he did not make any contributions, he must have worked hard, right? And the bandit chief actually wanted to use him to cultivate? The second-in-charge instinctively thought that the bandit chief wanted to use him to cultivate, so he naturally would not wait for death. The second-in-charge, who was roaring repeatedly, did not dare to hold back in the face of his life and death. He reacted crazily. After all, once the bandit chief absorbed his internal energy, he would become a cripple. However, even if the second-in-charge unleashed all his strength, it was nothing in front of Zhang Xuan. Bang bang bang¡­ The fist wind whistled and went straight for the second-in-charge¡¯s vital points, forcing the second-in-charge to defend passively. However, the second-in-charge only defended for two to three moves before his chest was punched through by Zhang Xuan and he died on the spot. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The second-in-charge was killed. The entire hall fell into a strange silence again. The other heads of the stockade panicked and retreated to distance themselves from Zhang Xuan. No one knew what was wrong with the bandit chief. He did not even let his own people off. Black Wind Stockade had 10 leaders. Apart from the bandit chief, who was a first-rate expert, the rest of the leaders were second-rate experts. Moreover, they were all ruthless people who had killed countless people. But now, facing the bandit chief, these mountain bandits who killed without batting an eyelid felt fear for the first time. Everyone looked warily at Zhang Xuan, who had disguised himself as the bandit chief. They were all prepared to escape. After all, the bandit chief was a first-rate expert. If even the second-in-command could not withstand three moves, they were naturally not his match. Li Feng, who was in the crowd, stared at the bandit chief for a while before suddenly shouting, ¡°He¡¯s not using the chief¡¯s cultivation technique, this person is not the chief!¡± Although Li Feng had just joined the Black Wind Stockade, he had long been in contact with it. Therefore, he knew the bandit chief very well. When he attacked the second-in-charge, Li Feng also felt that the bandit chief was trying to absorb the second-in-charge¡¯s internal energy. However, after Zhang Xuan attacked, Li Feng realized that the second-in-charge¡¯s internal energy had not been sucked away. Instead, his internal organs had been shattered by the violent force and he had died. If it wasn¡¯t to absorb internal energy, why kill the second-in-charge? The only explanation was that the bandit chief they saw was fake! Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t expect Li Feng¡¯s reaction to be so fast. However, he didn¡¯t care. He slid in front of Li Feng and punched him through. Li Feng¡¯s body fell heavily to the ground with a muffled sound. He was very dead. The few leaders who were originally nervous and uneasy were instantly enraged when they heard that the person who killed the second-in-charge was not the bandit chief. ¡°Let¡¯s join forces and avenge the second-in-charge!¡± The third-in-charge waved his hand and shouted at the others. With the third-in-charge taking the lead, the other leaders also reacted. No matter what, they could not let this person off. Not only because Zhang Xuan had killed the second-in-charge, but also because they were afraid of the unknown and could not leave any hidden dangers for themselves. No matter who was pretending to be the bandit chief, it was obvious that he was very hostile to the Black Wind Stockade. Once they let this person go, it would be like a saber hanging above their heads that could fall at any moment. Other than the bandit chief and second-in-charge, there were eight other heads of the Black Wind Stockade. They were all second-rate experts. When the eight of them joined forces, their strength could not be underestimated. Even if they faced a first-rate expert, they could still fight. The other mountain bandits also picked up their weapons and cheered for the leaders. This battle was not only between the few leaders and Zhang Xuan, but also the entire Black Wind Stockade and Zhang Xuan. After all, they were all mountain bandits who had committed many evil deeds. Black Wind Stockade was their home. Once their home was gone, there would be no place for them near Lin¡¯an City. The originally lively celebration banquet had now turned into a life and death battle that concerned the survival of the Black Wind Stockade. Eight second-rate experts formed a formation and surrounded Zhang Xuan. Their eyes flashed with cold killing intent. ¡°Who are you? Where¡¯s our boss?¡± Third-in-charge stared at Zhang Xuan and asked in a deep voice. These words were the question in everyone¡¯s hearts. Everyone was very curious about where the bandit chief, who was a first-rate expert, had gone. Although Zhang Xuan¡¯s identity as the bandit chief had been exposed, he was not afraid of the combined forces of eight second-rate experts. ¡°Who am I? The person who wants your lives!¡± Zhang Xuan glanced at the eight heads and smiled indifferently. His voice was very calm, but the cold killing intent and confidence in his calm tone made everyone shocked and angry. ¡°You have a death wish! Let¡¯s kill him together!¡± The third-in-charge was completely enraged. The long saber in his hand flew and slashed at Zhang Xuan. The others also attacked with their swords and sabers. They attacked with all their might and did not dare to hold back at all. After all, the scene of Zhang Xuan killing the second-in-charge was enough to prove that Zhang Xuan was more powerful than them. At this time, if anyone still held back and did not use their full strength, they might not even have the chance to fight with their lives. ¡°Kill!¡± The other leaders roared and surrounded Zhang Xuan at the same time. On the other hand, Zhang Xuan¡¯s expression was as usual. He glided on his feet and easily dodged the fatal attack of the few of them. After dodging everyone¡¯s fatal attack, Zhang Xuan stretched out his hands and instantly grabbed the third-in-charge¡¯s hand that was holding the saber. As his internal energy burst out, the third-in-charge¡¯s hands were directly crippled, and the saber in his hand also landed in Zhang Xuan¡¯s hand. With a wave of Zhang Xuan¡¯s hand, the head of the third-in-charge was severed. Blood gushed out, shocking everyone. And Zhang Xuan¡¯s massacre had just begun. He would not feel any burden even if he killed all of these evil mountain bandits. The long saber danced in the air. Then, one of the leaders was cut down. However, the saber in Zhang Xuan¡¯s hand was knocked down by another person. At this moment, even if Zhang Xuan was facing eight second-rate experts, he did not use his Connate Realm strength. Instead, he suppressed his strength to that of a first-rate expert. After all, this was a rare opportunity for him to fight. After Zhang Xuan killed four heads in a row, everyone completely panicked. Especially when they saw Zhang Xuan becoming more and more valiant as he fought. His internal energy seemed to be endless, leaving only fear and despair in the hearts of the mountain bandits. No matter who this person was, it was no longer important! The most important thing was to stay alive! Chapter 25 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Black Wind Stockade, in the dungeon. The atmosphere of grief and indignation filled the entire dungeon. Whether it was He Lingxue, her father, or the higher-ups of the escort agency, they felt as if there was a huge rock in their hearts, making it difficult for them to breathe. The loyal Zhang Xuan was killed just like that?! Everyone was immersed in grief, unable to express their inner feelings. Although Zhang Xuan had not been in the escort agency for long, the higher-ups of the escort agency saw his actions and acknowledged him. Apart from grief and indignation, they had no other choice. At this moment, there was a sudden violent commotion above the dungeon. Faint shouts of killing could be heard, causing He Yushan and the others, who were in grief, to be stunned. What happened? When He Yushan and the others reacted, their expressions became strange. They focused and listened carefully. Faint screams could be heard, making everyone¡¯s expressions even stranger. The commotion above the dungeon lasted for a long time before it slowly subsided. This made He Yushan and the others at a loss. ¡°Chief escort, the guards outside seem to have left.¡± The man sitting beside He Yushan suddenly shouted. Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly looked up. The mountain bandits guarding outside had indeed disappeared. ¡°I¡¯ll go see what¡¯s going on.¡± He Yushan stood up and walked out carefully. The entire dungeon was very quiet. Apart from the escort agency members who had been captured, there was not a single mountain bandit in sight. Even when He Yushan walked out of the dungeon, he still did not see any mountain bandits. This made his heart skip a beat as he hurriedly ran back to the dungeon and told everyone. ¡°There¡¯s no one outside. Follow me and leave quickly.¡± Although He Yushan¡¯s internal energy had been sucked dry, he was still a first-rate expert. Even though he was very weak now, he was still slightly stronger than ordinary people. He forcefully opened the cell door that was holding He Lingxue and then helped her unlock her acupoints. ¡°Father, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He Lingxue, who had regained her freedom, threw herself into He Yushan¡¯s arms as tears streamed down her face. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. It was that traitor Li Feng who harmed us. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Sensing his daughter¡¯s self-blame and pain, He Yushan comforted her softly and continued, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this place first.¡± He did not know what had happened in the stockade, but He Yushan knew very well that this was the best opportunity for them to escape from the stockade. Actually, even without He Yushan saying anything, He Lingxue knew that this was not the time to be angry. It was just that she had suppressed too many emotions in her heart and could not hold it in. Hearing He Yushan¡¯s reminder, He Lingxue kept her weak side and took the initiative to walk in front to scout the way. The internal energy of He Yushan and the others had been sucked dry. They could not recover in a short period of time. He Lingxue was the only third-rate expert who had preserved her strength. It was most suitable for her to scout the way. He Lingxue carefully walked out of the dungeon. A bloody smell greeted her, making her shiver. The next moment, when He Lingxue looked up, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. ¡°What happened?¡± He Yushan, who did not know what had happened, asked anxiously. ¡°All the mountain bandits are dead!¡± He Lingxue pointed at the village that was littered with corpses and said emotionally. The scene in front of her was the same as what she had seen at the escort agency. The ground had already been dyed red. He Yushan and the higher-ups of the escort agency looked in the direction He Lingxue was pointing at and were stunned again. The commotion they heard in the dungeon earlier was not an illusion, but it had really happened! ¡°What the hell happened?¡± He Yushan was in disbelief. He had not expected this scene to happen. Although they hated the Black Wind Stockade to the core and wanted to kill them all, they had to admit that the strength of the Black Wind Stockade could not be underestimated. How powerful must one be to be able to invade the Black Wind Stockade and kill so many people? ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a look.¡± He Yushan told everyone and walked towards the Black Wind Stockade¡¯s meeting hall. Before they walked in, they smelled the pungent smell of blood, which made everyone¡¯s breathing quicken. When they walked into the hall, everyone could not help but tremble. At this moment, the hall was filled with corpses, and they were all the higher-ups of the Black Wind Stockade! ¡°They¡¯re all dead. None of them are alive!¡± He Lingxue, who went forward to check, gasped. Moreover, He Lingxue also discovered that these people¡¯s wounds were different. ¡°Father, from the wounds of these people, more than one person should have attacked. Black Wind Stockade should have been surrounded by several experts.¡± He Yushan and the higher-ups of the escort agency hurriedly went forward to check. As He Lingxue had said, the wounds of these people were all different. Some were killed with a single slash, some had their internal organs shattered by internal energy, and some had their heads cut off¡­ ¡°Father, there¡¯s no corpse of the bandit chief of Black Wind Stockade.¡± He Lingxue rummaged through the pile of corpses in the hall but did not find the bandit chief¡¯s corpse. ¡°He¡¯s a first-rate expert after all. He should still be alive.¡± ¡°Moreover, if I¡¯m not wrong, the expert who massacred the Black Wind Stockade should still be chasing after him.¡± He Yushan was not surprised by this. Just as he had said, first-rate experts were still very powerful. If they wanted to escape, it would be very difficult to restrain them. ¡°Chief escort is right. Even if that animal is still alive, he won¡¯t be able to achieve anything!¡± ¡°Things are really unpredictable. The Black Wind Stockade was destroyed just like that.¡± The higher-ups of the escort agency could not help but sigh. They originally did not have much hope, but they did not expect righteous warriors to attack the Black Wind Stockade. ¡°That¡¯s right. If not for those nameless experts, our outcome would still be unknown.¡± Even He Yushan could not help but sigh. He was very grateful to those nameless experts who had attacked. However, it was better to leave as soon as possible. After all, they had no internal energy, and the fate of the bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade was unknown. If he returned, they would be in danger. ¡°Let¡¯s go back first!¡± He Yushan looked at the dead bodies of the Black Wind Stockade and gathered everyone before quickly leaving the mountain. The news of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency and Black Wind Stockade being massacred at the same time quickly spread in Lin¡¯an City, instantly attracting the shock of countless people. Especially the news that the Black Wind Stockade had been learned, it made everyone in Lin¡¯an City clap and cheer. The biggest cancer of the Black Wind Stockade had finally been removed. As for the nameless experts who had attacked, the streets, alleys, restaurants, and teahouses all had various guesses. However, no one knew the identity of the nameless experts. They did not even leave any traces. Zhang Xuan, who was suspected by everyone, left Lin¡¯an City. After a month of long journey, he arrived at Fengming City. Zhang Xuan, who had disguised himself as a refined middle-aged man, stayed in Fulai Inn, the biggest hotel in Fengming City. Chapter 26 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Fengming City, Fulai Inn. Zhang Xuan, who had disguised himself as a refined middle-aged man, walked into the guest room and took out a lot of things from his bag. ¡°The mountain bandits are really rich!