Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Chapter 273: Chapter 158: Recruitment

Sun Ke was stunned. If he remembered correctly, Xu Yang had only comprehended Wind and Thunder Strength after entering the Purple Sun Sect. He didn’t know how long it had taken, but to grasp Wind and Thunder Strength after only a year and a half of martial arts practice was impressive. If there weren’t so many geniuses this year, he might have even made it onto the Ten Heroes List.

Even if he couldn’t be ranked among the Ten Heroes, he had a high chance of reaching the Marrow Cleansing realm in the future.

This level of talent was far from ordinary; it could be considered upper-mid-tier.

Sun Ke had no idea that Xu Qing’s comprehension of Wind and Thunder Strength was entirely due to Xu Yang’s help. On her own, she might not have grasped it even after another year of practice.

"This talent isn’t bad at all. I can help keep an eye out for arrangements, but she hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t assign her any suitable tasks. Once she gets to the Purple Sun Sect, we can discuss the details. How does that sound?

Consider this money a deposit. When the time comes, we’ll talk more about the price depending on what kind of task you want to arrange for her," Sun Ke said with a smile.

In truth, he had already made up his mind. Even if Xu Qing’s talent turned out to be truly terrible, he would still do Xu Yang this favor.

After all, Xu Yang was a Ten Heroes Genius. Although he might have gotten onto the list by a stroke of luck, he was someone who could achieve Gang Qi Great Success within two years of joining the sect. As long as he didn’t die prematurely, reaching the Marrow Cleansing realm in the future would be no problem.

A future Bone Marrow Cleansing Martial Artist was more than qualified to receive a favor from him.

There was another point. As a Steward in the Task Hall, he had naturally learned long ago that Xiao Hua was punished and sent to garrison Cyan Mountain Town precisely because he had targeted Xu Yang.

As it happened, he and Xiao Hua didn’t get along either.

The enemy of my enemy isn’t necessarily my friend, but they should at least help each other out.

A satisfied smile appeared on Xu Yang’s face. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Steward Sun. In that case, I will take my leave. I’ll come see you again once my sister arrives at the Purple Sun Sect."

As an ’old father,’ he had worried himself sick over the little girl.

Hearing Sun Ke’s words, a great weight was finally lifted from his heart.

The Purple Sun Sect was full of too many unexpected dangers. Even he wasn’t safe, so he had no choice but to pull some strings and arrange a long-term, non-dangerous task for Xu Qing.

The two left the Task Hall and began to divide the contribution points.

Sun Tao’s base reward was thirty contribution points. He received another forty for the four people they killed; Xu Yang had snatched the last kill but let it count for Sun Tao.

Out of a total of two hundred and sixty contribution points, Xu Yang took one hundred and ninety for himself.

"On this trip, I’ve really taken advantage of you, Junior Brother Xu," Sun Tao said.

If it weren’t for Xu Yang, forget about getting so many contribution points—he probably would have died on the road like the others.

"You’re finally back."

When the two returned to their courtyard, Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong greeted them happily.

They had already heard that the others had been ambushed by the Blood Lotus Sect and suffered heavy casualties, and they were worried about Xu Yang and Sun Tao.

"If Junior Brother Xu hadn’t broken through to Gang Qi Great Success, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have made it back either," Sun Tao said.

At these words, Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong looked at Xu Yang in astonishment.

’The one at the tail end of the Ten Heroes has finally reached Gang Qi Great Success.’

Although he was a bit later than the other Ten Heroes Geniuses, he hadn’t tarnished the reputation of the Ten Heroes. To this day, besides the Ten Heroes Geniuses, no one else had achieved Gang Qi Great Success.

"Congratulations on your great progress in cultivation!" The two of them hurriedly clasped their hands and congratulated Xu Yang.

"By the way, what about Li Qiang? Didn’t that beast who’s worse than a pig or a dog give you any trouble?" Zhang Yong asked doubtfully.

When they learned that Xu Yang and Sun Tao had gone out on a mission with Li Qiang, they had been sweating with anxiety for the two of them.

Li Qiang was shameless and despicable; it was highly likely he would use this opportunity to get rid of Xu Yang and Sun Tao.

Sun Tao said, "He’s dead. We were ambushed by experts from the Blood Lotus Sect. Both he and Gu Haoming are dead."

What? Gu Haoming and Li Qiang are both dead?!

Jiang Ping and Zhang Yong were stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

"Excellent! Excellent! What a great death! Heaven has finally opened its eyes."

Jiang Ping was so overcome with emotion he nearly laughed until tears streamed down his face.

Those two were the people he hated most in the world.

Gu Haoming had used him and then kicked him to the curb. Li Qiang had cost him an arm, leaving him half-crippled. He thought he would never be able to get revenge in this lifetime, yet he never expected both of his greatest enemies to die at the same time.

"They got off easy!" Zhang Yong snarled.

Li Qiang and Gu Haoming were his enemies too. He had long been determined to kill them both, but he never thought they would die before he even had the strength to take his revenge.

"This calls for a grand toast! To the tavern! My treat! Let’s drink to the deaths of those two beasts!" Jiang Ping declared, waving his one arm.

After days of eating dry rations, the taste in Xu Yang’s mouth had gone completely bland.

With someone else treating, he certainly wasn’t going to refuse. The group of four immediately headed for a tavern.

"Xu Yang actually reached Gang Qi Great Success!"

"A Ten Heroes is a Ten Heroes. Even though Xu Yang was lagging behind a bit, he’s still the tenth disciple to reach Gang Qi Great Success."

"Not one more, not one less. The person who compiled the Ten Heroes List has a truly sharp eye."

Soon, the news that Xu Yang had returned alive and achieved Gang Qi Great Success spread throughout the Outer Disciples.

Regardless of how long it took him to achieve Gang Qi Great Success, at a time when most disciples had yet to even reach Gang Qi Minor Achievement, it was still a shocking accomplishment.

...

Sharp Wind Hall!

Cao Rong received the news at the first possible moment, his expression turning incredibly grim.

Whether Xu Yang had achieved Gang Qi Great Success or not had nothing to do with him, but Gu Haoming was dead.

Gu Haoming was his most capable subordinate. Reaching Gang Qi Great Success would have been no problem for him, and he could have become a great asset in the future.

Yun Feng was dead, Lu Ren was no longer part of Sharp Wind Hall, and now with Gu Haoming’s death, he had few capable people left in the hall.

’An ambush by four Blood Lotus Sect experts... Why would a master like Li Qiang die, while someone like Xu Yang, who just broke through, managed to come back alive?

Even Sun Tao made it back alive. How could Gu Haoming possibly have died?’

He had made inquiries. Xu Yang and Sun Tao had returned basically unscathed, not looking at all like they had narrowly escaped death.

In the eyes of someone like him, who was determined to investigate, Xu Yang’s story was full of holes.