Chapter 33: Crossroads of Safety and Ambition

Fortunately, the Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill is still quite effective. As long as the opponent doesn’t have expert archers, even if I can’t win, I can at least escape with some assurance.

Unless the opponent also happens to be an expert in Lightweight Skill.

Thinking of this, Zhang Rongfang looked up at the sky.

Unknowingly, it has been a year since he came here….

Over this past year, the matter of Xiao Rong and his daughter made him vaguely aware of the harshness of this world.

Many times, it’s not just about wanting to stay in a quiet corner; you can’t always remain safe and sound like that.

“What are you thinking about?” Zhang Xintai noticed Zhang Rongfang’s somewhat low spirits and reached out to pat his shoulder.

“You’re seventeen this year, right?”

“Yeah… seventeen.”

“What are your plans for the future? Are you staying at Qinghe Palace and being a Martial Cultivator for the rest of your life?” Zhang Xintai asked.

“I don’t know… I haven’t decided yet.” Zhang Rongfang shook his head slightly.

“Don’t you have an older sister?”

“Yeah… she’s far away, living in the Great Capital.”

“With your talent, if you work harder, you might be able to get a position at the Jixian Institute, which is also in the Great Capital. By then, you could visit your sister,” Zhang Xintai said with a smile.

“Thank you for your kind words.” Zhang Rongfang returned the smile.

“So, what plans do you have, senior brother?” he asked in turn.

“I should be getting married in a while,” Zhang Xintai said, the corners of his mouth curling up with an unstoppable glow on his face.

“Getting married?!” Zhang Rongfang blinked in surprise.

“Yes,” Zhang Xintai smiled, “your sister-in-law is from Huaxin County. She often came with her mother to our place to pray and light incense. After several visits, we got to know each other.”

“That’s great news…” Zhang Rongfang said happily for him.

“Yes, and by then you’ll have to give me a hand.”

“Of course!”

Looking at his senior brother’s uncontrollable smiling face, Zhang Rongfang felt even more at a loss.

Now that basic safety was guaranteed, he felt even more uncertain about what he should do in the future.

“Senior brother, if I keep practicing martial arts, how far can I go?”

“If you keep practicing martial arts… with your talent, in ten years, you should be able to train the Talisman Manual to the third grade. But after the third grade, it becomes very difficult,” Zhang Xintai replied.

“Third grade? Why?” Zhang Rongfang asked, puzzled.

“In our martial arts, going from the third grade to the fourth grade is a threshold. It requires enduring hardships and strengthening the muscles and bones. You started training too late, so your muscles and bones are somewhat set. Crossing into the third grade is somewhat difficult.”

Shifting the conversation, Zhang Xintai continued,

“But even reaching the third grade is quite impressive. In our entire Qinghe Palace, there are only a few people at the third grade and above. Most are second or first grade, along with those who are non-mainstream.

When you reach that level, you could take a position with the court, earn a salary, and hold a position within our sect. It’s quite comfortable, you could say.”

“Set, huh? So, what about you, senior brother? You’re still young; can’t you continue upward?” Zhang Rongfang asked.

“Why would I want to continue upward? After more than ten years of diligently practicing martial arts every day, I can finally decide my life for myself. If I don’t enjoy life, spending most of my life on martial arts, then what was the point of my practice?” Zhang Xintai countered.

Zhang Rongfang fell silent.

“Alright, don’t think too much. Martial arts, as long as they’re enough to use, are sufficient. The further you go, the more time and energy you spend, and the less you gain in return.

Besides, didn’t you receive the rotation task? Is it patrolling, or are you going to the county town?”

“To the county town.”

“Then remember to help me deliver a letter to your sister-in-law.”

“No problem. Where does my sister-in-law live and what’s her name?”

“Her name is Yang Hongyan. I’ll write her address in the letter in a moment.”

*

*

*

Huaxin County, Mi Gang.

