Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

...

As Xu Yang approached his courtyard, he saw a man standing at the entrance with his hands clasped, as if waiting for someone inside.

Seeing him appear, the man smiled and cupped his fist. "Might you be Junior Brother Xu Yang?"

Xu Yang nodded, confused. "I am indeed Xu Yang. And you are, Senior Brother?"

He didn’t recognize the man and had assumed he was waiting for someone else in the courtyard. He hadn’t expected the man to be waiting for him.

But as soon as the man spoke, Xu Yang immediately recognized the Qingyuan County accent. This person must also be from Qingyuan County.

The man smiled. "My name is He Jingting. Like you, Junior Brother Xu, I am also from Qingyuan County. I’ve come today to invite you, Brother Xu, to join the Qingyuan Association."

’The Qingyuan Association?’

There were over a dozen organizations of various sizes in the Outer Sect, and many had tried to recruit him, but he had never heard of the Qingyuan Association.

Just as he was about to refuse, He Jingting said, "Junior Brother Xu, don’t be so quick to decline. Might we speak somewhere more private?"

Xu Yang glanced at the people coming and going. This was indeed not a suitable place for a conversation. He nodded and led He Jingting to a secluded spot.

He Jingting began, "I imagine you’re wondering why you’ve never heard of the Qingyuan Association, Junior Brother Xu. The truth is, the Qingyuan Association isn’t well-known in the Purple Sun Sect. That’s because our association is different from the ones you’ve likely heard of, like the Heroic Assembly, the Dawn Association, or the Sharp Wind Hall. That’s why we don’t have much of a reputation in the Outer Sect."

Xu Yang nodded. "How is it different?"

He Jingting explained, "As you’ve probably guessed from the name, Junior Brother Xu, members of the Qingyuan Association must be Martial Artists from Qingyuan County. Furthermore, the entry requirement is a cultivation of at least Gang Qi Minor Achievement.

"The Qingyuan Association isn’t a military alliance for offense and defense. It’s simply a mutual-progress organization for Martial Artists from Qingyuan County, mainly for exchanging resources and buying or selling information.

"Aside from an annual fee of twenty taels of silver for operational expenses, members have no other obligations."

Xu Yang’s eyes lit up. ’To put it bluntly, the Qingyuan Association is just a non-binding organization for Martial Artists from Qingyuan County to trade with each other within the Purple Sun Sect.’

’This is exactly the kind of place I need.’

"How many members are in the organization?" Xu Yang asked.

"There are over twenty of us. Every Martial Artist from Qingyuan County whose cultivation is at Gang Qi Minor Achievement or higher has joined the Qingyuan Association, including several senior brothers who have entered the Inner Sect.

"In fact, the Qingyuan Association was founded by those very Inner Sect senior brothers."

"If you’re interested, Junior Brother Xu, I can take you to the association’s hall right now to register your address. In the future, someone will notify you whenever the organization holds an exchange meet."

Xu Yang cupped his fist. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother He."

As he followed He Jingting to the Qingyuan Association’s hall, Xu Yang learned a bit more information about it.

The Qingyuan Association typically held a trade fair once every two or three months. Of course, the schedule wasn’t fixed. It depended on the members’ needs. If everyone was eager for a trade, it was possible to hold one as often as every ten to fifteen days.

During their free time, if a member needed a specific resource, they could also post a request at the hall. If other members saw it and were willing to trade, they would get in touch.

"The real benefit comes from those Inner Sect senior brothers," He Jingting said. "Even the things they no longer have use for are rare treasures for us Outer Disciples."

The Qingyuan Association’s hall was located on the top floor of a tavern, with an annual rent of several hundred taels. The membership fees were mainly used to cover the lease and the monthly wages of the staff on duty.

After registering, Xu Yang paid a year’s worth of fees, received a wooden tablet to prove his identity, and then saw the numerous trade requests posted by the Qingyuan Association’s members.

There were high-price offers to buy Spirit Medicine and Spirit Iron—all sorts of requests. There was even a post asking for help pulling strings to get into the Inner Sect.

Xu Yang didn’t know if the Qingyuan Association would be useful, but he wasn’t concerned about a mere twenty taels.

’Even if it’s useless to me now, I’ll make it useful in the future. Once I can refine Gathering Essence Pills, I can’t just partner with a family like I did with the Blood Coagulation Pills.’

’Blood Coagulation Pills are only Qi Gathering Elixirs. The Zhu Family might be willing to honor their word and not move against me for those, but it’s a different story for something like Gathering Essence Pills, which are Vigorous Qi Elixirs.’

’In the future, this will be the place where I sell my Gathering Essence Pills.’

"Senior Brother He, can I post a request here now as well?"

He Jingting nodded. "Of course."

Xu Yang said, "Could I trouble you to help me post a request to purchase a Gang Qi Martial Technique, Senior Brother He?"

He needed cultivation techniques to gain points. Buying them from places like the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was too expensive, and he had already been to the black market.

