Chapter 127: Chapter 94: Breakthrough to the Iron Skin Realm
Zhang Xiong shook his head with a wry smile.
"Sigh... To be honest with you, my Qi Blood has barely progressed since I broke through to the Late-stage Stone Skin Realm. Eating more Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat doesn’t help at all. And with my level of talent, even if I get lucky and reach peak Qi Blood, I doubt I’ll be able to break through the barrier to the Iron Skin Realm. That’s why I’ve decided to go to Cangzhou and focus on learning the pharmacy business from my father and Elder Zhou."
"Mm."
Jiang Che nodded.
’If it weren’t for my Skill Proficiency Panel, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have even broken through to the Stone Skin Realm yet!’
’Zhang Xiong’s Root Bone might be a bit better than mine, but the barrier to the Iron Skin Realm is a true chasm on the path of the Martial Dao.’
’Every year, so many reach the Peak of the Stone Skin Realm, but only one or two manage to break through.’
’Hu Hui from the Martial Arts Hall had also progressed incredibly fast before reaching the Iron Skin Realm.’
’But his repeated attempts to break through all ended in failure.’
’It’s no wonder Master valued Gong Yulei so highly back then; he was able to break through to the Iron Skin Realm without a hitch.’
"So when are you leaving?" Jiang Che asked.
"Tomorrow." Zhang Xiong glanced out the window, a look of reluctance on his face.
"So soon?" Jiang Che was a little surprised.
"Yes. It’s better to leave early and avoid any unexpected trouble." Zhang Xiong said with a smile.
"Yes, that makes sense. Should I come see you off?" Jiang Che offered.
He didn’t have many friends, and Zhang Xiong was one of them.
But now he was leaving, and Jiang Che had no idea if they would ever have the chance to meet again.
A sudden feeling of loneliness washed over him.
"There’s no need. We’re worried the Zhao Family might try to intercept us, so we’re leaving quietly before dawn. You don’t have to come," Zhang Xiong said with a smile.
"Then I wish you a safe journey." Jiang Che raised his cup to Zhang Xiong.
"Thanks!"
The two clinked their cups and downed the contents in one go.
"Oh, right, there’s something I need to tell you. You absolutely cannot tell anyone else!" Zhang Xiong suddenly said, lowering his voice.
"Oh? What is it?" Jiang Che asked curiously.
"My father suspects the Zhao Family... is plotting something!" Zhang Xiong said, his expression grave.
"Oh? What do you mean?" Jiang Che asked, startled.
"My father received word that the Zhao Family... is raising a private army!" Zhang Xiong leaned closer and whispered.
"A private army?!" Jiang Che was shocked. That was a sign of rebellion!
Zhang Xiong nodded and continued,
"We also heard that the Court lost the war against the Great Yan Kingdom! The Great Chu army suffered devastating losses! The Court ceded three entire provinces to the Great Yan Kingdom! Although the news has been suppressed, a lot of well-connected people already know the truth."
"On top of that, the True Mother Sect rebels in Yanzhou have conquered the neighboring Qingzhou, so they now occupy two provinces! The troops the Court sent to quell the rebellion haven’t been able to make any headway and are just locked in a stalemate!"
"Everyone can see it now—the Great Chu Royal Family is hopelessly weak. Many of the powerful local families are deciding to strike out on their own! I bet that’s exactly what the Zhao Family is planning."
"So that’s how it is," Jiang Che sighed.
He knew the situation in Lin Yuan City was deteriorating, but he never imagined it had become so precarious.
"Of course, not every place is in chaos. The Qilin Army is garrisoned in Cangzhou, and I hear things are much better there. If you can’t stay in Lin Yuan City anymore, you can come to Cangzhou. We could run the pharmacy together. What do you say?" Zhang Xiong asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Let’s talk about it then," Jiang Che replied noncommittally.
He still wanted to continue investigating his parents’ disappearance, and all of his connections were here. If he left, he would have nothing.
’Besides, if the Great Chu Royal Family really is finished, will Cangzhou truly be spared?’
’Of course, if it really becomes impossible to survive here, I will leave.’
’But not right now.’
Zhang Xiong nodded, understanding that Jiang Che couldn’t give him an answer right away.
The two chatted idly for a while longer before parting ways.
Before parting, Zhang Xiong gave Jiang Che a box, saying he should open it after he got back.
Jiang Che didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it directly.
After returning home, Jiang Che opened the wooden box and found three things inside.
One of them was half of a Jade Pendant.
Jiang Che knew this was a keepsake for identifying each other in the future.
After all, if many years passed and one of them was no longer alive, their families could use the matching halves of the Jade Pendant to recognize each other.
Jiang Che then took out the second item.
It was a thread-bound notebook.
He flipped it open.
’It’s the method for preparing Exotic Beast Meat!’
Jiang Che’s heart leaped with joy.
He looked it over and found detailed instructions on how to capture Black Beast Cubs. It described which potions to use to tame the ferocity of different cubs and how to mix those potions. It even explained how to crossbreed Black Beasts with ordinary animals to produce Exotic Beasts that carried the Black Beast bloodline.
’Now I can catch Black Beast Cubs and prepare Exotic Beast Meat myself!’
Although he was currently receiving a good amount of Exotic Beast Meat each month due to his affiliation, that could change.
If war were to break out, that supply of Exotic Beast Meat would be cut off.
And Black Crystals could only be used to fill the Heart of the Black Abyss; he couldn’t use them himself.
With this method, he could breed and prepare his own Exotic Beast Meat without having to rely on anyone else.
’This... this is worth at least ten thousand taels of silver!’
Jiang Che sighed. He hadn’t expected such a huge parting gift!
He then looked at the last item.
It was a rolled-up slip of paper.
He unrolled it and took a look.
’Contact information for the Four Seas Tower?’
He understood at once. The Zhang Family must have bought their information from the Four Seas Tower.
’Good. Now I have another channel for gathering information in the future!’
Jiang Che felt a sense of reassurance.
...
...
...
「One and a half months later.」
In the courtyard of the Jiang Family residence.
A handsome young man with a fair complexion and refined features was practicing his fist techniques in the courtyard.
He stood about six-foot-one, with a well-proportioned, even somewhat lean, build.