On the most bustling Shanzhong Street of the county town, the most extravagant place to eat and drink is undoubtedly the Four Seas Restaurant right in the middle of the street.

At this time, on the top floor of the Four Seas Restaurant, the entire floor had been cleared out, with few people sitting at the lacquered red tables and chairs.

A number of city rice merchants, dressed in leather jackets and silk, stood scattered with their bodyguards.

All eyes were focused on a tall woman sitting among them.

The woman had fair skin and white hair, with crow’s-feet faintly visible at the corners of her eyes, clearly not young.

A fire-rat cloak wrapped her entire figure tightly.

“With this return of the cold spring, it’s really hard to bear for someone with a frail body.”

The woman coughed gently and looked down.

“Everyone knows, my son Shao Quanhua is dead. We still don’t know how he died.”

She paused for a moment.

“My husband returned from Qinghe Palace, constantly thinking about this matter, unable to eat or drink, and he’s becoming so thin, he might get ill.

I’ve already lost a son, and if my son was involved with mountain bandits as they say, if there’s evidence, I’ll accept it.

But if something happens to my husband too, does this mean… cough cough… does this mean they want to completely eradicate us?

How ruthless is Qinghe Palace? Do they want to destroy my Mi Gang completely? If Tang Sha is truly strong in martial arts, but if that’s their intention, then as a woman, what can I do?”

“Leader, Qinghe Palace only has three strong individuals: Tang Sha, Chen Heqiu, and Zhang Xuan. The rest are not much to speak of. If you want to take action, we could ally with the Black Fist Sect to strike together.”

A burly man, with a black eagle tattoo on his neck, was quietly rotating a couple of iron balls in his hand.

“Although Qinghe Palace is just considered a third-rate sect in the entire martial world.

The Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual is good for wellness, but when it comes to real fights, it’s just so-so.

But within this hundred-mile radius, Qinghe Palace’s influence in the government isn’t small,” another dark-skinned man said in a deep voice.

“Isn’t this all very normal? Just some days ago, I went to Qinghe Palace and discussed Longevity Skill with its Literary Cultivator. In these times, doesn’t everyone with some money want to live a bit longer?”

An old woman with white hair, leaning on a black wooden cane, laughed strangely.

“Actually….” Shao Quanhua, draped in a cloak of fire rat, spoke again.

“Tang Sha did not completely wipe out his enemies at the time. He deliberately left room and spared my son.

I’ve already investigated this point. It’s just that my son suddenly died on his way back. The wounds on his body at the time of death were precisely marks of moves from the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual.

Moreover, it was a Limit-Breaking Secret Technique, the mark of Heavy Mountain.”

“Heavy Mountain…. In the entire Qinghe Palace, only three people can thoroughly understand and master talisman skills to their extreme and comprehend Heavy Mountain….” said the tattooed strong man holding an iron ball, frowning.

“One is Chen Heqiu, but he’s advanced in age and serves as the Palace Master. He wouldn’t take action for such a small matter, let alone leave such obvious traces when dealing with a junior.

The second is Zhang Xuan, who made a name for himself outside twenty years ago but has since mysteriously disappeared.

The third is Tang Sha, undeniably, Tang Sha is the prime suspect.”

“It’s not Tang Sha, he was with Chen Wuyou at the time, and there were many witnesses who saw him present.” Shao Quanhua slowly shook his head.

“So, is it Zhang Xuan?” The strong man with the iron ball’s eyes turned cold.

“Is there a possibility of a fourth person who understands Heavy Mountain?” someone spoke up.

“Impossible. The foundation for comprehending the secret technique of Heavy Mountain is refining the Mountain-shaped Talisman to its utmost, then breaking the limit once more to grasp its deepest mysteries. Even my husband can’t achieve this.” Shao Quanhua denied.

Her husband was Chen Zihan, father of Chen Wuyou, and the head of the Qinghe Palace’s Surveillance Room, a true rank-five expert.

Even he couldn’t achieve this, showing the difficulty of mastering Heavy Mountain.

