“…You did the right thing.”

Dong Zhou said flatly,

“The easier something is to obtain, the less it’s cherished. Even if it’s to be our dog, he needs to understand that not everyone gets this kind of opportunity, and it’s certainly not one that comes easily.”

After a pause, Dong Zhou asked,

“Isn’t there another new guy? He didn’t eat the Blood Jade Fruit?”

“No…”

Dong Chuo said,

“That kid is too shrewd. I had just given him the Blood Jade Fruit when he turned around and sold it.”

“Oh? There’s someone like that? What’s his background?” Dong Zhou asked.

“Recommended by Yun Shuanglin.”

Dong Chuo continued,

“According to his Martial Guard Official Document, he has no significant background. Came from a Southern County Town, a poor household that was promoted to the Military Households. To put it bluntly, he’s just someone who’s barely crawled out of the mud.”

“…Interesting.”

Dong Zhou said,

“With Yun Zhan dead, the Sword Pavilion will never accept this kid. Just wait and see. If nothing unexpected happens, he’ll come back begging you in a few days.”

“The Fist Pavilion might take him?”

Dong Chuo froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.

“I get it! When he comes begging, I’ll use him to make an example in public! Let all the Outer Disciples see the consequences of not knowing what’s good for them!”

“And we’ll let them all know that the Dong Family only offers an opportunity once! If you don’t cherish it, you won’t even have time for regrets!”

…

Dragon Pavilion, Jade Dragon Dock.

Within the deep and quiet Purple Bamboo Forest, a small bamboo courtyard was hidden amidst the lush greenery. A thin layer of bamboo leaves carpeted the stone path.

The Pavilion Master, Jiang Yujiao, slowly walked in, almost without a sound.

She wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat, from which a black veil hung, completely concealing her face and neck. Even the outline of her jaw was blurred within the shadows of the gauze.

She was dressed in a black gauze dress with wide, fluttering sleeves and a hem that reached the ground. As she walked, it moved like surging ink-black clouds, just as completely covering her hands and ankles, not revealing a hint of skin.

But even so, it was not difficult to see that she was surely a great beauty.

Her figure was tall and slender, her legs especially long, yet perfectly proportioned.

Her shoulders were sculpted, her waist as slender as a tied ribbon. The gauze dress clung to her body, and beneath the fabric of her chest, it was as if two jade rabbits were hidden, bouncing with every step.

As she strolled leisurely, there was nothing ostentatious or deliberate, only a naturally exuded air of innate coldness and detachment from the mortal world.

“Master.”

Just then, a voice came from behind her.

She tilted her head slightly. Beneath the black veil, the curve of her neck was faintly visible—long and elegant, like a black swan with folded wings.

“You summoned this disciple in such a hurry. What might your instructions be?”

Gu Qianqian cupped her fist and bowed.

She was around her early twenties, with a pretty face and a hint of gentle charm in her features.

She wore a set of light blue Training Attire, tailored with some thought. As she bent over, her waist appeared even more slender, and the curve where her chest hung was exceptionally impressive, though still a notch below Jiang Yujiao’s.

“Go and check if there’s a new disciple in the Outer Sect who is an excellent swimmer and has an Innate Iron Lung.”

“Iron Lung?”

Gu Qianqian straightened up, and the huge objects on her chest heaved noticeably.

It was because of her own Innate Iron Lung that she had been able to enter the Dragon Pavilion back then.

People with such rare gifts were few and far between; no wonder Jiang Yujiao was taking this so seriously.

“Master, if this is confirmed, should I bring the person back directly?”

Gu Qianqian pressed her lips together, a flicker of guardedness, almost imperceptible, flashing in her eyes.

Currently, she was the only disciple in the Sea Courtyard with an Innate Iron Lung.

It was because of this that she was able to become the Pavilion Master’s disciple, enjoying status, treatment, and resources all superior to those of ordinary disciples.

If another one came along…

Wouldn’t everything she possessed have to be split?

She certainly did not want that to happen.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t something she could control. The key was still Jiang Yujiao.

“There’s no rush.”

Jiang Yujiao’s voice carried a hint of coldness.

“To enter the Sea Courtyard, character is paramount! First, you investigate discreetly, then slowly observe his moral character. If he is a person of low character, then let him fend for himself in the Outer Sect.”

“Yes! This disciple understands!”

Gu Qianqian nodded vigorously, the corners of her lips involuntarily turning up slightly.

‘Jiang Yujiao rarely leaves the Purple Bamboo Forest. She’d certainly never go observe a new disciple herself. In the end, the new disciple’s character is whatever I say it is, isn’t it?’

…

「Five days later.」

In the courtyard of Guan Lan Pavilion.

Chen Cheng’s figure shot up, and he brought a leg down in a cleaving motion, tearing a sharp whistle through the air.

The instant his toes touched the ground, the bamboo leaves on the floor were blasted upward, standing on end in mid-air like a swarm of green and yellow flying swords.

He twisted his waist and spun, his leg a chaotic whirlwind. The resulting gale swept the surrounding suspended leaves into a vortex of green.

The next moment, the afterimage of his leg was like Peng’s Sky-Spanning Wings, thrusting forward abruptly. The Transforming Force he projected was as heavy and solid as a mountain. Countless bamboo leaves shot out in the direction of his foot, embedding themselves deep into an old tree ahead.

They pierced the bark and sank a third of an inch into the wood.

[Cloud Peng Leg Technique – Secret Chapter]: Great Success (0/3000), Traits (Fuyao, Peng Wings), Limit-Breaking (No)

[Peng Wings: When using the Leg Technique, the Transforming Force contained within the gale is enhanced by ten percent. Plucking flowers or snatching leaves can be lethal.]

Chen Cheng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

During the entire journey north, he had used the Dapeng Soaring Cloud Painting every day to increase his training progress. Combined with the focused practice these past few days, he had finally brought this Secret Martial Arts to the Great Success stage.

While unlocking a new Trait, he had also taken another huge step toward the Ninth Pillar of Blood Qi.

At the same time, he continued to train unceasingly in the Three Tai Chi: Nourishing Life, Foundation Establishment, and Inner Strength.

Among them, he primarily focused on the two Tai Chi of Foundation Establishment and Inner Strength.

His Root Bone was still improving bit by bit.

[Endless Moon Breath]: Great Success (2912/3000), Traits (Hidden Mechanism, Iron Lung), Limit-Breaking (No)

While training the aforementioned Martial Arts, Chen Cheng would also silently circulate the Endless Moon Breath.

The training progress of this Evil Technique had also improved significantly.

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