¡± Looking at the gains in the bag, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction. This money was enough for him to eat and drink for a few years. He did not need to worry about food and drink anymore. As the largest mountain bandit near Lin¡¯an City, the Black Wind Stockade had been raiding houses all these years. Coupled with the looting of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, it could be said that almost no one in the entire Lin¡¯an City could compare to the Black Wind Stockade. However, Zhang Xuan only brought a portion of the loot with him. It was mainly because there were too many of them. It was inconvenient to bring them all with him, so he placed them in a hidden place. His gains in the Black Wind Stockade were enough to build a faction. Apart from gold, silver, and treasures, there were also a few secret manuals, including the bandit chief¡¯s heretic martial art. Zhang Xuan realized that this heretic technique did not require aptitude. It was suitable for him to cultivate. On the way from Lin¡¯an City to Fengming City, Zhang Xuan had already learned that heretic technique. However, he had yet to absorb anyone¡¯s power. This martial arts technique was said to be heretical but, after Zhang Xuan cultivated it, he realized that this technique had many interesting uses. Absorbing internal energy to increase one¡¯s strength was not the essence of martial arts. In Zhang Xuan¡¯s opinion, it should be because the bandit chief of the Black Wind Stockade had not truly understood the wonders of such martial arts. To others, this heretic technique was not tolerated by the public. However, in Zhang Xuan¡¯s opinion, martial arts did not have any distinction between evil and good. It mainly depended on the person cultivating it. As long as it was a martial art that was useful to him, Zhang Xuan would try to cultivate it instead of looking at the good and evil of the martial arts. Just like the bandit chief¡¯s heretic technique. The bandit chief used it as a shortcut to raise his cultivation level. This was putting the cart before the horse. With this martial art in Zhang Xuan¡¯s hands, he could completely use it as a trump card. When he encountered a strong enemy, it could have an unexpected effect. Although Zhang Xuan was currently at the Connate Realm, he still had to be careful when roaming the pugilistic world. After all, the hearts of the people in the pugilistic world were sinister. If one was not careful, they would easily fall for it. The Dragon Gate Escort Agency was the best example. As a top faction in Lin¡¯an City, who would have thought that it would be destroyed overnight? If it wasn¡¯t for Zhang Xuan, He Yushan and the others would have ended up in a terrible state. All of this was because of Li Feng¡¯s scheme, which led to the destruction of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Zhang Xuan was very confident in his strength, but he would not be arrogant, nor would he expose his true identity to avoid further trouble. This was also the reason why he disguised himself as a middle-aged man and came to Fengming City. With this identity as a cover, it was more convenient for him to do many things next. After all, this was a world where martial arts reigned supreme. There were many sects in the pugilistic world. These people would do anything for benefits. After all, Zhang Xuan was alone. He had to be careful to ensure his own safety. With another trump card, he would have a chance to counterattack when he encountered danger. As for the other martial arts he obtained from the Black Wind Stockade, they were not as good as the Connate Technique. Zhang Xuan only looked at them briefly as a reference and did not cultivate them seriously. After all, at the Connate Realm, ordinary martial arts were no longer of much use to him. However, all the martial arts in the world had been figured out and used as a reference. It was more or less helpful to Zhang Xuan¡¯s improvement. After taking stock of his gains in the Black Wind Stockade, Zhang Xuan sat on the bed and began to prepare for the next operation. The reason why he traveled thousands of kilometers to Fengming City was for the herbs mentioned in the Immortal Ascension Pill formula. The ingredients needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill were very rare. Among them, there were five main ingredients and countless supplementary ingredients. Putting aside whether Zhang Xuan could refine the Immortal Ascension Pill now, just finding the ingredients in the pill formula would take a long time. In particular, the main ingredient was a supreme-grade medicinal herb that could only be chanced upon by luck. When he was still in the escort agency, every time he went on an escort mission, he would ask around to find the medicinal herbs needed for the Immortal Ascension Pill formula. After traveling for nearly a year, Zhang Xuan had only managed to gather a few supplementary herbs. The main material was too rare. He had never heard of it and there were very few records. However, not only did Zhang Xuan not give up, he was even more convinced that the Immortal Ascension Pill was extraordinary. After all, just those rare medicinal herbs alone could greatly improve a martial arts practitioner. Putting all these rare medicinal herbs together to refine a pill, the effect was simply unimaginable! When he was learning medicine from the doctor, Elder Hong, in the escort agency, he was not familiar with all the medicinal herbs. However, as long as it was recorded in the medical books or Elder Hong knew, he would teach him everything. With Zhang Xuan¡¯s photographic memory, he could basically name all kinds of medicinal herbs. However, Elder Hong had never heard of many of the ingredients on the Immortal Ascension Pill¡¯s recipe. How much would the Immortal Ascension Pill refined with such rare medicinal herbs increase one¡¯s strength? Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t dare to imagine and was looking forward to it! As long as he gathered all the ingredients needed for the pill formula, he would be able to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. Over the past few days, while Zhang Xuan was searching for medicinal herbs, he would refine pills whenever he had the time to improve his alchemy skills. This was also the reason why he took a month to come to Fengming City from Lin¡¯an City. He was not in a hurry to travel. Instead, he asked around as he traveled. In his free time, he refined pills to increase his proficiency. Refining ordinary pills was no longer difficult for Zhang Xuan. However, Zhang Xuan did not have much confidence in refining the Immortal Ascension Pill. Moreover, the medicinal ingredients used to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill were too rare, so he did not have the chance to try refining it. Before gathering all the herbs, what Zhang Xuan needed to do the most was to increase his alchemy skills as much as possible so that he would not make any mistakes when refining the Immortal Ascension Pill. After asking around, he found out that there was a rare main material near Fengming City. Although he could not be sure if this news was true, he could not miss it even if there was a one in a million chance. After all, he had spent nearly a year searching and asking around before finally obtaining this information. Regardless of whether he could find it or not, he had to give it a try. Moreover, he didn¡¯t have to worry about food and drink now, nor did he have to go on an escort mission. He had plenty of time. ¡°Let¡¯s rest for today and look for it tomorrow.¡± Zhang Xuan kept his money and did not immediately look for the herbs. He had waited for such a long time. One more day wouldn¡¯t make a difference. He had been traveling for the past month. Even though he was a Connate Realm expert, he was a little tired. It would not be too late to slowly search for medicinal herbs after he had rested. Chapter 27 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations The next day, Zhang Xuan packed up and left the inn. He had heard that the rare herb was deep in the mountains outside Fengming City. After Zhang Xuan left Fengming City, he activated his internal energy and traveled at an extremely fast speed. In less than two hours, Zhang Xuan appeared deep in the mountains. His Connate Realm perception covered a few kilometers. Although he did not know if the information he had heard was true, since Zhang Xuan was here, he naturally had to search carefully. After walking in the mountains for more than an hour, apart from some ordinary herbs, Zhang Xuan did not find the herb he needed. This made Zhang Xuan doubt the authenticity of the news. Just as Zhang Xuan was about to continue searching in another direction, his gaze suddenly stopped on a small pool. In the middle of the pool, there was a seven-leafed flower. The medicinal herb, a golden flower, swayed gently in the wind. ¡°Heaven Heart Flower!¡± Joy flashed across Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes. He was very excited. The herb in the pool was the main herb recorded in the Immortal Ascension Pill formula, the Heaven Heart Flower! After searching for so long, he finally found it! Zhang Xuan was overjoyed. He slid to the side of the pool. ¡°ROAR!¡± At this moment, an angry beast roar suddenly sounded. A big wild leopard darted out of the forest and pounced at Zhang Xuan. ¡°A wild leopard comparable to a first-rate expert?¡± A glint flashed across Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes. With his Connate Realm cultivation, he actually didn¡¯t notice the wild leopard¡¯s sneak attack? Especially when he sensed that wild leopard¡¯s strength was comparable to a first-rate expert, Zhang Xuan was even more shocked. It was not that he was afraid of this wild leopard, but he was surprised that there was a rather intelligent wild leopard here. The reason why it was said to be quite intelligent was because when Zhang Xuan arrived, the wild leopard had been hiding in the dark and had no intention of alarming him. It was only when he was about to pick the Heaven Heart Flower that this wild leopard ambushed him. The wild leopard bounced up from the ground and waved its sharp front claws, bringing with it a gust of wind. A fishy wind blew over. The pair of sharp claws that cut through the air was about to reach Zhang Xuan¡¯s head when Zhang Xuan slipped again and narrowly avoided the wild leopard¡¯s attack. From the speed and strength of this wild leopard, Zhang Xuan could feel that even among the top experts, this wild leopard was at the top. If not for the fact that he had broken through to the Connate Realm, he might really have been injured by the wild leopard¡¯s sneak attack if he was still a first-rate expert. After all, a first-rate expert could definitely be considered a great figure in the Great Zhou Empire. Even in those pugilistic world sects, the first-rate experts were the pillars of support. A herb actually had a wild leopard guarding it that was comparable to a first-rate expert. This was enough to prove that this herb was extraordinary. If it were anyone else, they might have been injured by the sneak attack of a wild leopard that was comparable to a first-rate expert, but Zhang Xuan was not affected at all. As he dodged the wild leopard¡¯s sharp claws, he punched the wild leopard¡¯s head with both fists. The fist wind whistled, and a series of explosive sounds erupted in the trembling air. Without giving the wild leopard any chance to react, he directly pierced through its head. Regardless of whether it was the speed or explosive power of Zhang Xuan¡¯s punches, they had exceeded the level of a first-rate expert¡¯s reaction. Even though the wild leopard was naturally agile, it was still unable to dodge Zhang Xuan¡¯s attack. This difference between the Connate Realm and a first-rate expert was not something that other advantages could make up for. ¡°Roar¡­¡± The wild leopard let out an indignant roar and fell heavily to the ground, bringing with it a cloud of dust. Its huge body twitched a few times before it died. The wild leopard, who was comparable to a first-rate expert, could not even withstand a single blow from Zhang Xuan, even if it was a sneak attack. This was the difference between a first-rate expert and a Connate Real expert. They were on completely different levels. Even though the wild leopard was stronger than ordinary first-rate experts, it was still not enough to face Zhang Xuan, who was at the Connate realm. However, it also made Zhang Xuan feel that this world was not simple! A wild leopard could possess strength comparable to a first-rate expert. No matter how one looked at it, it was abnormal, right? In particular, the wild leopard¡¯s reaction was very similar to the legendary guardian spirit beast. Zhang Xuan glanced at the wild leopard before taking a step forward and arriving at the Heaven Heart Flower. Rare herbs like the Heaven Heart Flower were different from other herbs. They needed to be taken away with the surrounding soil to ensure that the medicinal power of the herbs would not dissipate in a short period of time. Zhang Xuan had learned all these from medical books. When he was preparing to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill, he had been preparing for this. After carefully removing the Heaven Heart Flower, Zhang Xuan searched the surroundings again. He did not find any valuable herbs, so he prepared to return home. Although he had only found the main ingredient to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill and was still lacking many medicinal herbs, overall, he had already successfully taken a step forward. Zhang Xuan, who was in a good mood, was about to leave when he suddenly heard thumping sounds coming from the wild leopard¡¯s stomach. Zhang Xuan stopped in his tracks and walked in front of the wild leopard to listen. There was indeed movement coming from the stomach of the wild leopard, which made Zhang Xuan¡¯s heart skip a beat. He bent down and cut open the wild leopard¡¯s stomach, wanting to see what was going on inside. In the end, he realized that there was a leopard cub inside. This stunned Zhang Xuan again. ¡°A wild leopard comparable to a first-rate expert. Its cub should not be simple, right?¡± The wild leopard had been killed by him, but the little leopard was still alive in the wild leopard¡¯s stomach. This was enough to show that the little leopard was extraordinary. Coupled with the special nature of wild leopards, Zhang Xuan decided to bring the little leopard back to study it. However, the little leopard had just taken shape and was no longer nurtured by the wild leopard. It was very difficult for it to survive. However, this was not difficult for Zhang Xuan. With his Connate Realm cultivation, using internal energy to maintain the little leopard¡¯s vitality did not consume much of his energy. Zhang Xuan carried the little leopard and placed one hand on his abdomen. He carefully controlled his internal energy to nourish the little leopard¡¯s internal organs and maintain its vitality. Under the nourishment of internal energy, the little leopard, who was originally on the verge of death, regained its vitality. It crawled around in Zhang Xuan¡¯s hands, looking especially cute. ¡°You can follow me from now on.¡± Zhang Xuan was quite bored most of the time as he traveled the pugilistic world alone. Bringing along a little leopard of extraordinary breeds could add some fun. After leaving the deep mountains, Zhang Xuan did not stroll around and returned to the inn. First, he carefully handled the Heaven Heart Flower. Then, he called the shopkeeper and asked him to prepare some animal milk to feed the little leopard. After a while, the little leopard finally survived. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here for a while and make plans.¡± After doing all this, Zhang Xuan lay on the bed and planned to regroup in Fengming City first. At the same time, he wanted to find out more information. Chapter 28 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Fulai Inn, in the guest room. ¡°Squeak squeak¡­¡± A little leopard ran around the guest room happily. Seeing this scene, Zhang Xuan smiled. He waved at the little leopard, and the little leopard climbed up his leg. Although only a month had passed, the little leopard could already run steadily on the ground. Moreover, it displayed an extraordinary side. It was stronger than ordinary cubs and could even eat meat. ¡°Little Flower, shall I bring you to see the outside world?¡± Zhang Xuan hugged the little leopard and said with a smile. Little Flower was the name Zhang Xuan gave to the little leopard. Although it sounded a little old-fashioned, it was very suitable for the little leopard who was covered in spots. ¡°Squeak squeak¡­¡± The little leopard waved its front paws at Zhang Xuan as if it had a mind of its own. It burrowed its head in Zhang Xuan¡¯s arms, looking very excited. Obviously, the little leopard understood what Zhang Xuan meant. It was acting cute to please Zhang Xuan. In the past month in Fengming City, Zhang Xuan had found another medicinal herb, and it was near Anyang City, where the Mount Song Sect was located. Zhang Xuan was prepared to set off today to search for medicinal herbs near Anyang City. After leaving the inn, Zhang Xuan bought a carriage for the journey. With his Connate Realm cultivation, it would not consume much of his internal energy to travel, but there was no need to make him work hard. Moreover, he had a lot of places to go next, and there was also a little leopard by his side. It would be much more convenient for him to go anywhere with a carriage, and it would not arouse the suspicion of others. Although the Great Zhou Dynasty respected martial arts and there were many sects in the pugilistic world, most people still relied on horses to travel. Even though Zhang Xuan had disguised himself as a middle-aged man, he still had to keep a low profile. On the official road to Anyang City, Zhang Xuan drove the carriage at a moderate speed. At noon, Zhang Xuan¡¯s carriage arrived at a relay station. When Zhang Xuan brought Little Flower into the relay station, it was already packed with people. However, Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care. He nonchalantly found a seat and sat down. His nonchalant attitude immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the relay station. The main reason was that the atmosphere in the relay station was very oppressive. The two groups of people seemed to be secretly competing. One group looked fierce and they could not hide the aura of a bandit. They did not look like good people. The other group was wearing the clothes of the disciples of the Mount Song Sect, especially the man in the lead. He was dressed gorgeously and looked dignified without being angry. He did not look simple. These two groups of people were secretly competing. Anyone who came in, would have a reaction. However, Zhang Xuan acted as if he didn¡¯t see these two groups of people. After sitting down, he called the shopkeeper over to order food and even ordered a portion of meat for Little Flower. He ate as if no one was around. This scene made everyone in the relay station pay more attention to Zhang Xuan. Especially that group of bandits, they were pointing at Zhang Xuan. ¡°That little leopard looks pretty good.