“My husband mentioned that grasping the Heavy Mountain secret technique requires more than thirty years of grounding in Mountain-shaped Talisman; don’t even think about touching its surface without it.

Considering this, it most likely points to Zhang Xuan.” Shao Quanhua’s face became increasingly grim.

“A rank-five, truly remarkable…. Since Zhang Xuan dared to kill my son so recklessly, everyone doesn’t need to hold back any longer.”

She bowed her head and coughed heavily again, with faint bloodstains appearing on the handkerchief she was covering her mouth with.

“Old Ding, you owe me a life, now it’s time to repay….”

The tattooed strong man halted the iron ball in his hand and tossed it to the henchman behind him.

“Boss, please proceed.”

“Zhang Xuan’s son Zhang Xintai has a lover in town, and it’s estimated they will soon become engaged and married.

By then, Zhang Xuan, the old man, will surely come, and I want his wedding to turn into a funeral!”

Shao Quanhua’s weakened eyes became suddenly dark and deeply penetrating.

“Alright!” The tattooed strong man grinned. “I’ve longed to deal with the Taoists of Qinghe Palace. Let’s see if their lousy talisman manuals are stronger or if my Mi Gang’s Profound Sand Palm is fiercer.”

“Be cautious, after all, he has cultivated the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual to rank-five. In true realm terms, you’re still a notch below.” Shao Quanhua said softly.

“We’ll deal with his son first.” The tattooed strong man was noncommittal.

The rank is just the number of times the limit is broken; the real determining factors are the strength of martial arts itself and the differences in individuals.

A squirrel breaking a limit once and a tiger breaking a limit once, both the same rank, can they be considered equally strong?

“Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual, for treating illnesses and saving people, it’s quite effective. As for dueling in the jianghu….” The old woman leaning on a black wooden cane said softly. “By then, I’ll send a team of Iron Slaves along, with Daoist Chen, that’s sufficient.”

The Iron Slaves referred to robust black men, all trained in basic Profound Iron Palm skills. Equipped with full sets of thick leather gear, even ordinary rank-inside experts would find it hard to break them for a while.

*

*

*

In the depths of Red Mountain’s forest.

A man in a short fighting robe quickly practiced footwork back and forth in the woodland.

The breeze stirred, leaves fluttered.

A flock of birds soared into the sky, circling and emitting sharp cries.

As the day turned to evening, the clouds began to thicken.

Suddenly, in the midst of his footwork, the man halted abruptly, a joyful expression appearing.

“It’s done!”

Zhang Rongfang let out a long breath, kicking apart the fallen leaves underfoot.

After more than a month, finally….

He looked down at the bottom of his visual field, where in the attributes section, a new skill had finally emerged.

Morning Energy Talisman.

Just now.

Before he finished practicing the Morning Energy Talisman footwork for the thirtieth time, blurry words appeared in the attribute panel.

At this time, his attributes, after more than a month’s accumulation, had already changed to:

’Zhang Rongfang – Life 16-16.

Skills: Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual – Mountain-shaped Talisman (Limit-Breaking) (Limit-Breaking Skill: Heavy Mountain),

Void Observation Skill (First Layer Essence Aperture).

Dragon and Snake Ascension Skill (Mastery).

Morning Energy Talisman (Entry Level).

Available attribute points: 4.’

During this time, life has increased by one point, all trained by himself.

All four attribute points gained through medicine to supplement blood haven’t been used.

Most of the medicinal materials have been consumed, and points have been accumulated, but the Morning Energy Talisman just wouldn’t enter the basics.

It made him somewhat anxious.

Until now.

Looking at the distinct Morning Energy Talisman etched in the attribute panel.

The burden weighing heavily on Zhang Rongfang’s heart finally lifted.

“Back to the room, back to the room, this time I’ll fully upgrade the Morning Energy Talisman!”

Filled with anticipation, he gathered his belongings and hurried toward the direction of Qinghe Palace.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep