Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Zhang Bo’s eyes widened. ’Start a family?’

’Is that kid Xu Yang really that ambitious? Founding a Noble Family isn’t something you can do just by having a high cultivation level.’

’There are so many Qi Gathering Great Success Martial Artists in Qingyuan, and most of them just end up as hired muscle for others.’

"Alright!"

Zhang Bo departed and returned a short while later with Xu Yang.

"Greetings, Patriarch." Xu Yang cupped his fist in his palm.

"Tributor Xu, no need for formalities. Please, sit."

Liu Hongchang smiled and gestured for Xu Yang to sit, then got straight to the point. "Tributor Zhang should have told you why you were invited. I’ll be direct: you’ve reached Qi Gathering Great Success, and the Liu Family wishes to sponsor you.

Rest assured, we aren’t asking for a marriage alliance, nor do we require you to serve the Liu Family indefinitely. We have just one small request. If you agree, the Liu Family will provide you with thirty taels of silver every month. You won’t even need to come to the Liu Family estate every day; you can just focus on your training.

And that’s not all. The Liu Family can also gift you a Martial Arts technique."

’They’re offering so much under such generous terms. This is hardly going to be a ’small’ request.’

He had never believed the great houses of Qingyuan County were fools who hired Tributors simply because they had too much money to spend. Besides, among the benefits Liu Hongchang was offering, there was even a Martial Arts technique.

’Truthfully, he had been tempted for a moment when he heard about the Martial Arts, but he quickly cooled his head. He knew that the more he was offered, the more difficult the task would be.’

’He had thought reporting his Qi Gathering Great Success wouldn’t cause any trouble, but he hadn’t expected the Liu Family to make a move like this. It seemed they truly wanted to bring him into their fold.’

"What is this ’small request’?" Xu Yang asked after a moment of contemplation.

’Even if I’m going to refuse, I have to at least hear him out. Can’t neglect the pleasantries.’

"Tributor Xu, do you know how one joins a Martial Arts Sect through the Martial Arts Ascension Dragon?"

This time, Liu Hongchang didn’t answer directly, but posed a question to Xu Yang instead.

Xu Yang replied, "I assume one must achieve a high rank."

Liu Hongchang nodded. "Correct. The Martial Arts Ascension Dragon—first the Martial Arts, then the Dragon Ascension. Only by achieving a high rank in the Martial Arts Examination do you get a chance at the Dragon Ascension."

"Now that you’ve reached Qi Gathering Great Success, Tributor Xu, it won’t be difficult for you to pass the Martial Arts Examination and earn the title of Martial Scholar."

"But—and it’s not that I look down on you—it’s practically impossible for you to achieve a rank high enough for the Dragon Ascension. Do you know why?"

"Why is that?" Xu Yang played along, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

’So this was Liu Hongchang’s tactic. First, he’d tear me down and say the Dragon Ascension is impossible for me. Then, he’d conveniently offer a solution, courtesy of the Liu Family.’

’As long as I still want to attempt the Dragon Ascension, I’ll have to agree, no matter how outrageous his conditions are.’

"Because the techniques you learn in the Martial Arts Halls are all Martial Arts Foundation Establishment Boxing Methods. They aren’t suited for real combat. In your everyday sparring sessions at the hall, everyone might seem to be on equal footing."

"But during the Martial Arts Examination, you won’t be facing opponents who’ve only trained in Martial Arts Hall techniques. You’ll be up against those who have cultivated the Secret Martial Arts of the great Noble Families."

"Tell me, how could you, who has only trained in the Fist Techniques from a Martial Arts Hall, possibly defeat them?"

’The Fist Techniques from the Martial Arts Halls aren’t weak. It’s just that most people never master them. Of the Triple Force, ninety-nine percent of practitioners only ever reach the First Layer.’

"Are you saying, Patriarch, that the Martial Arts technique the Liu Family provides will enable me to defeat them?" Xu Yang feigned a look of surprise.

Liu Hongchang nodded emphatically. "Correct. My Liu Family’s Secret Martial Arts are considered top-tier in all of Qingyuan. Although there are less than three months until the examination, if you train diligently, you’ll have a real shot at securing a high rank."

"So, what does the Liu Family require of me?"

"The Liu Family’s request is this: if you are fortunate enough to achieve a rank and succeed in the Dragon Ascension, you are to join the Purple Sun Sect and serve my son, Liu Xiao. He placed third in the previous examination."

’He used the word ’fortunate,’ clearly thinking that even with the Liu Family’s Secret Martial Arts, I still might not be able to secure a high enough rank for the Dragon Ascension.’

He said no more, quietly awaiting Xu Yang’s answer.

’So that’s it. He’s just trying to find a subordinate for his son. No wonder he’s willing to invest so much.’

Xu Yang fell silent for a moment, then cupped his fist. "This is a significant matter, and today is the first I’ve even heard of the Purple Sun Sect. Patriarch, would you allow me some time to consider before I give you my answer?"

’These were just words to stall for time. I’ll just drag this out for a few days.’

’I don’t know anything about the Purple Sun Sect, nor do I know the character of Liu Hongchang’s son, Liu Xiao. To think he could buy my life and loyalty in the Purple Sun Sect for so little... he’s underestimating me.’

Liu Hongchang nodded. "This matter does indeed warrant careful consideration. When you have made your decision, you can come find me at any time."