¡± After this group of bandits sized up Zhang Xuan, their attention quickly fell on the little leopard, and their eyes lit up. Although these people were bandits, they were all experienced and knowledgeable people. When a cub ate meat, it was comparable to an adult wild beast. It was definitely extraordinary. ¡°If it¡¯s good, then let¡¯s buy it.¡± The bandit leader smiled sinisterly and waved at the people beside him. A few bandits immediately stood up and walked to Zhang Xuan¡¯s table. One of the black-faced men pointed at the little leopard and said, ¡°Our boss has taken a fancy to this little leopard. Quickly sell it to our boss.¡± The black-faced man said that he wanted to buy it, but he had no intention of paying. He stared at Zhang Xuan with an unfriendly gaze. The others hugged their arms and surrounded Zhang Xuan, blocking all his escape routes. The meaning of these people was very obvious. Zhang Xuan had to sell it no matter what! The reason why these bandits were so arrogant and unscrupulous in threatening Zhang Xuan was mainly because of Zhang Xuan¡¯s current image as a refined middle-aged man. He did not look like a master and they felt that he was easy to bully. Bandits would rob others and bully the weak. They were all very confident in their judgment of people. Since Zhang Xuan looked easy to bully, there was naturally no need to discuss it with him. Moreover, they could use Zhang Xuan to establish their might and show those disciples of the Mount Song Sect who looked down on their status. Seeing this scene, the disciples of the Mount Song Sect felt indignant. Some even said angrily, ¡°These people are simply too lawless.¡± However, the disciples of the Mount Song Sect were just saying. They had no intention of interfering. After all, they were not familiar with Zhang Xuan. It was not worth it to offend these bandits for a stranger. Zhang Xuan, who was eating with his head lowered, looked up at the bandits around him and said calmly, ¡°No.¡± Zhang Xuan felt helpless. He was already low-key enough, but trouble still came knocking on his door for a meal. It was true that the pugilistic world was dangerous. Many times, even if you did nothing, you would become the target of others. If it were anyone else facing the threat of these bandits, they might be nervous and uneasy, but Zhang Xuan did not feel anything. After saying this, he continued to drink and eat, completely ignoring these bandits. ¡°Not selling? Do you know who our boss is?¡± The black-faced man did not expect Zhang Xuan to reject him so bluntly. Especially since Zhang Xuan ignored them, it made these people even more angry and embarrassed. Without waiting for Zhang Xuan to speak, the dark-faced man answered his own question, ¡°Our boss is the ¡®Ghost Hand Seven¡¯!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± The black-faced man stared at Zhang Xuan with a sneer and threatened again. As soon as he said this, gasps sounded in the relay station. The disciples of the Mount Song Sect could not help but discuss. ¡°So he¡¯s the Ghost Hand Seven who single-handedly annihilated the Chen Clan. It was no wonder he¡¯s so arrogant!¡± ¡°Not many first-rate experts can fight him. This is also why he has the confidence to dominate Anyang City.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid this person will be in danger today¡­¡± The disciples of the Mount Song Sect looked at Zhang Xuan again with pity. The disciples of the Mount Song Sect had heard of the name of the bandit leader and knew that this person was a real ruthless person. He would do anything to achieve his goal. If Zhang Xuan still did not hand over the little leopard, he would definitely be doomed today. Sensing that everyone in the relay station was looking at him, Zhang Xuan¡¯s expression did not change at all. He finished his glass of wine unhurriedly and looked at the group of bandits. ¡°I said I¡¯m not selling. I don¡¯t care who you are!¡± His tone was calm, but it was unquestionable. He was too lazy to care about Ghost Hand Seven¡¯s cultivation and what he had done. As for the other party¡¯s threat, Zhang Xuan just treated it as a joke. At this moment, he had made his stance clear. If these bandits still did not let him off, then he could not be blamed! Chapter 29 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the relay station, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are!¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s unquestionable voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears, making them feel like they had been struck by lightning. Who gave him the courage to challenge ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡±? One had to know that the other party was a famous first-rate expert. Not to mention being invincible below the Connate realm, there were not many people near Anyang City who could compete with him. Moreover, ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± was famous for being ruthless. Anyone who offended him would not have a good ending. This was also the reason why the disciples of the Mount Song Sect were vigilant against ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± and the others at the relay station. Although the Mount Song Sect was one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire and the Sect Master was a Connate realm expert, there was no guarantee that ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± would not plot against them. At this moment, Zhang Xuan, who looked very ordinary, did not give ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± any face at all. This made everyone very curious. Where did Zhang Xuan get the confidence to challenge ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡±? ¡°Ignorant fool. You don¡¯t want face, do you?¡± The smug black-faced man was instantly angered by Zhang Xuan¡¯s words. In the past, who wouldn¡¯t tremble in fear every time they mentioned their leader¡¯s face? Not only was the black-faced man furious, but all the bandits present were looking at Zhang Xuan with cold killing intent. It had been a long time since they had seen such a boorish person like Zhang Xuan. He actually dared to challenge them in public? ¡°There¡¯s no need to talk nonsense with him. There¡¯s nothing that our boss can¡¯t get!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if he gives it to me or not. I¡¯ll just snatch it!¡± Many bandits glared at Zhang Xuan and gritted their teeth. After all, they had already announced their leader¡¯s name. If they let it go just like that, they would really lose face. Ghost Hand Seven¡¯s expression turned very ugly at this moment. As a famous first-rate expert near Anyang City, there were really many people who did not give him face. Especially in front of the disciples of the Mount Song Sect, ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± could not afford to lose face. Therefore, he did not stop his subordinates from shouting and acting out. At this moment, the attention of the disciples of the Mount Song Sect was also attracted by Zhang Xuan. They were all very curious if Zhang Xuan really did not know what the ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± was or if he really had a trump card that was why he was not afraid. Actually, these people were more inclined to the former. They all felt that Zhang Xuan should not have heard of the name ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡±. He was a noob who was not afraid of death. The black-faced man, who couldn¡¯t maintain his composure, raised his hand to grab the little leopard, which was eating meat, amidst the shouts of his companions. At this moment, a pair of chopsticks suddenly shot out and instantly nailed the black-faced man¡¯s outstretched hand to the table. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The black-faced man let out a miserable scream, and his originally angry face twisted together. This sudden scene stunned everyone in the relay station. Wasn¡¯t this¡­ too cruel? In front of so many bandits, he crippled the black-faced man. Was he going to fight the bandits to the death? ¡°You¡¯re quite bold. How dare you touch our people!¡± After the stunned bandits reacted, they became even more furious. Although the scene just now had a huge impact on everyone, these bandits still did not take Zhang Xuan seriously. In their eyes, Zhang Xuan had only crippled their companion¡¯s hand because of a sneak attack. The group of angry bandits waved their fists and rushed towards Zhang Xuan. ¡°This person is too impulsive!¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably going to be dangerous!¡± The disciples of the Mount Song Sect who were watching the battle could not help but discuss. Even though Zhang Xuan had just displayed an extraordinary side, the disciples of the Mount Song Sect still did not think highly of him. After all, Zhang Xuan was alone, but there were dozens of bandits. As the saying went, two fists were no match for four hands. Furthermore, there was a first-rate expert, Ghost Hand Seven presiding over this place. Even as disciples of the Mount Song Sect, they did not have the confidence to win. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan was alone. ¡°Go to hell!¡± The group of bandits waved their fists and charged forward. They had no intention of holding back and swore to kill Zhang Xuan in one strike. A murderous aura spread out and enveloped the entire relay station, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan¡¯s expression remained calm from the beginning to the end, as if he did not see the bandits charging over. Not only was Zhang Xuan as calm as usual, but even the little leopard was not affected at all and continued to eat. In the eyes of these bandits, Zhang Xuan¡¯s indifference was a form of contempt for him. This made these bandits even more furious. He was too arrogant! Facing their siege, he could still drink calmly. This was a blatant humiliation to them. Even the disciples of the Mount Song Sect could not stand it anymore. However, these people did not say anything. Instead, they stared at Zhang Xuan, wanting to know why he was so arrogant. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A series of screams suddenly sounded in the courier station that was originally enveloped by a murderous aura. The bandits who had been clamoring to kill Zhang Xuan with a single punch fell one after another like wheat being cut down. Blood splattered. An ordinary chopstick was like a sickle that quickly reaped the lives of these bandits. In the blink of an eye, the aggressive mountain bandits died on the spot without even touching Zhang Xuan¡¯s clothes! This scene shocked everyone in the relay station. Everyone looked at Zhang Xuan again in disbelief. An expert! A Connate expert! The eyes of the leader of the Mount Song Sect constricted, and the shock in his heart was indescribable. Others could only see that Zhang Xuan was extraordinary, but the leader of the Mount Song Sect could sense Zhang Xuan¡¯s cultivation level. He was actually at the Connate realm like the Sect Master of the Mount Song Sect! It was no wonder that he dared to ignore ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡±. So this was his trump card. Not only was the leader of the Mount Song Sect deeply shocked, but Ghost Hand Seven¡¯s expression also changed. He could also tell that Zhang Xuan¡¯s cultivation level was at the Connate realm. He had kicked an iron plate! However, ¡®Ghost Hand Seven¡¯ did not show his fear on the surface. Instead, he shouted at his subordinates, ¡°Attack together and kill him!¡± ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡± roared and jumped up. However, he did not rush towards Zhang Xuan. Instead, he fled out of the relay station. ¡®Ghost Hand Seven¡¯ thought that he could distract Zhang Xuan and take the opportunity to escape. Unexpectedly, the moment he moved, a chopstick flew out quickly and pierced through ¡®Ghost Hand Seven¡¯. With a muffled bang, Ghost Hand Seven¡¯s body fell heavily to the ground and he died on the spot! This¡­ ¡°Ghost Hand Seven¡±, a first-rate expert, was killed just like that? The visual and psychological impact of the scene in front of them was too great, so much so that everyone seemed to be stunned on the spot. As for Zhang Xuan, he just clapped his hands as if he had done something insignificant. He picked up the little leopard who was licking blood on the ground and sat back at the table. The entire relay station fell into a strange silence. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at Zhang Xuan. Soon, the waiter at the relay station carried the corpses away while trembling and served Zhang Xuan food again. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care about the others¡¯ reactions and continued to eat and drink. After eating and drinking his fill, just as he was about to leave, he was suddenly stopped. ¡°Hero, wait!¡± Chapter 30 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Hero, wait!¡± The owner of the voice that broke the silence was the leader of the Mount Song Sect, who had been staring at Zhang Xuan. Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan stopped in his tracks and looked at the imposing man. He smiled and said, ¡°Why? Do you like my little leopard too?¡± ¡°Hero, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡¯m the Sect Master of Mount Song Sect, Yun Zhongtian. May I know your name?¡± The man who was worried that Zhang Xuan would misunderstand immediately introduced himself and expressed his intention to befriend Zhang Xuan. He was the Sect Master of Mount Song Sect? Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He had noticed that the man was extraordinary, but he did not expect him to be the Sect Master of Mount Song Sect. ¡°So it¡¯s Sect Master Yun. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± Zhang Xuan laughed. His attitude towards Yun Zhongtian was still very friendly. After all, the first Connate Realm expert that Zhang Xuan had heard of in this world was the Sect Master of the Mount Song Sect. It was just that he had no chance to meet him. He did not expect to meet Yun Zhongtian in such a way. This made Zhang Xuan want to laugh. After all, the Mount Song Sect was one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire. As the sect master of the Mount Song Sect and a Connate Realm expert, Yun Zhongtian should have been presiding over the Mount Song Sect. Zhang Xuan did not expect that he would be able to maintain such a low profile while bringing the disciples of the Mount Song Sect out. ¡°May I ask if you¡¯re heading to Anyang City?¡± Seeing that Zhang Xuan had no intention of revealing his name, he did not continue asking. Instead, he changed the topic. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m about to go to Anyang City.¡± Zhang Xuan nodded and said with a smile. Yun Zhongtian¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard this. He immediately invited Zhang Xuan,m ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, we can go together.¡± Yun Zhongtian did not put on airs in front of Zhang Xuan. His attitude was very amiable. After all, in the entire Great Zhou Empire, there were not many Connate realm experts. Furthermore, they were all famous sect masters. However, he had no impression of Zhang Xuan and had never even heard of him before. Since he had the chance to meet him, he would try his best to befriend him. Zhang Xuan was a little surprised by Zhong Yuntian¡¯s invitation, but he didn¡¯t reject it. Although the encounter just now was not a threat to him, it was very annoying. If he traveled with the disciples of the Mount Song Sect, it would save him a lot of trouble. ¡°Sect Master Yun, you¡¯re too polite. It¡¯s good to have companions on the way. I¡¯ll accept it.¡± Zhang Xuan nodded with a smile and agreed. Since Yun Zhongtian did not put on airs and took the initiative to befriend him, Zhang Xuan would not insult him. The two of them traveled together, so Zhang Xuan did not feel bored on the way. He made small talk with Yun Zhongtian. Of course, most of the time, Yun Zhongtian was the one talking, mainly to find out Zhang Xuan¡¯s identity. Although Zhang Xuan, who had always wanted to keep a low profile, had a good impression of Yun Zhongtian, he would not tell him everything just because he had a good impression of him. The pugilistic world was dangerous. No matter who he met, he had to keep his words to himself so that no one would know his trump card. After chatting with Zhang Xuan for a while, Yun Zhongtian couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°May I know which sect you are from?¡± During the conversation with Zhang Xuan, Yun Zhongtian could tell that the other party was still very wary of him, so he could only ask directly. ¡°I don¡¯t belong to any sect. I¡¯m just a nobody.¡± Zhang Xuan replied nonchalantly. Hearing this, Yun Zhongtian¡¯s eyes lit up, and his heart instantly became lively. A Connate realm expert without a sect was definitely something that could only be chanced upon by luck. If they could invite him to the Mount Song Sect, it would definitely improve the overall strength of the Mount Song Sect. However, although Yun Zhongtian wanted to rope in Zhang Xuan, he did not say it out loud. After all, they had just met and were not familiar with each other. Furthermore, Zhang Xuan was obviously wary of him. This matter could not be rushed. As the sect master of Mount Song Sect, Yun Zhongtian had seen too many people and naturally understood Zhang Xuan¡¯s thoughts. Next, Yun Zhongtian did not probe Zhang Xuan¡¯s identity. Instead, he chatted with him about the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s pugilistic world. With Yun Zhongtian¡¯s status, he still had quite a bit of influence in the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s martial arts world. He was rather familiar with the situation of the various sects and factions. When it came to the topic of sects in the pugilistic world, Zhang Xuan was clearly in high spirits and would ask a few questions from time to time. He had traveled extensively in the escort agency. Although he had some understanding of the major sects, he was clearly not as well-informed compared to Yun Zhongtian. The two of them chatted quite well. After half a day of traveling, the group arrived at Anyang City. ¡°Brother, farewell. If you need help, come to Mount Song Sect to look for me at any time.¡± Yun Zhongtian greeted Zhang Xuan politely with cupped fists. ¡°Sect Master Yun is very considerate.¡± Zhang Xuan nodded with a smile, and his impression of Yun Zhongtian improved. Although he knew that Yun Zhongtian was so warm and polite to him because of his Connate Realm cultivation, it was still very difficult to make the sect master personally lower his pride. After all, anyone who could become a sect master was powerful and proud. Who would be willing to lower themselves to befriend a stranger? After bidding farewell to Yun Zhongtian and the others, Zhang Xuan drove the carriage into Anyang City. ¡°Things have changed!¡± Looking at the familiar city, familiar scenes flashed past Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes. It was also because of the item he had delivered to the Mount Song Sect that he had unintentionally obtained the top secret manual of the Mount Song Sect, ¡°Connate Technique¡±, allowing him to break through to the Connate realm. Zhang Xuan sighed in his heart and quickly suppressed all kinds of thoughts. He stayed in a guest room in the city. Zhang Xuan was here for one of the medicinal ingredients in the Immortal Ascension Pill formula, so he did not waste any time. After putting his luggage in the guest room, he brought the little leopard into the mountains outside Anyang City. They searched the mountain for several hours but they did not find the herbs needed for the Immortal Ascension Pill like last time in Fengming City. On the way back, he found a medicinal herb that was similar to the one in the pill formula. However, after studying it for a while, it was not the same. However, Zhang Xuan was not too disappointed. After all, the medicinal herbs needed for the Immortal Ascension Pill were very rare and could only be chanced upon by luck. Moreover, what Zhang Xuan did not lack the most was time. With his endless lifespan, he was not in a hurry at all. He could take his time to search. Of course, Zhang Xuan still hoped to gather all the ingredients for the Immortal Ascension Pill as soon as possible. Then, he could personally refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. Zhang Xuan had just returned from the mountains when he received an invitation. ¡°An invitation from the Mount Song Sect?¡± Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows as surprise flashed across his eyes. When he came with Yun Zhongtian previously, he didn¡¯t hear him mention it. He actually sent someone to send an invitation when he arrived in Anyang City. What was the meaning of this? Chapter 31 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Anyang City, in an inn. Zhang Xuan, who received the invitation from the Mount Song Sect, was a little puzzled, but he still decided to make a trip to the Mount Song Sect. After all, he had a good impression of Yun Zhongtian. Moreover, it would be beneficial for him to interact more with the sects in the pugilistic world. Zhang Xuan packed up briefly and rushed to the Mount Song Sect with the little leopard. As one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire, the Mount Song Sect had a huge influence in the pugilistic world. The Mount Song Sect was especially lively today. Countless people from the pugilistic world gathered at Mount Song Sect, including the sect masters of famous sects. When Zhang Xuan arrived at the Mount Song Sect, he learned of the Mount Song Sect¡¯s purpose from the discussions. It turned out that Mount Song Sect had formed an alliance with the other large sects and many famous sects to resist the Imperial Court. There were countless sects in the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s pugilistic world, but there were very few that could truly be called large sects. The reason was that to become a large sect, the sects had to have Connate experts presiding over them. Take the Mount Song Sect for example. With Yun Zhongtian, a Connate realm expert, presiding over it, it directly became one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Moreover, Mount Song Sect, which was one of the largest sects in the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s pugilistic world, only had one Connate Realm expert like the other top sects. Of course, apart from the Connate realm experts holding down the fort, the sects had a lot of influence. There were also some sects with good reputations. Although there were only first-rate experts holding down the fort, they still had a lot of influence because of their great reputation. The reason why these pugilistic world sects joined forces to resist the Imperial Court was because the Imperial Court wanted to integrate all the sects into its management, causing the major sects to be dissatisfied. However, the imperial court was powerful after all. A single sect in the pugilistic world, even if it had a Connate Realm expert presiding over it, would not be able to resist the imperial court. Only when these sects joined forces could they put pressure on the imperial court. After all, once they were incorporated, they would lose their freedom. Everything they did had to be done according to the Imperial Court. Which martial artist was not proud and arrogant? How could they be controlled by others? As the sect master of Mount Song Sect, Yun Zhongtian was elected as the first alliance leader in this martial arts conference. Zhang Xuan, who was participating in this grand event, was rather surprised. He did not expect that the various sects in the pugilistic world would actually dare to contend with the Imperial Court. However, since he was here, Zhang Xuan naturally had to take the opportunity to understand the situation. After many inquiries, Zhang Xuan finally figured out the exact situation. Originally, the Imperial Court and the pugilistic world sects basically did not interfere with each other. However, for some reason, the Imperial Court suddenly targeted the major sects and made all the martial arts sects submit. Once this news spread, the pugilistic world was in an uproar. No one agreed. In the end, a few large sects took the lead and the other sects responded, forming an alliance. This event was very grand. The sect masters of several top sects personally expressed their attitudes. Although these people spoke very vaguely, their meaning was very clear. Even if they had to fight to the death, they would not submit to the Imperial Court and be obedient dogs. Zhang Xuan, who was sitting in the crowd, did not have much of a reaction to this. He only treated himself as a spectator. After all, the conflict between the sects in the pugilistic world and the imperial court had nothing to do with him. Moreover, he, who had always kept a low profile, did not want to participate in any disputes. It was mainly because these disputes were meaningless to him. He had no intention of establishing a sect or becoming famous. Fighting and killing would not give him any benefits. Of course, the prerequisite for Zhang Xuan to keep a low profile was that others did not find trouble with him or scheme against him. Once they angered him, the consequences would be very serious. Be it the Black Wind Stockade mountain bandits or Ghost Hand Seven, they were the best examples of offending Zhang Xuan. Although this event was grand, it did not last long. After the major sects expressed their stance, the grand event ended. The major sects that came to the Song Mountain Sect did not stay for long and directly left. However, when Zhang Xuan was about to leave, he was asked to stay behind by Yun Zhongtian alone. ¡°Sect Master Yun, is there anything else?¡± Zhang Xuan asked with a smile. He had not come to participate in this grand event to join forces with the major sects to resist the Imperial Court. He had only come to give face to Yun Zhongtian. ¡°Brother, the imperial court is eyeing the sects in the pugilistic world covetously, causing everyone in the martial arts world to be in a panic. Although you are in the Connate realm, it is inconvenient for you to travel in the pugilistic world in this chaotic world. I wonder if you are willing to join my Mount Song Sect?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing, you can directly become an elder of Mount Song Sect.¡± Yun Zhongtian looked at Zhang Xuan and invited him. Previously, Yun Zhongtian did not invite Zhang Xuan not only because he felt that it was too abrupt, but more importantly, he was also skeptical of Zhang Xuan¡¯s words. There were only a few Connate realm experts in the entire Great Zhou Empire. Zhang Xuan¡¯s appearance was too sudden. Although meeting him at the relay station was a coincidence, out of caution, Yun Zhongtian still had to investigate it himself to confirm that his meeting with Zhang Xuan was a coincidence and Zhang Xuan¡¯s identity. After many investigations, Yun Zhongtian was basically certain that Zhang Xuan was fine. Now that there was a conflict between the pugilistic world and the imperial court, they needed more people. If they could keep Zhang Xuan in the Mount Song Sect, it would undoubtedly give the sect more confidence. Hearing this, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He was not very surprised. A Connate Realm expert was definitely an existence that all sects wanted to rope in. Yun Zhongtian had roped him in to the Mount Song Sect and even offered him the position of an Elder, proving Yun Zhongtian¡¯s attitude towards him. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about these empty titles at all. After all, what he pursued was not to become famous, but to develop in a low profile manner and see a wider world. He also needed to slowly verify the existence of the rumored immortals. Needless to say, searching for the herbs in the Immortal Ascension Pill¡¯s formula was more meaningful than being an Elder of the Mount Song Sect. At the thought of this, Zhang Xuan suddenly had an idea. If he could use Mount Song to gather the herbs needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill, wouldn¡¯t it be faster than him finding them himself? Zhang Xuan, who had not planned to stay in the Mount Song Sect as an elder, considered that it should be more efficient to use the power of the Mount Song Sect to help him find medicinal herbs than to search the world himself. ¡°Sect Master Yun, it¡¯s my honor that you personally invite me. However, I have a request. I wonder if Sect Master Yun can agree?¡± Zhang Xuan asked with a smile. Hearing Zhang Xuan¡¯s first sentence, Yun Zhongtian was obviously delighted. However, Zhang Xuan¡¯s last sentence made him puzzled. Could it be that he looked down on the position of an elder? Confused, Yun Zhongtian nodded and said, ¡°If you have any requests, feel free to ask!¡± Yun Zhongtian already had a plan in mind. As long as Zhang Xuan¡¯s request was not overboard, he would agree. After all, the strength of a Connate Realm expert was obvious. If he wanted to rope the other party in, he had to show his greatest sincerity. Chapter 32 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Mount Song Sect, venue of the grand ceremony. Zhang Xuan, who was invited by Yun Zhongtian, looked at the serious Yun Zhongtian with a smile and said lightly, ¡°I need some medicinal herbs. If you can help me gather all of them, I promise to join the Mount Song Sect.¡± Zhang Xuan did not care about the title of an elder of Mount Song Sect. However, he could save a lot of time by using Mount Song Sect to gather medicinal herbs. Although he had an endless lifespan and did not lack time, he was looking forward to seeing how useful the Immortal Ascension Pill was. The earlier he could refine it, the earlier Zhang Xuan would know the effects of the Immortal Ascension Pill. From there, he would have more clues about whether there were immortals in this world. After all, ordinary pills¡¯ effects were limited for martial arts practitioners, especially at the Connate realm. There were almost no pills that could be of use to them. Zhang Xuan wanted to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill the most. It was also for this reason that he agreed to Yun Zhongtian¡¯s invitation and decided to join the Mount Song Sect. As for the alliance between Mount Song Sect and the major sects, as well as the conflict with the imperial court, Zhang Xuan did not care. He would only act according to his wishes. When he was needed, Zhang Xuan would intervene, but he would never meddle in other people¡¯s business. Hearing this, Yun Zhongtian¡¯s expression instantly became a little strange. That¡¯s all? When he heard Zhang Xuan had a request, Yun Zhongtian subconsciously thought that it would be a very difficult request. However, he did not expect that Zhang Xuan only needed the Mount Song Sect to help him collect medicinal herbs. This was nothing to the Mount Song Sect, one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Moreover, with the influence of the Mount Song Sect, there were too many connections that they could use to find medicinal herbs. ¡°No problem. The Mount Song Sect will definitely do its best to help you gather all the necessary herbs.¡± Yun Zhongtian nodded without even thinking. Although he was very curious about what Zhang Xuan was collecting herbs for, he did not ask. He knew very well that Zhang Xuan had already said what he wanted to say. Since Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t say anything, it meant that Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t want him to know. Even if he asked, Zhang Xuan wouldn¡¯t tell him. Moreover, Zhang Xuan would be dissatisfied with him. At Yun Zhongtian¡¯s level, he knew better than anyone what to say and what not to say. ¡°Since Sect Master Yun is so straightforward, I¡¯ll stay in Mount Song Sect.¡± Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t say anything else and agreed to stay. Yun Zhongtian was very happy to hear that Zhang Xuan agreed to stay in the Mount Song Sect as an elder. He immediately arranged a place for Zhang Xuan to stay. As one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire, the residence of ordinary disciples was very good. As an elder of the Mount Song Sect, Zhang Xuan¡¯s residence was naturally better than that of ordinary disciples. It was a courtyard with pavilions, artificial mountains, and pools. It was twice as strong as the residence of the chief escort of the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, He Yushan. Although Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care about this, he was still very satisfied. After all, he had been here for a long time and had always been busy. Now, he could finally enjoy himself for a short while. The night passed uneventfully. Early the next morning, Yun Zhongtian gathered the disciples of the Mount Song Sect and announced in public, ¡°From today onwards, Zhang Xuan is the First Elder of Mount Song Sect. His authority is only inferior to mine.¡± Yun Zhongtian¡¯s words immediately attracted various discussions from the disciples of the Mount Song Sect. The few disciples who had seen Zhang Xuan¡¯s methods previously had no objections to Zhang Xuan becoming an Elder of the Mount Song Sect. However, most of the disciples did not know Zhang Xuan and were very curious about him. In particular, a few elders, who were the first-rate experts of the Mount Song Sect, were dissatisfied with Zhang Xuan¡¯s sudden appearance. After the first-rate experts elders looked at each other, one of them looked at Zhang Xuan and asked, ¡°Sect Master, the position of elder should be given to those who have contributed to the sect. I wonder what he has done to the Mount Song Sect?¡± Many people agreed with his words. It was obvious that they did not agree with Zhang Xuan becoming the First Elder. However, before figuring out Zhang Xuan¡¯s identity, although these people were dissatisfied, they did not show any hostility towards Zhang Xuan. After all, a person that Yun Zhongtian thought highly of was definitely not simple. However, they still had to raise their doubts when it was time. Yun Zhongtian was not angry about this. When he decided to announce this news, he had already guessed that this scene would happen. However, if he wanted the disciples of the Mount Song Sect to be convinced by Zhang Xuan, it was obviously useless to rely on him to explain. He still needed Zhang Xuan to prove it himself. Under everyone¡¯s doubtful gazes, Yun Zhongtian did not explain. Instead, he looked at Zhang Xuan. Seeing Yun Zhongtian¡¯s gaze, Zhang Xuan immediately understood what he meant. Although he was used to keeping a low profile, Zhang Xuan would not hesitate when it was time to attack. After all, he was going to stay with the Mount Song Sect for a period of time and prove that he was qualified to be an elder in front of everyone. It would save him a lot of trouble in the future. ¡°I haven¡¯t made any contributions to the Mount Song Sect yet, but I should be able to help if there¡¯s a crisis that the Mount Song Sect can¡¯t resolve.¡± Zhang Xuan stood up and glanced at the people who doubted him. He smiled confidently. As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Xuan casually waved his hand, and a big tree not far away suddenly fell with a muffled sound. Releasing internal energy? This scene shocked everyone present. Their eyes flashed with unconcealable shock and disbelief. The space suddenly fell silent. ¡°A Connate Realm expert!¡± In the next moment, an exclamation broke the silence, as if it had caused a chain reaction. Everyone present gasped. Only Connate Realm experts could release internal energy! No one expected that Zhang Xuan, who looked ordinary, was actually at the Connate Realm like Sect Master Yun. It was no wonder that Sect Master Yun gave him the position of the First Elder. Zhang Xuan could definitely bear the responsibility. Those who originally doubted Zhang Xuan became excited and overjoyed. With a Connate Realm expert like Zhang Xuan joining the Mount Song Sect, the Mount Song Sect¡¯s strength had greatly improved and it had become the number one sect in the martial arts world! Seeing everyone¡¯s reaction, Zhang Xuan only smiled and did not care. He had exposed his Connate realm strength in front of everyone not to intimidate these people, but to save himself some trouble. What he really cared about was his pill refinement plan! ¡°If anyone else has any objections, you can raise them.¡± Yun Zhongtian looked at everyone and asked indifferently. Everyone hurriedly shook their heads. It was the Mount Song Sect¡¯s honor for a Connate expert to join. Who dared to have any objections? Previously, they doubted Zhang Xuan because they did not know him and his background. Now that they knew that Zhang Xuan was a Connate Realm expert, wasn¡¯t this embarrassing themselves if they still objected? Seeing that no one objected, Yun Zhongtian nodded in satisfaction and said a few simple words before leaving with Zhang Xuan. ¡°Brother Zhang, which medicinal herbs do you need?¡± After returning to his room, Yun Zhongtian took the initiative to ask. Zhang Xuan took out a prepared drawing. On it were the herbs needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. Of course, out of caution, Zhang Xuan mixed some other medicinal ingredients in these medicinal ingredients to prevent the recipe from being leaked. Chapter 33 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations For the next period of time, Zhang Xuan lived in the Mount Song Sect. He had an easy time every day. He didn¡¯t have much of a plan to begin with. After leaving the escort agency, he had been running around to collect medicinal herbs. Now that the Mount Song Sect was helping him find the herbs, Zhang Xuan was naturally free. Moreover, the Mount Song Sect was very active. In just a few days, they had helped him collect several supplementary herbs. Although Zhang Xuan was free, he did not do nothing. He persisted in refining pills every day to increase his proficiency in refining pills. However, the medicinal pills he refined only had some effect on ordinary people and ordinary martial arts practitioners. They were not very useful in other aspects. A month passed in a flash. Apart from the main ingredients, Zhang Xuan had already collected half of the other supplementary ingredients. He was very satisfied with this efficiency. If he were to collect them alone, not to mention a month, he might not even be able to gather these medicinal herbs in a year if he was unlucky. This also made Zhang Xuan realize the importance of a sect. A person¡¯s strength was ultimately limited. With more people, no matter what they did, they could achieve twice the result with half the effort. Joining the Mount Song Sect as an elder would not only allow him to enjoy special treatment, but it would also save him the time to travel around. It was not bad. However, Zhang Xuan knew very well that the comfort and peace he was enjoying was only temporary. It shouldn¡¯t be long before this peace would be broken. After all, the Great Zhou Empire had been in turmoil for the past month. After the imperial court gave the order to submit to the major sects, they were rejected by the major sects. This caused the imperial court to be furious and destroy many sects in the pugilistic world with lightning speed. Facing the Imperial Court¡¯s thunderous attack, some sects that had not been destroyed could not withstand the pressure and surrendered. The remaining sects either joined the alliance or ran to very remote places to preserve the sects¡¯ lineage. As more and more sects joined the alliance, the strength of the alliance increased greatly. This made Yun Zhongtian very happy these days. After all, Yun Zhongtian was the first leader of the alliance. The stronger the alliance, the more confident he would be in resisting the imperial court. Moreover, the Mount Song Sect¡¯s reputation had become even more resounding. This was a rare opportunity for Yun Zhongtian to strengthen the Mount Song Sect. Although the imperial court was very dissatisfied with this alliance, they did not want to fight head-on. After using lightning-fast methods to eliminate some small sects, they issued an edict to the alliance and promised many benefits. However, the alliance was not moved at all and directly rejected the imperial court¡¯s decree. This also caused the atmosphere in the pugilistic world to be very tense. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about this and did not pay much attention to it. After all, he did not stay in the Mount Song Sect for power or fame. It was only because the Mount Song Sect could help him gather all the herbs needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill faster that he chose to join the Mount Song Sect. However, no matter how tense the atmosphere outside was, Zhang Xuan still strolled around Mount Song Sect as usual every day. Apart from refining pills to increase his proficiency, he spent the rest of his time wandering around. During these days in the Song Mountain Sect, every time Zhang Xuan passed by the Scripture Depository, he actually wanted to go in and take a look. After all, the ¡°Connate Technique¡± that he had broken through to the Connate realm back then was the secret manual of the Song Mountain Sect. With the foundation of the Mount Song Sect, there might be even more powerful martial arts. However, although he was the nominal elder of the Mount Song Sect, he could not enter and exit the Scripture Depository at will. Today was the day that Zhang Xuan looked forward to the most. At midnight, Zhang Xuan hurriedly refreshed the system interface. [Host: Zhang Xuan] [Cultivation technique: Martial Ancestor Long Fist, Connate Technique¡­] [Points: 1] Another year passed. This was Zhang Xuan¡¯s third year here. Zhang Xuan was very happy when he saw the points on the system interface. The System Points were his trump card for continuously becoming stronger in this world. As long as he had enough points, no matter how profound a martial art was, he could deduce it with points. As long as he had enough points and martial arts, there would be no bottleneck for Zhang Xuan, and the heights he could reach were limitless. However, there were no suitable martial arts to deduce at the moment, so Zhang Xuan did not plan to use his points for the time being. Instead, he planned to keep them for now. After all, the points would not expire. When he had the chance to obtain more profound martial arts, he would use them to deduce. Only then would it not be wasted. The most important thing for Zhang Xuan now was to gather all the herbs needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill as soon as possible and refine it this morning. The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Zhang Xuan woke up as usual. After breakfast, he was about to go out for a walk when Yun Zhongtian suddenly came to find him. ¡°Sect Master Yun, what happened?¡± Looking at Yun Zhongtian¡¯s serious expression, Zhang Xuan asked in a deep voice. These days, as more and more pugilistic world sects joined the alliance, Yun Zhongtian could be said to be beaming with joy. Why did he suddenly look so miserable today? Although Zhang Xuan did not care about the Mount Song Sect, the alliance, and the Imperial Court, he was still an elder of the Mount Song Sect. If something happened to the Mount Song Sect, it would affect him. ¡°The Imperial Court attacked one of the sects in the alliance. Overnight, they destroyed the Spirit Stream Sect, which had a first-rate expert holding down the fort. The entire sect was slaughtered, and no one survived.¡± Yun Zhongtian¡¯s voice was filled with endless anger and a trace of unwillingness and helplessness. The alliance led by the few top sects and Mount Song Sect had absolute strength to contend with the Imperial Court. They originally thought that the Imperial Court would not act rashly against their alliance. However, no one expected the Imperial Court to take action at all costs. It made the sects in the alliance without Connate experts holding down the fort panic. After all, if the Imperial Court could destroy one, they could destroy the second. No one knew who the next target would be. When the news of the Spirit Stream Sect¡¯s destruction spread, all the major sects looked for Yun Zhongtian, the alliance leader, hoping that he would give them a plan to guarantee the safety of the other sects. Yun Zhongtian discussed with a few Connate Realm experts in the alliance and finally came up with a plan. With the Connate Realm experts as the center, the major sects would gather together so that they could provide timely help when the sects were in danger. Yun Zhongtian came to look for Zhang Xuan not only to tell him this news, but also to ask Zhang Xuan for help. Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He did not expect the Imperial Court to be so domineering. However, he could understand. This realm was the Great Zhou Empire, and the Imperial Court was the greatest overlord. Those who tried to resist the Imperial Court would definitely be treated as enemies by the Imperial Court. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment and asked calmly. Yun Zhongtian didn¡¯t waste any time and directly said, ¡°Due to the current situation, I need you to preside over a city.¡± Chapter 34 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°Preside over the city?¡± Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He was very surprised by Yun Zhongtian¡¯s words. All the major cities in the Great Zhou Dynasty belonged to the Imperial Court in name. Even with great strength, they had to listen to the orders of the Imperial Court in name. Although this was only in name, not many sects would really listen to the orders of the Imperial Court, no sect dared to openly oppose the Imperial Court. At this time, using the name of the Mount Song Sect to hold down the city and protect those sects without Connate Realm experts was equivalent to directly rebelling against the Imperial Court. Was this alliance not planning to leave any leeway with the Imperial Court? Noticing the flash of doubt in Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyes, Yun Zhongtian immediately explained, ¡°We had no choice. Because the Spirit Stream Sect was destroyed, everyone in the alliance was in a state of panic. Many sects lost confidence in the alliance. At this time, we can¡¯t retreat.¡± ¡°This is the most likely solution to the crisis after discussion with the various sects. However, there are limited Connate Realm experts, so we need you to take action.¡± According to the intentions of Yun Zhongtian and the various sects, all the sects were to move to places that were competing with each other in terms of distance. They were to gather in a few large cities and let Connate experts guard each city. The Imperial Court wanted to use the method of exterminating the Spirit Stream Sect to destroy the sects that did not have a Connate expert holding down the fort. They would definitely not be able to succeed. After all, Connate experts were powerful. Even if the Imperial Court had a deep foundation, they would have to pay a huge price if they attacked a Connate expert. Yun Zhongtian believed that the Imperial Court would not continue to act rashly. Hearing Yun Zhongtian¡¯s explanation, Zhang Xuan immediately understood what he meant. It had to be said that this method was very suitable for the current crisis of the major sects. Although he did not want to participate, he had enjoyed the resources of the Mount Song Sect after all. When he needed to fulfill his obligations, Zhang Xuan could not refuse. ¡°Alright, tell me where you need me to preside over.¡± Zhang Xuan did not care about this. Whether it was at Mount Song Sect or other cities, it was the same to him. ¡°Liyang City, 10,000 miles away from Anyang City.¡± Yun Zhongtian said solemnly. Zhang Xuan nodded and agreed. He packed up briefly and set off with the little leopard. However, Zhang Xuan did not go to Liyang City alone. Mount Song Sect sent a group of disciples to escort him. Although it was said to be escorting, they were actually to be Zhang Xuan¡¯s assistants. After all, Zhang Xuan was the nominal First Elder of the Mount Song Sect, and his status was only below Sect Master Yun Zhongtian. Moreover, Zhang Xuan was going to Liyang City to help the Mount Song Sect. The sect master could not let Zhang Xuan do everything himself. Only with a few disciples running errands could Zhang Xuan feel the importance of the Mount Song Sect. The group took less than two days to arrive at Liyang City. This city was comparable to Anyang City. Moreover, there were many sects in the city. On the surface, it belonged to the Imperial Court, but it had always been controlled by a few large sects. When Zhang Xuan arrived with the disciples of the Mount Song Sect, the major sects and officials in the city were already waiting at the city gate and greeted him respectfully. ¡°Greetings, Elder Zhang.¡± A few first-rate experts and officials in charge of the city bowed to Zhang Xuan apologetically. From their excited expressions, it could be seen that they sincerely welcomed Zhang Xuan¡¯s arrival. Especially the first-rate experts. When they saw Zhang Xuan, they heaved a sigh of relief. The main reason was that the Imperial Court had exterminated the Spirit Stream Sect with lightning speed. The pressure on these people was too great. In the past few days, it could be said that these people could not sleep or eat in peace, afraid that the Imperial Court would attack them. Now that Zhang Xuan, who was at the Connate Realm, was here to hold down the fort, they did not have to be on tenterhooks like before. Seeing how excited everyone was, Zhang Xuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Everyone¡¯s current situation doesn¡¯t require much of me. I¡¯m sure you know better than me that we need to work together to ensure that no one will be slaughtered by the Imperial Court.