The Qingyuan Association had so many Martial Artists with a cultivation of Gang Qi Minor Achievement, many of whom were disciples from the great families of Qingyuan County. Someone might be willing to sell a cultivation technique. Even if nothing came of it, there was no loss.

He Jingting gave him a surprised look but quickly took out a sheet of white paper, wrote down his purchase request, and posted it on the wall.

Xu Yang didn’t stay long. Once he saw He Jingting finish, he said his goodbyes and left.

...

The Xiao Family Estate.

Xiao Chen found his father, Xiao Hua, and said, "Father, haven’t you made a move against Xu Yang yet? I heard he’s already reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement. If we don’t act now, it’ll be trouble once he reaches Gang Qi Great Success."

Only by getting rid of Xu Yang and Sun Tao would the matter of Lin Wei’s murder truly be put to rest.

Xu Yang was the main problem. He was a Ten Heroes Genius and couldn’t be allowed to keep growing stronger.

He wasn’t too worried about Sun Tao. With Sun Tao’s level of talent, even if he lived, it would be very difficult for him to ever become strong enough to take revenge on them.

Xiao Hua snorted coldly. "How difficult do you think it is to reach Gang Qi Great Success? With Xu Yang’s resources, he’d be dreaming if he thinks he can reach Gang Qi Great Success without at least a year of hard cultivation.

"Do you think I’m the Sect Leader of the Purple Sun Sect, able to kill whoever I want? If I transfer him out of the sect without a reasonable excuse and something happens, I’ll be in trouble too.

"He’s a Ten Heroes Genius, after all. Not some nobody disciple whose death would go unnoticed."

Xiao Chen’s expression changed. "Then what do you suggest, Father? We can’t just let him continue to grow stronger."

Xiao Hua replied, "You don’t need to tell me that. I’m already working on a plan. It requires the right opportunity. Your top priority right now is to hurry up and complete your assessment mission to enter the Inner Sect. You don’t need to worry about anything else.

"If he really does reach Gang Qi Great Success, worst-case scenario, I’ll deal with him myself. He won’t be able to stir up any trouble."

Once one entered the Inner Sect and became an Inner Sect Disciple, they would be qualified to exchange for a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill and step into the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Once Xiao Chen became a Bone Marrow Cleansing Martial Artist, his and his father’s status in the Purple Sun Sect would change, and the Su Family would provide them with even more resources.

...

Xu Yang’s days settled into a peaceful routine. The request he had posted with the Qingyuan Association seemed to have sunk like a stone in the ocean.

One day, as he was chatting idly in the courtyard with Sun Tao and the others, Li Qiang walked in, his face beaming with joy.

Seeing this, Sun Tao and the others’ eyes lit up. They stood and asked, "Senior Brother Li Qiang, you look so happy. Have you made progress on entering the Inner Sect?"

Li Qiang hadn’t come to see them in a long time, as he had been busy with the matter of entering the Inner Sect.

The disciples of their generation had already served three years as Outer Disciples. As long as an Elder from one of the Four Peaks was willing to take them as an apprentice, they could enter that peak, become an Inner Sect Disciple, and receive the Purple Sun Sect’s true legacy.

Li Qiang said excitedly, "That’s right! I’ve found a way in. Elder Bai Hu of Beast King Peak is willing to take me as his disciple."

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Li Qiang."

"Congratulations on becoming an Inner Sect Disciple, Senior Brother Li Qiang!"

At his words, Sun Tao, Zhang Yong, and the others all offered their congratulations.

Once in the Inner Sect, one was a true disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, no longer just a workhorse in the Outer Sect whose life or death was of no concern to anyone.

Li Qiang waved his hand. "Not yet. I still haven’t completed the entrance assessment, so I’m not an Inner Sect Disciple yet. I came here today to shamelessly ask for you junior brothers’ help."

Jiang Ping puffed out his chest. "Senior Brother Li Qiang, if you need any help, just say the word. If we can help, we absolutely won’t refuse."

Having known him for some time, he had been won over by Li Qiang’s forthright nature.

Zhang Yong also chimed in, "We are all fellow disciples from the same sect; it’s only right that we help each other. Senior Brother Li Qiang, just speak your mind."

Xu Yang frowned to himself but said nothing. ’Li Qiang has been holding it in for so long, and he’s finally squeezed out this turd.’

Hearing this, Li Qiang cupped his fist. "Thank you, junior brothers, for your righteous offer of help. I thank you in advance. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"As you know, I failed to place in the top three of the Outer Sect competition. Although Elder Bai Hu is willing to take me as a disciple, I still have to complete an assessment before I can be formally accepted.

"What I’m asking is for you to lend me a hand and help me complete this assessment mission.

"Rest assured, junior brothers, I won’t let you help me for free.

"When your turn comes to enter the Inner Sect and you need to complete your own assessment missions, I will also lend a hand to help you take that step."