"In that case, I will take my leave."

Xu Yang rose, cupped his fist, and departed.

"Everyone says Lu Ren is arrogant, but I’m afraid this one is the truly intractable one," Liu Hongchang mused as he watched Xu Yang’s retreating figure.

Zhang Bo asked, "Patriarch, you think he won’t agree?"

"My terms were incredibly generous. I even offered him a Martial Arts technique, which was a great honor. My Xiao’er also placed third in the last examination. If he were truly willing to serve Xiao’er in the Purple Sun Sect, he wouldn’t have asked for time to consider."

Liu Hongchang’s tone grew drawn out. "A pity... He thinks far too highly of himself. Without the backing of a great Noble Family, trying to fight his way through the Martial Arts Examination with nothing but Weiyuan Hall’s Mountain-Shaking Bear Fist is practically impossible."

"I was trying to give him a fighting chance, but he seems utterly convinced he can achieve Dragon Ascension on his own. Ah, youth... Does he really think the Noble Families support so many people just because we have too much money to burn?"

...

Xu Yang returned home as the sun was setting and heard a piece of news from Xu Qing.

A new gang had appeared in the Sishui Gang’s former territory. It was recently founded by a Martial Artist named Guan Xiaojie, who was now recruiting from the surrounding villages.

Apparently, they were growing fast. Several other gangs had tried to take over the Sishui Gang’s turf, but they all backed off after this Guan Xiaojie showed up.

’I hope they’re not here for me.’

The half-hearted pursuit by the Cao Family and the Court had left him perpetually on edge. Now, with the appearance of another powerful figure, he couldn’t help but feel this was related.

’Sometimes he considered moving into the city. But his progress in Martial Arts was already unnaturally fast; if he suddenly produced enough money to buy a house in the city on top of that, it would undoubtedly attract suspicion.’

After dinner, he went to get a packet of Qi-Replenishing Powder, only to open the chest and find he had run out.

’Looks like I’ll have to find time for a trip to the black market.’

’He couldn’t use the money he’d taken from the Sishui Gang at Weiyuan Hall, so the black market was his only option for buying more Qi-Replenishing Powder.’

"I’m going to train!"

He called out to Xu Qing, then went to the back of the house. He rose into the air like a swallow, disappearing from sight in a few short bounds.

Cultivating a Lightweight Skill wasn’t just about unblocking meridians; it required constant, practical application. He spent about an hour every day practicing his Flying Swallow Skill, darting through the wilderness.

An hour later, Xu Yang was panting heavily, having run countless laps around Bai Shi Workshop.

But his expression was one of exhilaration as he pushed on. Suddenly, he felt his entire body lighten, and his speed increased dramatically.

Just as he was about to land, he tapped a tree branch with his toes and shot forward another two zhang.

He hurriedly checked his panel:

[Flying Swallow Skill·Minor Achievement (1/500)]

"My Flying Swallow Skill has finally reached Minor Achievement."

Elated, Xu Yang dropped down from the air. With his Flying Swallow Skill at Minor Achievement, his ability to protect himself had increased significantly.

Of all his Martial Arts, his progress in the Flying Swallow Skill had been the fastest. He had possessed it for less than a month, and today it had reached Minor Achievement.

He could now push off a branch as thick as a thumb to leap four or five zhang through the air. Scaling walls and rooftops was child’s play.

He felt he could easily be a "gentleman of the rafters" now, capable of moving across rooftops without making a single sound.

The next day, after leaving the Liu Family estate, Xu Yang headed toward Weiyuan Hall as usual.

After taking a few steps, however, he noticed that Wu Yongfeng hadn’t moved. He turned back, surprised.

Wu Yongfeng gave a bitter smile. "I’ve decided to leave Weiyuan Hall. I won’t be going anymore, starting today..."

Xu Yang sighed. Saving two taels of silver a month and having that much more for cultivation sounded good on the surface.

But leaving Weiyuan Hall was, in a way, tantamount to Wu Yongfeng giving up on the Martial Dao. It was an admission of defeat, and the blow to his morale must have been immense.

He didn’t know how to comfort the man. He had a few drinks with the disheartened Wu Yongfeng and lost the motivation to go to Weiyuan Hall himself. After they parted ways, Xu Yang went straight back to Bai Shi Workshop.

As he was about to enter Bai Shi Workshop, he saw several burly men with sabers at their waists standing behind a refined-looking gentleman at the entrance.

Among them, he spotted a familiar face—Qian Jiaxing!

Qian Jiaxing kept his head down, not daring to meet Xu Yang’s gaze.

Originally, he and Xu Yang had been the closest among their group of ten, and Xu Yang had given him a great deal of guidance in his Martial Arts.

But after Xu Yang and Lu Ren had their falling out, he had immediately sided with Lu Ren, cutting ties with Xu Yang. He’d even berated Xu Yang a few times for Lu Ren’s sake.

Now, Lu Ren treated him like dirt. Having kissed up to Lu Ren for nothing, how could he possibly have the nerve to face Xu Yang?

"Excuse me, might you be Xu Yang?"

Xu Yang had no intention of engaging with the group, not even wanting to speak to Qian Jiaxing, with whom he had once trained. He had been about to move past them when the refined-looking man unexpectedly stepped forward to question him.