¡± Zhang Xuan did not come here to fight against the Imperial Court. He only agreed to come here to preside over out of obligation. What he said just now was to tell everyone not to place all their hopes on him alone. Whether they could withstand the suppression of the Imperial Court required everyone to work together. After all, he was not familiar with these people and did not have any friendship with them. It was obviously impossible for him to do his best for these irrelevant people. His purpose here was to intimidate and pressure the Imperial Court. ¡°We understand. We will definitely follow Elder Zhang closely and protect the city.¡± Everyone hurriedly bowed and replied. No matter what Zhang Xuan said, these people would not have any objections. Instead, they would listen to him. After all, if they relied on themselves, they would not be able to resist the Imperial Court¡¯s suppression. Only Zhang Xuan, who was at the Connate realm, had the ability to resist the Imperial Court. Zhang Xuan exchanged pleasantries with everyone and instructed them to do their jobs. Then, he went straight to the City Lord Manor and took over Liyang City. However, Zhang Xuan only took over in name and did not interfere with anything. Just like at Mount Song Sect, he refined pills every day and strolled around the city. His days were as calm as ever. As the alliance reacted, the Imperial Court did not continue to attack the major sects. The pugilistic world, which was originally filled with panic, slowly regained its peace. However, this peace did not last long. The Imperial Court, who was unwilling to give up, quickly made a new move. That night, the quiet Liyang City was broken by a few angry roars. ¡°Enemy attack! The Imperial Court is here!¡± An angry roar tore through the night sky and resounded throughout Liyang City. In the next moment, countless figures rushed out from all directions and quickly gathered at the source of the voice. A figure was seen wandering among the major sects like a ghost under the night sky. Every time he attacked, a figure would be sent flying. A few first-rate experts could not stop this figure even when they joined forces. In the City Lord Manor, Zhang Xuan frowned when he heard the commotion outside. Although he was not at the scene, he could feel that the battle outside was very intense. Especially when he sensed that a few first-rate experts had been injured, Zhang Xuan frowned even more. This person was actually a Connate expert! Moreover, the other party was heading straight for the City Lord Manor where he was! Although Zhang Xuan was a little surprised, he didn¡¯t have much of a reaction. When he came to Liyang City to hold down the fort, he had already expected what would happen today. Although he had broken through to the Connate realm not long ago, he had never fought with a Connate expert before. Furthermore, he had not come into contact with many Connate experts. This made Zhang Xuan look forward to seeing how strong this person was. Zhang Xuan did not wait for long. After defeating a few first-rate experts, the person quickly arrived at the City Lord Manor and appeared in front of Zhang Xuan. ¡°He came quite quickly.¡± Zhang Xuan looked at the person and chuckled. He could feel the other party¡¯s killing intent towards him, but Zhang Xuan did not care at all. Chapter 35 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the City Lord Manor, the atmosphere was murderous. The person looked at Zhang Xuan¡¯s indifferent expression and killing intent appeared in his eyes. He did not waste his breath on Zhang Xuan. After confirming that Zhang Xuan was the person he was looking for, he drew the long saber behind him and slashed at Zhang Xuan. The blade whistled through the air, bringing with it a dazzling saber beam. The person¡¯s goal was very clear. He wanted to kill Zhang Xuan. There was no need to waste his breath. Facing this person¡¯s full-powered attack, Zhang Xuan¡¯s expression was still as calm as ever. He slipped like a fish and dodged the impenetrable blade. The person was determined to kill with this attack, but it was easily resolved by Zhang Xuan. This made the person raise his eyebrows. However, his movements did not stop because of this. Although Zhang Xuan avoided this attack, he was still very confident in his skills. As he brandished his saber again, the dazzling saber light formed an invisible net that sealed all of Zhang Xuan¡¯s escape routes. At this moment, a few more figures rushed over. When they saw the impenetrable saber beam slashing towards Zhang Xuan, their expressions changed drastically and they could not help but exclaim. ¡°Elder Zhang, be careful! He¡¯s ¡®Machete¡¯ Wang Bo!¡± The few people who rushed over were none other than the first-rate experts of the major sects in Liyang City. The Wang Bo they were talking about was once a famous saberman in the Great Zhou Empire. He was invincible with his large saber. There was a rumor in the pugilistic world that when the ¡®Machete¡¯ was unsheathed, blood would be drawn! Anyone who had fought with Wang Bo would either die or be crippled. Because of this, Wang Bo had made a name for himself in the world. Many people even praised him as the number one person below the Connate realm. However, a few years ago, this famous saberman suddenly disappeared without a trace. It was as if he had disappeared from the face of the earth. There was no news of him. This matter had caused an uproar in the martial arts world at that time. Many people were secretly guessing. Some said that he had been killed by his enemies, while others said that he had died from Qi Deviation while practicing martial arts. In short, there were various opinions, but no one knew if Wang Bo was alive or dead. No one expected that Wang Bo, who had disappeared for so long, would appear again and break through to the Connate realm. Furthermore, he had become the Imperial Court¡¯s minion! Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. Although he had not been in this world for long, he had heard stories about Wang Bo in the restaurant. He did not expect to meet the once famous number one saberman in such a way. However, Zhang Xuan was only a little surprised, but he wasn¡¯t afraid of Wang Bo. Facing the saber beam from Wang Bo, he was still not nervous at all. He dodged the attack again at an unbelievable angle. Wang Bo couldn¡¯t help but frown when he saw Zhang Xuan dodge his fatal blow again. With his combat strength, he was actually unable to take down the other party? One had to know that he was no longer the ¡®Machete¡¯ Wang Bo from back then. Instead, he was one of the few Connate experts in the Great Zhou! Back then, he had suddenly disappeared without a trace. Just as many people had guessed, he had been besieged by his enemies and had almost lost his life. At the critical moment, it was the people from the Imperial Court who saved his life. After that, Wang Bo was brought to the Imperial Court to recuperate. Furthermore, with the help of the Imperial Court, not only did he recover from his injuries, he even broke through his shackles and broke through to the Connate realm. Out of gratitude to the Imperial Court, Wang Bo chose to join the Imperial Court. Over the years, he had done many things for the Imperial Court in secret. However, after joining the Imperial Court, it was not convenient for him to appear in public. He almost always acted in secret, so almost no one knew that he was still alive. When the Imperial Court decided to attack the sects in the pugilistic world, people like him who had received the Imperial Court¡¯s favor started to take action. Although he was once a member of the pugilistic world and did not think that the actions of the major sects were wrong, their standpoints were different, so their right and wrong were different. As long as it was an order from the Imperial Court, it was right for Wang Bo. If the major sects dared to oppose the Imperial Court, they would be his enemies. He wasn¡¯t the only one taking action against the major sects tonight. There were other Connate experts. They were all from the Imperial Court and were attacking the major sects at the same time. According to the Imperial Court¡¯s plan, they would arrange for several Connate experts to assassinate the Alliance¡¯s Connate experts. Once this plan succeeded, it would completely disintegrate the alliance. After all, this alliance dared to go against the Imperial Court because they had several Connate experts presiding over it, giving the other sects confidence. Once the leaders had been killed, even if the people under them wanted to rebel against the Imperial Court, they did not have the strength. At that time, as long as the Imperial Court used both kindness and power, which sect would dare to continue to be enemies with the Imperial Court? This was to obtain the greatest benefit at the smallest price. As for why Wang Bo only defeated those first-rate experts when he entered the city and didn¡¯t kill them, it wasn¡¯t because he felt pity for them. It was because he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time on them. His goal was the Connate expert who presided over Liyang City, Zhang Xuan. He was determined to kill Zhang Xuan! After all, based on his understanding of the situation, Zhang Xuan did not have any reputation previously. It was as if he had appeared out of thin air. From Wang Bo¡¯s point of view, Zhang Xuan should be a newly-advanced Connate expert. Although he was a Connate expert, his combat strength was definitely not very strong. With his combat strength and experience, killing Zhang Xuan was not difficult. However, after fighting with Zhang Xuan, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have underestimated Zhang Xuan! After using his full strength twice, even a veteran Connate expert would panic even if he could not injure him. As for Zhang Xuan, not only did his expression not change under Wang Bo¡¯s fierce attack, but he also easily resolved all his killing power. Could it be that the information he received was inaccurate? Zhang Xuan was not a new Connate expert? Wang Bo had self-doubt in his heart. He didn¡¯t stop at all and even stopped looking down on Zhang Xuan. Wang Bo flipped the long saber in his hand. Countless saber beams swept out, cutting through the air and making a series of air-piercing sounds. He no longer held back and unleashed an even fiercer attack, vowing to kill Zhang Xuan. Faced with Wang Bo¡¯s even fiercer killing power, Zhang Xuan¡¯s expression became a little more serious. However, he only took it to heart a little more seriously and did not really take it to heart very seriously. Although he had experienced very few battles and had never fought with a Connate expert, his combat strength and experience were not inferior to that of Wang Bo. The cultivation technique deduced by points directly allowed him to master it, just as if he had cultivated bitterly for countless years. This time, Zhang Xuan did not just dodge like before. Instead, he chose to counterattack. He punched out, and the air exploded, shattering the saber beam and neutralizing Wang Bo¡¯s attack in a domineering manner. Wang Bo¡¯s expressions changed. Sensing that something was wrong, he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. Chapter 36 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the City Lord Manor of Liyang City. The blade whistled as if it was cutting through the air. It slashed at Zhang Xuan at a speed that was difficult to see with the naked eye. Facing the terrifying killing power that was like a storm, everyone trembled in fear. If the troublesome Wang Bo, had attacked them in the beginning, they would not only have been defeated, but also killed. As expected of the ¡®Machete¡¯ that had made a name for himself in the past. After breaking through to the Connate realm, his strength had increased exponentially. If Wang Bo wanted them dead, they wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to escape, let alone resist. Fortunately, Zhang Xuan was presiding over them, so Wang Bo didn¡¯t kill them at first. However, if Zhang Xuan was no match for Wang Bo, they knew very well that they would also be in danger. However, the moment they saw Zhang Xuan attack, the worry in their hearts dissipated. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t even use a weapon. He just relied on the wind from his fist to destroy the terrifying blade of Wang Bo. This scene had a huge impact on them. ¡°Elder Zhang¡¯s strength is above that of Wang Bo!¡± ¡°With Elder Zhang holding down this place, it¡¯s useless no matter who comes!¡± The few of them looked at Zhang Xuan again with unconcealable reverence. After all, it was not that these people had never seen a battle between Connate experts, but this was the first time they had seen someone as relaxed as Zhang Xuan. It was obvious that Zhang Xuan was much stronger than they had expected. At the same time, the few people watching the battle relaxed completely. Even if the person who came was the once famous ¡®Machete¡¯ Wang Bo, he was definitely not Zhang Xuan¡¯s match. This was not because they trusted Zhang Xuan blindly, but because the combat power that Zhang Xuan erupted with proved how powerful he was. However, Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t know what everyone was thinking. His attention was on Wang Bo. Zhang Xuan had not broken through to the Connate Realm for a long time. Although it had only been a year and he did not have much combat experience, his foundation in the Connate Realm was the most solid. Not to mention that his foundation was the most solid among the Connate realm, there was almost no one who could compare to Zhang Xuan. The cultivation technique deduced by the system points was done in one step. It directly deduced to the 13th level of martial arts. Although Wang Bo had broken through to the Connate realm earlier than Zhang Xuan, he hadn¡¯t reached the 13th level. This was the difference between the two of them. It was also the reason why Zhang Xuan could handle Wang Bo with ease. After all, after reaching the 13th level of martial arts, his internal energy was endless and almost never ran out. Moreover, he had learned many other martial arts. He hadn¡¯t even used his trump card, the heretical techniques that could absorb internal energy. Zhang Xuan was not in a hurry to defeat Wang Bo. Instead, he used him as a practice target to hone his combat experience. However, Zhang Xuan had overestimated Wang Bo. After a few rounds of battle, Wang Bo was quickly defeated. Zhang Xuan¡¯s punch hit his right arm, and his long saber fell. Wang Bo who had come with confidence, was instantly shocked. He lost the courage to continue fighting Zhang Xuan and retreated as he fought, preparing to escape. However, it was clearly too late to escape now. In just a few moves, his limbs were broken by Zhang Xuan and he was captured alive. ¡°Elder Zhang is mighty and domineering!¡± The few people watching the battle were extremely excited and shouted excitedly. The famous saberman Wang Bo had fought in public for the first time after breaking through to the Connate realm. No one had expected that he would end up like this. At the same time, their admiration for Zhang Xuan increased. Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t care about this at all. Looking at Wang Bo¡¯s shocked expression, he said calmly, ¡°Take him away and throw him into the dungeon to await his punishment!¡± Regardless of Wang Bo¡¯s background, since he wanted to kill him, he was his enemy. Zhang Xuan would never show mercy to his enemies! After Wang Bo was taken away, Zhang Xuan arranged for someone to report to Yun Zhongtian. Then, he sent everyone away and continued to sleep as if nothing had happened. *** The next day. In Anyang City, the atmosphere in Mount Song Sect was incomparably murderous. Yun Zhongtian¡¯s expression was even darker, no longer as cheerful as before. Just last night, Mount Song Sect was attacked by the Imperial Court. The one who attacked was a Connate expert. Although he was defeated by Yun Zhongtian in the end, Yun Zhongtian did not have time to be happy. Then, he received news from the various cities. Any city in the alliance that had a Connate expert holding down the fort was attacked. Furthermore, the Connate experts were injured to varying degrees. One of them even died. Half of the sects in that city fled that day. After all, even a Connate expert had been killed. If they continued to stay, wouldn¡¯t they be waiting for death? The alliance, which was originally evenly matched with the Imperial Court, became fearful overnight. Many people lost the confidence to fight against the Imperial Court. As the first alliance leader of the alliance, Yun Zhongtian was naturally not happy with the continuous bad news. Especially when the Imperial Court sent out so many Connate experts at once, it gave Yun Zhongtian a lot of pressure. This was because he knew very well that the Imperial Court¡¯s attack on the Connate experts in the various cities was only the beginning. Furthermore, because of the battle last night, the morale of the alliance fell to rock bottom. After all, the Connate realm was an existence with the highest combat strength in the Great Zhou Empire. No one expected that even Connate realm experts would die. It had to be known that the Imperial Court had yet to truly exert their strength. They had only sent out a few Connate experts. Even with the help of many sect experts, the Connate expert who presided over the city had died. If the Imperial Court really sent troops, the alliance would not be able to resist! This was also the reason why the people of the various sects were panicking. However, facing the current situation, Yun Zhongtian did not have a good way to deal with it. That was why he was frowning. ¡°Any news from the Imperial Court?