Martial Saint with Passives

Especially Gu Qingxuan’s sword, so pure it was sublime—every draw, every slash, seemed to cleave through some kind of mist, giving him a deeper, albeit vague, sense of the Martial Dao!

An irrepressible excitement spread from the depths of his heart, even causing his fingertips to tremble slightly.

It was not fear, but a yearning that stemmed from his very martial instinct!

Although at this moment, the gap between him and the figure shining brilliantly on the stage was as wide as the heavens and earth.

But a duel between experts of this caliber ignited an infinite longing in the depths of his heart for a higher Realm and greater strength!

He yearned for the day when he, too, could stand on such a stage and have a thoroughly satisfying battle against such an opponent!

The grand competition came to an end, and the dust settled.

Next was the lecture session, led by Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi, Vice Sect Leader Xie Songnian, and the deans and Elders of the various schools.

Jiang Che listened with extreme focus, trying to commit every word to memory and comprehend the profound principles.

However, he noticed that many of the senior brothers and sisters around him seemed rather listless, and some even muttered under their breath:

"Ugh, the same old platitudes again. I’ve heard this a hundred times; there’s nothing new."

Jiang Che was a bit speechless upon hearing this, but he understood. For those who had heard it many times, perhaps it really was like that.

But to him, who was hearing it for the first time, every word was a pearl of wisdom.

By the time the Elders finished their lectures, the sun was setting.

A sumptuous banquet had already been laid out in the square to reward everyone.

Jiang Che sat with a few other disciples who were also stuck at the Force Integration Realm.

After a few cups of fine wine, the atmosphere gradually livened up, though it was inevitably tinged with a bit of melancholy.

"Sigh, the deadline is almost here, and I still can’t even touch the threshold of the Bone Forging Realm." A senior brother with a troubled expression sighed. "If I keep this up, I’ll completely drain my family’s savings. I can’t just freeload in the Sect forever."

"That’s right," another senior brother chimed in, his tone helpless. "The Sect is great, but it’s not a place we can stay forever. I’m planning to leave after this Inquiry Conference and go to a distant cousin of mine. He runs a business in the south; maybe I can find a job as a guard or a steward."

"I’m thinking of trying my luck at the Four Seas Commerce Association’s Escort Agency. I heard the pay is decent, but it’s hard work—a life on the edge."

"I want to go back to my hometown. It’s a small place without many experts. With my Cultivation at the Force Integration Realm, it shouldn’t be hard to open a Martial Arts Hall, take on some disciples, and live a peaceful life."

The men discussed their various prospects after leaving the Sect, one after another, and the atmosphere grew a little somber.

Someone turned to the silent Jiang Che and asked, "Junior Brother Jiang, what about you? Any plans? I heard you’ve performed a Dissipating Energy..."

The sentence was left unfinished, but the meaning was clear, tinged with a hint of barely perceptible pity.

Jiang Che lifted his cup, took a sip, and smiled. His tone was calm. "I’m not in a hurry. Let’s wait and see. What if I manage to break through?"

"Junior Brother Jiang, you have such a great attitude!" someone said reassuringly. "It’s a shame about the Dissipating Skill, but with your outstanding combat Ability, you might really find an opportunity to break through."

Despite their words, the others at the table didn’t actually think much of his chances.

They knew perfectly well how difficult the path was after performing a Dissipating Skill.

The banquet ended, and people left in twos and threes.

On his way back to his quarters, Jiang Che happened to run into Mu Jun, Shu Yaxin, Yan Hanpeng, and Yun Weiwei, who all lived nearby.

Mu Jun had evidently heard about Jiang Che killing Ba Hui. He took the initiative to approach, his face plastered with an enthusiastic smile:

"Junior Brother Jiang, congratulations, congratulations! I heard you did something big again the other day? Truly hiding your light under a bushel!"

His words carried the unique sense of superiority common to Noble Family Members. Though he was trying to win Jiang Che over, his tone had a condescending, appraising quality.

"With your kind of strength, Junior Brother, what are your future plans? My family runs a sizable Escort Agency in the south of the city, and we’re in need of an expert with rich combat experience like you to hold down the fort. If you’re interested, when you leave the Sect in the future, why not give it some thought? As for compensation, the Mu Family will never treat its own brothers poorly."

He deliberately emphasized "its own brothers," extending an olive branch.

Jiang Che had no interest in this sort of recruitment, which felt like a handout. He cupped his hands in a gesture that was neither servile nor arrogant.

"I appreciate Senior Brother Mu’s kind intentions. For now, I have no desire to consider such things. I only wish to focus on my cultivation." His tone was level yet firm.

The smile on Mu Jun’s face stiffened for a moment before returning to normal. "Haha, fine. To each his own. If you change your mind, Junior Brother, you can come find me anytime."

But a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

Shu Yaxin, meanwhile, was holding onto Mu Jun’s arm. She gave Jiang Che a polite nod before turning her gaze gently back to Mu Jun, clearly having little interest in this "tactless" neighbor.

Mu Jun’s pursuit of Yun Weiwei had been unsuccessful, so he had ended up with Shu Yaxin.

Beside them, Yan Hanpeng looked at Jiang Che and muttered to himself:

’This Jiang Che, he really doesn’t know what’s good for him! The Mu Family is a major power in Cangzhou Prefecture. Countless people would kill for a connection like that! But him? He just rejected it outright. For someone who has performed a Dissipating Energy, breaking through to Bone Forging is as hard as ascending to heaven. Staying in the Sect is just a waste of time. I really don’t know what he’s thinking!’

Of course, he maintained a simple, honest smile on his face, not revealing a hint of his thoughts.

Then, he glanced at Mu Jun, then at the affectionate Shu Yaxin beside him, a flash of unconcealable envy crossing his eyes.

It was Yun Weiwei who, surprisingly, took the initiative to speak.

She glanced at Jiang Che, her tone as mild as ever, but it lacked some of its usual iciness.

"To break through to the Late-stage of Force Integration so quickly after performing a Dissipating Skill shows that you have an extremely high affinity with your Cultivation Technique. The damage to your foundation is a fact, but it doesn’t necessarily mean your path is cut off. If you consolidate your current Realm and proceed steadily, aiming for Bone Forging is not entirely hopeless."