Chapter 181: Chapter 118: Jiang Che’s Hidden Trouble and Xu Qingshan’s Guidance
Noticing all eyes on him, Jiang Che set down his bowl and chopsticks.
He no longer needed to go pick Blood Amber Flowers. Besides, he had far too many secrets to be teaming up with anyone, even if he did go.
He smiled. "Senior Brother Yan, you should go. I just broke through to Force Integration, so I don’t need a Primordial Marrow Pill yet."
Yan Hanpeng’s face lit up. "Thank you for letting me have this chance, Junior Brother Jiang. In that case, I’ll gladly accept!"
Yun Weiwei shook her head. Unable to stand what she saw as Jiang Che’s spinelessness, she spoke bluntly.
"Junior Brother Jiang, we’re neighbors, so let me give you some advice as your senior sister. The most important thing on the path of Cultivation is to *compete*! This is especially true for people like us, who don’t have a family to support us. If you don’t compete, you get nothing! Do you think that by yielding at every turn, people will think kindly of you? You’re dead wrong! They’ll only look down on you and think you’re weak and easy to bully! I’ve said all I’m going to say. The rest is up to you."
With that, she turned and left.
The remaining four looked at each other, and Yan Hanpeng’s face flushed red, then went pale. The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Mu Jun stepped in to smooth things over. "Junior Sister Yun is just very direct. Don’t take it to heart, Junior Brother Jiang."
Jiang Che smiled. "It’s fine. Senior Sister Yun meant well. Oh, right, I just remembered I have something to take care of, so I’ll be leaving first!"
He then took out a small gold ingot and handed it to Mu Jun.
"Senior Brother Mu, this is for my share of the meal. Farewell!"
He cupped his fists to the others and also turned to leave.
The remaining three were left in an awkward position, unsure whether to continue eating. It wasn’t long before they too went their separate ways.
...
Jiang Che returned home and immediately began his Cultivation.
The dinner with his neighbors had made him realize that all this talk of being neighbors and building camaraderie was just a pretense.
They just wanted to feel him out. Once they saw he had no value to them, their attitudes cooled considerably.
Jiang Che had also figured out that Mu Jun’s real reason for organizing the dinner was Yun Weiwei.
As for him and Yan Hanpeng, they were merely there to round out the group.
But the guy was insatiable; he also had his eyes on Shu Yaxin.
Jiang Che was certain that a man like that would never win Yun Weiwei’s favor.
Although Yun Weiwei came from a common background, she was incredibly proud. She wouldn’t be impressed by him just because of his status as a Noble Young Master.
All in all, Jiang Che didn’t have a good impression of any of them.
Mu Jun was a lecherous hypocrite. Shu Yaxin was a social climber. Yan Hanpeng appeared simple and honest, but he was actually shrewd and calculating.
As for Yun Weiwei, she always had a sour look on her face and never minced her words.
But at least she was direct and didn’t seem to have any hidden agendas.
Jiang Che didn’t particularly like her either, but compared to the other three, she was at least somewhat normal.
Still, Jiang Che had no intention of befriending her.
He had come to understand one thing clearly: on the path of Cultivation, what mattered most was one’s own power.
He couldn’t help but recall a famous saying from his past life:
"A beast of prey walks alone, while cattle and sheep flock together."
Jiang Che pushed these thoughts aside and began to focus on assimilating the Qi Blood he had gained from eating the Iron-Horned Deer.
However, two hours later, Jiang Che opened his eyes, his face etched with confusion.
He found that despite his abundant Qi Blood, less than half of it was being converted into Strength!
A large amount of Qi Blood remained in his body, stubbornly refusing to be converted into Strength!
He tried various other methods, but all of them failed.
’What is going on?’
He was completely stumped.
’Forget it. I’d better go ask someone.’
He counted the days. In three days, it would be Yunhai Courtyard’s monthly Cultivation progress assessment.
It would be the perfect opportunity to ask his Eldest Senior Brother or his Master.
...
「Three days later.」
「Yunhai Courtyard.」
The training courtyard before the main hall.
Xu Qingshan sat cross-legged, hovering above the steps of the hall.
The disciples stood respectfully below, waiting to be called forward one by one to have their Cultivation progress assessed.
The first to step forward was the Eldest Senior Brother, Xiao Mingqian.
He walked up and bowed respectfully. Xu Qingshan nodded and took his wrist.
After a moment of assessment, Xu Qingshan frowned. "Why is your progress so slow?"
Xiao Mingqian replied helplessly, "I have done my best, but my Qi Blood simply won’t increase..."
Xu Qingshan asked, "How long have you been stuck at Bone Forging Great Success?"
Xiao Mingqian gave a bitter smile. "Master, it’s been five years."
Xu Qingshan was frustrated. "At this rate, I’m afraid you won’t even reach the Refining Organ stage by the time you’re forty, let alone Refining Spirit!"
Xiao Mingqian lowered his head, not daring to answer.
Xu Qingshan sighed. "Never mind. I will find a way to procure a Primordial Marrow Pill for you."
Xiao Mingqian’s eyes lit up at his words. "Thank you, Master!"
Xu Qingshan waved his hand, dismissing him.
Next to step forward was a young woman in her early twenties. She had a valiant air about her, and her posture was as straight and proud as an unsheathed Treasure Sword.
A smile appeared on Xu Qingshan’s face when he saw her.
He nodded. "Bihe, it’s been some time. It seems you’ve made progress again."
This was none other than the Second Senior Sister of Yunhai Courtyard, Lin Bihe.
Lin Bihe performed the disciple’s salute. "I had a sudden insight during my training a few days ago and broke through a small bottleneck."
Xu Qingshan’s smile widened. Breaking through a bottleneck with insight alone, without relying on external aids, was only possible for someone whose Root Bone and Comprehension were both of the highest caliber.
He then took Lin Bihe’s wrist. After a moment of careful assessment, he beamed. "Mid-stage of Refining Organ!"
The disciples below immediately erupted in an uproar.
To have reached the Mid-stage of Refining Organ before the age of thirty was a feat achieved by only a handful of people in the entire Cangyun Sect!
In the back row of the crowd, Jiang Che watched Lin Bihe and thought,
’So this is the genius Second Senior Sister? She truly is one of a kind. I wonder how she’d fare in a fight...’
He pictured her as a potential opponent, wondering what his chances would be against her after his Transformation into the Black Armor.
However, since Lin Bihe wasn’t directing any killing intent at him, the Omen couldn’t show him the outcome.
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