¡± Yun Zhongtian asked his disciple with an ugly expression. With the Imperial Court¡¯s methods, since attacking a Connate expert was effective, they would definitely take advantage of the situation. ¡°Sect Master, the Imperial Court hasn¡¯t released any news yet, nor have they done anything else.¡± The disciple in charge of intelligence replied with a bow. ¡°Continue to investigate. Report any news as soon as possible.¡± Yun Zhongtian said solemnly again. The reason why they had suffered such a huge loss this time was because they had not made any preparations in advance. They did not expect the Imperial Court to mobilize so many Connate experts. Since he had guessed that the Imperial Court would not let the matter rest, he naturally had to make some preparations in advance to ensure that it would not cause panic like last night. At this moment, a disciple rushed in and shouted, ¡°Sect Master, Elder Zhang from Liyang City has sent a letter. He has captured a Connate expert from the Imperial Court alive!¡± Hearing this, Yun Zhongtian immediately stood up. Zhang Xuan actually captured a Connate expert alive? When this news reached Yun Zhongtian¡¯s ears, he felt like a thunderclap had exploded in his ears! Chapter 37 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°How did he do it?¡± Yun Zhongtian suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. It had to be known that the Connate experts sent by the Imperial Court were all very powerful. Just like the Connate expert who attacked Mount Song Sect, Yun Zhongtian only managed to repel him. He had no chance of capturing him alive. Not only him, but the few Connate experts in the alliance also did not have the chance to capture the other party alive. He did not expect Zhang Xuan to capture a Connate expert! It was indeed the wisest choice to invite Zhang Xuan to join the Mount Song Sect and offer him the position of Elder! The shocked Yun Zhongtian swept away his previous worry and immediately instructed his disciple, ¡°Quickly tell this news to the other members of the alliance!¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s good news had helped Yun Zhongtian greatly. As long as they spread this news to the others in the alliance, they would definitely be able to raise their morale and let the anxious major sects regain their confidence in resisting the Imperial Court. It was very difficult to kill Connate Realm experts, but there was still a considerable chance. Yun Zhongtian had never heard of capturing a Connate expert alive, let alone the others. Yun Zhongtian was looking forward to how the others would react when they found out about this. The disciples of the Mount Song Sect received the order and left. They informed all the members of the alliance of the news of Zhang Xuan capturing the Connate experts of the Imperial Court alive. ¡°Elder Zhang is actually so strong? He can even capture a Connate Realm expert alive?¡± ¡°It was no wonder that Sect Master Yun could remain so calm. It turns out that he was already prepared!¡± ¡°The Imperial Court has lost a Connate expert this time. It must have been a huge blow to the Imperial Court.¡± The alliance members were all shocked when they heard this news. They admired Zhang Xuan even more. Especially the sect masters of the few sects who were Connate experts. They knew very well how difficult it was to capture a Connate expert alive. To be able to defeat the other party was already sufficient to prove how powerful he was. As for injuring or killing the other party, very few people could do so. As for capturing the other party alive, they didn¡¯t even dare to think about it. After all, capturing him alive was more difficult than killing a Connate expert. If not for the news from Yun Zhongtian, these people would not have believed it no matter what. As this news spread in the alliance, it was equivalent to giving everyone a boost of confidence. At the same time, it also proved that the alliance was not weak. If the Imperial Court wanted to use this method to suppress the alliance, not only would it not work, they would also have to pay a huge price. ¡°Fortunately, with Elder Zhang around, we managed to turn the tables for the alliance.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just a win. This gives our alliance the confidence to continue fighting against the Imperial Court. It¡¯s also a heavy blow to the Imperial Court.¡± When everyone mentioned Zhang Xuan, they did not hide their admiration for him. The main reason was that the Imperial Court¡¯s attack on the Connate experts of the alliance was too intimidating. After all, the Imperial Court was powerful to begin with. The reason why the major sects dared to go against the Imperial Court was because of the Connate experts from the major sects. After all, there were not many Connate experts in the Great Zhou Empire. They represented the strongest combat strength. This was something the alliance members did not expect. In order to make all the sects submit, the Imperial Court did not even spare the Connate experts. In the battle last night, not only were several Connate experts injured, but one of them even died. If even Connate experts could not contend with the Imperial Court, how could the alliance members below the Connate realm have the confidence to continue contending with the Imperial Court? It could be said that the news of Zhang Xuan capturing a Connate expert from the Imperial Court came just in time. Not only did it raise the morale of all the members of the alliance, it also boosted their confidence. Meanwhile, Zhang Xuan¡¯s prestige had also multiplied in the alliance. He had become an existence that everyone admired and even secretly surpassed the sect masters of the major sects. However, as the person involved, Zhang Xuan was not clear about the reaction of the alliance. In the City Lord Manor of Liyang City. ¡°Elder Zhang, please forgive me. I was incompetent and didn¡¯t manage to interrogate anything.¡± The disciples of the Mount Song Sect who had followed Zhang Xuan to Liyang City bowed and reported. After Wang Bo was thrown into the dungeon, Zhang Xuan couldn¡¯t be bothered and directly handed him over to the disciples for interrogation. However, after a night of interrogation, the disciples still couldn¡¯t get anything out of him. In the end, he could only report it to Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan was not surprised. Which Connate expert wasn¡¯t proud and arrogant? Why would they lower their heads? He handed the interrogation to his disciples to simply torture Wang Bo. It was more of a blow to the other party¡¯s willpower. He didn¡¯t expect to get anything out of him. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Zhang Xuan waved his hand nonchalantly and walked towards the dungeon. In the dark dungeon, a cold wind blew. The once famous Wang Bo, who had broken through to the Connate realm and was working for the Imperial Court, had all his limbs broken. He lay on the cold ground in an extremely sorry state. When Zhang Xuan walked into the dungeon, Wang Bo rolled his eyes and sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time. I won¡¯t say anything.¡± He did not expect to fall into Zhang Xuan¡¯s hands. However, even if he was reduced to a prisoner, Wang Bo still had his pride. Zhang Xuan had crippled his limbs and reduced him to a prisoner. It could only be said that he had overestimated himself and underestimated Zhang Xuan. He could not blame anyone else. However, even if he was inferior to Zhang Xuan, he still had the pride he should have. He would not compromise and beg for mercy just to survive. Furthermore, everything he had now was given to him by the Imperial Court. If he really said something that he should not say, even if Zhang Xuan was willing to let him go, the Imperial Court would definitely not let him off. Furthermore, with Wang Bo¡¯s understanding of the Imperial Court, once they knew that he had been captured by Zhang Xuan, they would definitely send someone to save him. It was precisely because of these considerations that Wang Bo, directly expressed his attitude when he saw Zhang Xuan. But what Wang Bo didn¡¯t know was that Zhang Xuan wasn¡¯t here to interrogate him. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to tell me, then don¡¯t.¡± Zhang Xuan chuckled when he saw Wang Bo¡¯s fearless expression. He had no interest in the Imperial Court¡¯s plans and would not care about them. Zhang Xuan personally came to see Wang Bo because he wanted to devour his power! Ever since he destroyed the Black Wind Stockade and obtained that heretic technique, Zhang Xuan¡ªwho had cultivated it successfully¡ªhad never used it. After all, he was already at the Connate realm. The cultivation of ordinary martial artists was no longer useful to him. After capturing a Connate expert like Wang Bo, he had a chance to try out this martial art. Wang Bo thought that he wanted to get some information from him. Little did he know that he only wanted his internal energy. The internal energy of the Connate Realm would obviously be of great help to his improvement. With a smile on his face, Zhang Xuan walked to Wang Bo and circulated his cultivation technique to devour his internal energy. ¡°Ah¡­ What did you do to me?¡± Sensing the rapid loss of internal energy, Wang Bo panicked and shouted anxiously. Zhang Xuan, on the other hand, ignored him and crazily devoured Wang Bo¡¯s internal energy. The aura around him soared crazily, and his internal energy increased by a large amount. Chapter 38 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations In the dungeon of Liyang City. ¡°The internal energy of a Connate expert is indeed intense!¡± Zhang Xuan, who had devoured a portion of Wang Bo¡¯s internal energy, suddenly realized that his newly added internal energy was a little superficial. This made him sigh in his heart. He originally thought that he could devour it all in one go and increase his strength. However, he had only devoured a small portion of it, so he had no choice but to stop for the time being and stabilize his newly increased cultivation. Fortunately, the ¡°Connate Technique¡± he cultivated had a solid foundation. Under his circulation of the cultivation technique, he completely transformed the new internal energy into his strength. This was the heaven-defying aspect of the ¡°Connate Technique¡±. Not only was it very helpful in improving one¡¯s strength, but it also had an unexpected effect on polishing one¡¯s foundation. With this martial art, he seemed to have seen a way to advance to Grandmaster without using points. Above Connate was Grandmaster. According to Zhang Xuan¡¯s understanding, there was no Grandmaster in the entire Great Zhou Empire. If he was lucky and obtained a top-notch martial arts manual, he might become the first Grandmaster in the Great Zhou Empire. Of course, Zhang Xuan was only looking forward to it because he knew very well that top-grade martial arts could only be chanced upon by luck. For example, the ¡°Connate Technique¡± he was cultivating now had been obtained by accident. However, although the ¡°Connate Technique¡± was very useful for stabilizing one¡¯s foundation, the internal energy of a Connate expert could not be sucked dry in one go. It needed some time to digest. And what Zhang Xuan lacked the least was patience, so he was not in a hurry to succeed. After all, Wang Bo had fallen into his hands. There was no chance for him to escape. As long as he needed it, he could continue to devour Wang Bo¡¯s internal energy at any time. As for whether the Imperial Court would send anyone to rescue Wang Bo, Zhang Xuan was not worried at all. This was because he knew very well that the Imperial Court had sent out so many Connate experts to break up the alliance in one go. In the end, they lost a Connate expert the first time they attacked. Would the Imperial Court continue taking risks? One had to know that even in the Imperial Court, there were not many Connate experts. Furthermore, after the attack last night, the alliance would definitely be prepared. Once they sent someone to save Wang Bo, it was hard to say if they would lose another Connate expert. It was inevitable that the Imperial Court would not give up, but before they had absolute confidence, they would not continue to take the risk. Of course, this was just Zhang Xuan¡¯s guess. With his trump card, even if the Imperial Court really sent people to save Wang Bo, Zhang Xuan was confident that he could defeat them. After all, he still had the points awarded by the system that he had yet to use. If he really encountered a crisis, he could use the system points to increase his strength. Even if he could not win, he could protect himself. After converting the new internal energy into his own strength, Zhang Xuan did not continue to attack. He decided to come again next time. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. I¡¯ll look for you another day.¡± Zhang Xuan looked at the pale-faced Wang Bo, and chuckled. Wang Bo was no longer as calm as before. He looked at Zhang Xuan again with unconcealable fear in his eyes. ¡°Hero, I was wrong. As long as you let me go, I¡¯ll agree to any condition.¡± The completely panicked Wang Bo, begged Zhang Xuan with a trembling voice. The unyielding attitude he had displayed earlier was not because he was truly unafraid of death. It was merely an act. After all, he had been interrogated the entire night, which meant that Zhang Xuan wanted to find out more about the Imperial Court from him. As long as he did not say anything, Zhang Xuan would at most torture him and not kill him before obtaining the information he wanted. This gave him a chance to escape. However, Zhang Xuan directly devoured his internal energy and Wang Bo¡¯s plans. Especially when Zhang Xuan did not care about his life and death, Wang Bo finally understood that Zhang Xuan was not very concerned about the Imperial Court¡¯s movements. He could endure the physical pain, but the devouring of his internal energy was even more unacceptable than killing him. However, Zhang Xuan was unmoved by Wang Bo¡¯s pleas. He left the dungeon and told the guards that no one was allowed to come into contact with Wang Bo. This was a shortcut to increase one¡¯s cultivation without using points. Zhang Xuan naturally had to take it seriously. Looking at Zhang Xuan¡¯s departing figure, Wang Bo¡¯s eyes flashed with despair. This was the first time in his life that he was afraid. In the past, no matter what danger he encountered, even if it was a life and death test, he had never been nervous. However, facing Zhang Xuan, Wang Bo suddenly realized that he could not be as indifferent as before. In the following month, Zhang Xuan would come to the dungeon almost every day to absorb the internal energy of Wang Bo and convert it into his own strength with cultivation techniques. Wang Bo would beg for mercy every time. He even took the initiative to reveal some secrets about the Imperial Court and even offered to submit to Zhang Xuan, hoping that Zhang Xuan would let him off. However, no matter what he said, Zhang Xuan was unmoved. When the internal energy was absorbed to a certain extent, Zhang Xuan took the initiative to stop. When the digestion was stabilized, he would continue to absorb it the next day. In this month, Zhang Xuan¡¯s internal energy had increased by a third. As for Wang Bo, he committed suicide in extreme despair. ¡°How spineless. It¡¯s only been a month and you can¡¯t hold on anymore?