Martial Saint with Passives

"Elder Situ gave it to me," Jiang Che answered truthfully.

"What is this blade called?" Qin Yue asked.

"Kunji."

Qin Yue’s expression was complex as he said,

"So it really is... Do you have any idea what you’re holding? This blade is one of the ten most famous blades in all of Lin Yuan City! It’s practically Elder Situ’s magnum opus! Countless Force Integration Martial Artists have salivated over this blade, and to think he ended up giving it to you..."

"So that’s Kunji!" some of the others who had heard of the blade exclaimed in shock.

Jiang Che was stunned. He’d had no idea the blade had such a storied past.

He felt an even deeper sense of gratitude for Situ Xuan’s gift. ’I’ll definitely find a way to repay him in the future,’ he vowed to himself.

From then on, the way everyone looked at Jiang Che completely changed.

If Jiang Che had previously been seen as a "junior in need of protection" or a "tag-along little brother gaining experience,"

then now, he had become "an expert worthy of their respect."

After all, not only was he incredibly powerful, but even an esteemed figure like Elder Situ held him in high regard.

Everyone knew Situ Xuan had a notoriously foul temper; he wouldn’t give anyone the time of day, regardless of their status or background.

Winning his favor spoke volumes.

Qin Yue quickly came to terms with it, feeling no jealousy or loss of face whatsoever.

Having a formidable younger brother in his group was a cause for celebration!

Besides, Jiang Che was not even twenty years old, yet he was already this capable.

’In another ten years, won’t he be on par with the most powerful Elders?’

’What am I even thinking? I should be focused on building a good relationship with someone like him.’

Having thought it through, Qin Yue felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He smiled and said,

"Alright, let’s carve out the Black Crystal! Little Brother Jiang, you haven’t seen a Black Crystal from an Iron Skin Realm beast before, have you?"

Jiang Che nodded. He was quite excited to see it.

Qin Yue took out a sharp dagger and plunged it forcefully into the chest of the Headless Ironhoof Bull, right where its heart should be.

With his strength at the Peak of the Iron Skin Realm, combined with a dagger forged from special materials,

he quickly sliced through the Ironhoof Bull’s hide. He then pulled out an object the size of a small watermelon, encased in a membrane of sinew.

Slicing it open revealed what looked like an enlarged Black Crystal.

Its color was also far deeper, seemingly absorbing all light that touched it.

’So this is a Black Crystal from the Iron Skin Realm...’

Jiang Che’s eyes gleamed with curiosity; he was dying to get a closer look.

Seeing the look in Jiang Che’s eyes, Qin Yue offered it to him.

"Want a closer look?"

Jiang Che hurriedly refused.

’I can’t take it,’ he thought. ’If I do, it’ll vaporize and get absorbed on the spot. Everyone would be stunned, and I’d have no way to explain it.’

Qin Yue didn’t press the issue. He placed it in a pouch, and the group set off once more.

During the subsequent hunts, Jiang Che no longer held back.

He was incredibly fast and his blade was exceptionally sharp. He could kill most Stone Skin Realm beasts with a single strike.

As for the lower-level Iron Skin Realm beasts,

if he attacked alongside the others and found the right opening for a critical strike, he could usually decapitate them in one blow.

At worst, it would only take a few more slashes.

At one point, the group ran into a ferocious tiger at the Late Iron Skin Realm.

This time, Jiang Che landed many blows, but none were fatal.

However, in the end, he managed to kill the tiger with a final, decisive slash, though he sustained an injury in the process.

Everyone was initially worried about Jiang Che’s wound.

But to their amazement, his wound began to heal before their very eyes!

Not knowing what to make of it, they all just attributed it to the effects of his Innate Iron Body.

They had only ever heard legends of the Innate Iron Body and had never witnessed one firsthand, so no one grew suspicious.

They simply marveled at how absurdly powerful Jiang Che’s constitution was.

By the end of the day, they had harvested five Iron Skin Realm Black Crystals and thirty-two Stone Skin Realm Black Crystals—a bountiful haul.

As dusk approached, Qin Yue quickly gathered everyone to descend the mountain.

"Little Brother Jiang, you have to remember this: never stay on the mountain after dark! As soon as night falls, the Black Beasts swarm out. Their numbers increase by at least tenfold! It’ll be pitch-black, and you’ll be surrounded. Even a Force Integration Expert would lose their life!" Qin Yue warned.

"Yes, I understand," Jiang Che nodded.

He’d heard this before, but experiencing the mountain firsthand gave him a much more visceral understanding of the danger.

’If a dozen or so Iron Skin Realm Black Beasts were to attack, I’d have a hard time dealing with them even if I transformed.’

’And that’s not even considering the powerful Force Integration Level Black Beasts that live on this mountain!’

The group descended the mountain. After a brief rest, they began setting up tents to camp for the night at the mountain’s base.

Someone built a bonfire and set a large cauldron over it.

They added water, some foraged wild vegetables, and the dried meat they had brought, letting it all simmer into a stew.

They stuck some flatbreads to the side of the hot cauldron to warm them.

Soon, an aromatic scent began to drift from the pot.

The group ate and chatted, the atmosphere lively and cheerful.

As Jiang Che ate his flatbread and drank the vegetable soup, watching the others chat with such enthusiasm, a warmth spread through his chest.

That night, the group prepared for sleep, arranging a guard rotation every hour.

It wasn’t originally Jiang Che’s turn to stand guard, but since he was an early riser, he volunteered to take the last watch.

After witnessing his heroic performance during the day, they felt completely at ease leaving the watch to him.

Jiang Che was already awake before the sky had fully brightened.

He got up, dressed, and exited his tent with his blade in hand.

After taking over from the burly man who was on watch, Jiang Che began his patrol.

’I wonder if any Black Beasts will wander over...’

Jiang Che felt no fear. On the contrary, he was rather looking forward to an encounter.

’After today’s hunt,’ he mused, ’I’m confident I can handle anything short of the Force Integration Level.’