¡± Looking at Wang Bo who had committed suicide, Zhang Xuan sighed. However, Zhang Xuan didn¡¯t really care. Even if Wang Bo didn¡¯t commit suicide, he didn¡¯t have much internal energy left. In the past month, the outside world had returned to its former peace. Ever since the Imperial Court sent several Connate experts to attack the alliance¡¯s Connate experts, they stopped targeting the alliance and became more peaceful. Zhang Xuan was not surprised by this. After all, the Imperial Court was not a fool. They knew that the alliance was not easy to deal with, but if they continued to target the alliance, not only would they not be able to solve the problem, they might even cause the alliance to target the Imperial Court secretly. It would only make the Imperial Court more passive. However, Zhang Xuan knew very well that the Imperial Court would not give up so easily. The current peace was only temporary. When the Imperial Court attacked the alliance again, it would definitely be a fatal blow. The previous attack had also completely stabilized the Mount Song Sect¡¯s position as the alliance leader. After all, Zhang Xuan, who had captured a Connate expert from the Imperial Court, was an Elder of Mount Song Sect. His status was only below Yun Zhongtian. The reason why the alliance could continue to fight against the Imperial Court was because Zhang Xuan¡¯s battle had given all the alliance members confidence. The strong had always respected the strong! Now, no matter who mentioned Zhang Xuan, they would give him a thumbs up and praise him endlessly. This also caused Zhang Xuan¡¯s status to rise. It could be said that Zhang Xuan¡¯s influence in the alliance was no less than that of Yun Zhongtian, the alliance leader. Even his status was not ordinary. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about this at all. Just like before, he refined pills every day and asked about the herbs needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. His days were very comfortable. Chapter 39 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Three years later. In the City Lord Manor of Liyang City. ¡°Leopard, it¡¯s time to eat!¡± Zhang Xuan walked in with a large piece of meat and shouted at the little leopard, who was napping on the ground. The little leopard of the past had now completely grown up. He was very strong, almost like a tiger. Moreover, his strength was astonishing. In just three years, he was already comparable to a top-notch first-rate expert. One had to know that first-rate experts were considered overlords in the Great Zhou Empire. Those who could become first-rate experts, even if they were peerlessly talented, would need at least ten years of bitter cultivation. On the other hand, the leopard only used three years to reach a height that others needed to spend countless time and effort to reach. It could be said that in the entire Great Zhou Empire, apart from Zhang Xuan, no one could compare to the leopard¡¯s breakthrough speed. For the past three years, Zhang Xuan had been keeping the leopard by his side. Not only did he not restrict its wildness, but he even specially trained it to hunt and let the leopard become his helper. As the leopard grew up and revealed its strength, it was now quite infamous in the pugilistic world. Although Zhang Xuan had not changed much in the past three years, the outside world had changed drastically. Ever since Wang Bo, was captured alive, the Imperial Court seemed to have completely given up on targeting the alliance and remained indifferent. In the beginning, the alliance was still vigilant and was worried that the Imperial Court was plotting something bigger. However, as time passed, the alliance realized that the Imperial Court could not do anything to them. As the alliance leader, Yun Zhongtian gathered everyone to discuss the future development of the alliance. Although the Imperial Court had given up on suppressing the alliance, they could not guarantee that the Imperial Court would not take action in the future. Therefore, the alliance could not be disbanded. However, it was not a long-term solution to continue existing in the form of an alliance. After some discussion, everyone finally decided to establish an independant state in the area where the alliance was located. Everything here was controlled by the sect. This was equivalent to completely opposing the Imperial Court, but it would naturally be beneficial to the alliance. Firstly, the alliance would control everything in the area. There was no need for the locals to hand it over to the Imperial Court. Instead, they would hand it over to the alliance. The alliance would distribute resources according to the needs and contributions of the sects. Secondly, there were almost no restrictions on the members of the major sects, giving everyone more freedom. Not only that, but the sect masters of the major sects also had greater authority. The alliance leader was equivalent to the emperor. Each Connate expert was similar to a king. Compared to being the sect master of their respective sects, they were completely different from before. Just like Zhang Xuan, because of his influence and strength, he was directly conferred a noble title. However, Zhang Xuan did not care about these empty titles. He did not even care about the position of emperor, let alone a noble. What Zhang Xuan wanted the most was the ingredients to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. Only by gathering the ingredients as soon as possible could he refine the Immortal Ascension Pill earlier. With his current alchemy skills, as long as he had all the herbs, he was confident that he would not make a mistake. However, there were too many ingredients needed to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. Furthermore, they were especially rare. Even though the alliance was very powerful and Zhang Xuan had a high status and influence in the alliance, after three years of searching, he could only gather the supplementary ingredients. As for the main ingredients, there were still a few left. Zhang Xuan could not find them even after searching the entire Great Zhou. After all, he had already used all the power he could, but he still could not find it. He could only say that he was unlucky or that the main ingredients he needed were not in Great Zhou. With Zhang Xuan¡¯s current strength, he could leave the Great Zhou Dynasty and personally search for it in other empires. There would be no danger, but Zhang Xuan did not have such plans for the time being. Refining the Immortal Ascension Pill was what he looked forward to the most, but the current situation made it impossible for him to leave easily. Although the Imperial Court did not make a move and seemed to have tacitly agreed to the alliance establishing an independent state in Great Zhou, the Imperial Court had never stopped scheming against the alliance. It was just that they were not as direct as before. Although Zhang Xuan did not want to be a noble, he was already involved. If he wanted to escape unscathed, he could only give up his current identity. Zhang Xuan did not like to be ostentatious, nor did he like trouble. His current life was quite good for him, so he would not give up everything just because he was anxious to refine the Immortal Ascension Pill. After all, even if he gave up everything he had now, he might not be able to gather those main ingredients in a short period of time. Moreover, after three years of experience, Zhang Xuan understood a principle. With his own power, no matter what he did, it would be much more convenient and efficient. Just like now, even if he did not leave Great Zhou, he could use his power to send people to other empires to find out the whereabouts of the main ingredients. Even if the people he sent out were not as strong as him, the advantage was that they had more people. The efficiency would definitely be higher than him personally searching. ¡°ROAR!¡± When the leopard heard Zhang Xuan¡¯s call, it jumped up from the ground and pounced at Zhang Xuan¡¯s feet. Its head rubbed against Zhang Xuan¡¯s leg intimately. Although the leopard was comparable to a first-rate expert, it was still as docile as before in front of Zhang Xuan. After all, it had been by Zhang Xuan¡¯s side since it was born. It had long treated Zhang Xuan as its closest person. Zhang Xuan touched the leopard¡¯s head and threw the meat out piece by piece. The leopard jumped around the courtyard and treated the meat that Zhang Xuan threw as prey. This was also Zhang Xuan¡¯s way of training the leopard. The meat he threw out with his internal energy was faster than ordinary beasts. Zhang Xuan used this to train the leopard¡¯s acuity and speed. This improved the leopard quite a bit. The leopard also liked Zhang Xuan feeding it in this way. It ate happily every time. At this moment, a disciple walked in quickly and bowed. ¡°Elder Zhang, the sect master is here and wants to see you.¡± As this disciple spoke, he carefully looked at the leopard jumping around in the courtyard, looking very afraid. Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows. He was a little surprised by Yun Zhongtian¡¯s personal visit. ¡°Feed my leopard. I¡¯ll go and see Sect Master Yun.¡± As Zhang Xuan spoke, he handed the remaining meat to his disciple and walked out. ¡°Well ¡­¡± The disciple¡¯s face turned pale in an instant, and his legs trembled. He wished he could turn around and run. He had seen the leopard¡¯s wildness with his own eyes. Even though he knew that the leopard would not hurt him, he could not help but feel fear when he saw it. However, this disciple did not dare to disobey Zhang Xuan¡¯s orders. He could only try his best to suppress the nervousness in his heart and carefully feed it. Chapter 40 Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations Since Sect Master Yun is here personally, it must be the Imperial Court¡¯s matter! Zhang Xuan guessed as he walked. After all, for the past three years, the Imperial Court had been preparing to target the alliance, but they had kept it relatively hidden and restrained. This time, it was probably going to be a big one. That was why even Yun Zhongtian couldn¡¯t sit still. Although Zhang Xuan did not care about these things, with his current status, he could not stand by and do nothing. In the past three years, Zhang Xuan had enjoyed the best treatment from the Mount Song Sect. Even if he did not make any requests, Yun Zhongtian would give priority to Zhang Xuan to choose anything good. It could be said that the Mount Song Sect and the alliance treated Zhang Xuan very well and respected him very much. Now that the alliance needed it, Zhang Xuan naturally had no reason to refuse. Soon, Zhang Xuan met Yun Zhongtian in the living room. The current Yun Zhongtian had changed quite a bit compared to three years ago. He had become rich and was dressed very gorgeously. He looked like a high-ranking official, not someone from the pugilistic world. Looking at the changes in Yun Zhongtian, Zhang Xuan couldn¡¯t help but think of how things had changed in the past three years. Over the years, the Mount Song Sect had developed rapidly. Be it its influence or wealth, they were incomparable to before. In particular, the disciples of the Mount Song Sect were even more energetic. They were all proud to be able to become disciples of the Mount Song Sect. ¡°Sect Master Yun, why are you here?¡± Although Zhang Xuan guessed that it had something to do with the Imperial Court, he pretended not to know anything in front of Yun Zhongtian. After all, a guess was still a guess. There was no need for him to pretend to be profound or smart in front of Yun Zhongtian and expose Yun Zhongtian¡¯s motive. ¡°The Imperial Court is going to attack the alliance soon!¡± Yun Zhongtian went straight to the point. It wasn¡¯t like the time he had just met Zhang Xuan when he had to be polite first. The three years of interaction had brought Yun Zhongtian and Zhang Xuan closer. The two of them no longer needed to be polite. ¡°This is a message from our people.¡± As Yun Zhongtian spoke, he handed a secret letter to Zhang Xuan. The reason why he wanted Zhang Xuan to see it personally and not listen to him say it out loud was because he respected Zhang Xuan. After all, Zhang Xuan was the one who contributed to the Mount Song Sect¡¯s success. Even though Yun Zhongtian was the sect master, he was still as humble as when he first met Zhang Xuan. Zhang Xuan did not stand on ceremony. He took the secret letter and read it. He raised his eyebrows. For the past three years, the Imperial Court had not given up on destroying the alliance. They had made all sorts of arrangements in the dark. Zhang Xuan knew a little about this, but he did not expect that the Imperial Court¡¯s method was to split the major sects in the alliance from within. The information in the secret letter was that the few sects that the Imperial Court had won over were preparing to rebel at the critical moment and completely destroy the alliance. ¡°The Imperial Court¡¯s methods are not very glorious.¡± Zhang Xuan chuckled. He felt that the Imperial Court¡¯s actions were rather shameless. However, it had to be said that this method was the most beneficial to the Imperial Court. They would exchange the smallest price for the greatest benefit. Anyone would choose this method. As for those sects in the alliance that were roped in by the Imperial Court, Zhang Xuan also understood their intentions. It was because the Imperial Court had given them too much leverage that those sects were willing to take the risk. Moreover, these sects that were roped in had a common characteristic. When the alliance was independent, these sects had secretly competed with Yun Zhongtian for power. However, because Mount Song Sect¡¯s reputation was too high, they could not compete with Yun Zhongtian in the end. Zhang Xuan guessed that the reason why those sects joined the Imperial Court was because they could not fight for power with Yun Zhongtian. Actually, this kind of thing was too normal. Where there were people, there would definitely be conflicts of interest. There was no way to resolve it. ¡°Compared to the disgrace of the Imperial Court, the sects that were bribed are the most shameless!¡± Yun Zhongtian snorted coldly. When he thought of those sects that had sided with the Imperial Court, he gritted his teeth. In order to go against the Imperial Court, they had sacrificed so much. Just as they were about to completely escape the control of the Imperial Court, these people were actually willing to do anything for their own benefit. How hateful! ¡°How is Sect Master Yun going to deal with this?¡± Zhang Xuan did not blame the sects that were bribed by the Imperial Court. From a different standpoint, it was very difficult to tell who was right and who was wrong. However, there was one thing that was easy to distinguish. Anyone who stood on the opposite side would definitely be his enemy. Since they were enemies, there was no need to be merciful! Zhang Xuan¡¯s voice rang out, and only then did the furious Yun Zhongtian slowly calm down. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the Connate experts of the other sects. Before those people cause trouble, I¡¯ll take them by surprise to prevent future trouble!¡± When Yun Zhongtian received the news, he immediately contacted the Connate experts of the few sects he trusted and discussed a set of countermeasures. The reason why he personally came to see Zhang Xuan was not simply to tell him this news, but to ask Zhang Xuan to cooperate with them. After a pause, before Zhang Xuan could speak, Yun Zhongtian revealed his true motive for coming. ¡°The Eight Trigrams Sect Master, Ye Xiucheng. I need you to restrain him.¡± The Eight Trigrams Sect that Yun Zhongtian mentioned was also one of the largest pugilistic world sects in the Great Zhou Empire. Sect Master Ye Xiucheng was a veteran Connate expert. His combat strength was on par with Yun Zhongtian¡¯s. Apart from Yun Zhongtian, the only one in the alliance who could restrain the other party was Zhang Xuan. Only by restraining Ye Xiucheng would they be able to capture everyone else. Furthermore, this plan could not allow any accidents or mistakes. Otherwise, it would have a huge impact on the alliance and might even cause it to completely collapse. To be safe, Zhang Xuan had to personally restrain Ye Xiucheng to ensure that no accidents would happen in this plan. After all, Zhang Xuan¡¯s achievements were obvious. Back then, the Imperial Court had sent out several Connate experts to attack the Connate experts in the alliance. Only when Zhang Xuan captured the Imperial Court¡¯s expert alive did the alliance¡¯s rise be established. Moreover, Zhang Xuan was an Elder of the Mount Song Sect. If Zhang Xuan could make a great contribution this time, no one in the alliance would be jealous of the Mount Song Sect. ¡°Restrain Yang Xiucheng?¡± Zhang Xuan smiled and looked at Yun Zhongtian strangely. This was a Connate expert. Wouldn¡¯t it be a waste to simply restrain him? After capturing Wang Bo, his internal energy had increased by a third. If he could devour two more Connate experts¡¯ internal energy, he would have a high chance of breaking through to the Grandmaster realm. Of course, devouring other people¡¯s internal energy was Zhang Xuan¡¯s secret. Even if he trusted Yun Zhongtian, he could not tell him. In the major sects, martial arts that sucked people¡¯s internal energy were defined as heretic. Furthermore, it would also alert others.