novelraw Chapter 242: Achievement in 《Xuanwu Art》
Chapter 242: Achievement in 《Xuanwu Art》
Zhang Ye discovered that Wangchuan was truly ruthless!
The porridge stall, the banner, and the loud proclamations had effectively dragged all the Beggar Sect disciples in Hejiang Town onto a public stage, where every passerby could mock them.
The truly helpless—the elderly, the weak, women, and children—might not care. They could eat and sleep at the gates of the Sanjiang Branch Helm every day without shame. But Beggar Sect disciples valued their pride!
They could endure it for a meal… perhaps for two days…
But over time—
With so many people pointing fingers, with fellow Jianghu figures laughing at them, the number of those who remained there began to dwindle rapidly.
Even Zhang Ye himself was beginning to lose his nerve.
Because indeed, some people, for the sake of survival, had tried to join the Caobang and become dock laborers unloading cargo, fighting for a stable income.
Seeing fewer and fewer people by his side, Zhang Ye knew that if the other party truly poached all the able-bodied men from the Sanhe Commandery Sub-Branch, the gang leader would abolish the Sanhe Commandery Sub-Branch without hesitation! In a fury, he ordered the Beggar Sect disciples to disperse, sending everyone back to their original territories. He himself slunk away from Hejiang Town in disgrace.
He did not get the fifteen hundred taels of silver he demanded!And he had thoroughly lost face.
Although Wangchuan had spent some money before and after, he had recruited more than twenty able-bodied men, several of whom possessed the strength of Quasi-Martial Artists. It was a clear profit.
As order returned to the dock plaza of the Sanjiang Branch Helm, Wangchuan went back to his cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed!
The experience value of 《Xuanwu Art》 reached 172/300.
He found an opportunity to visit the Prefectural Government.
From Old Seven, he learned that the Caobang, in coordination with the Six Gates, had made significant progress in their operation against the Crimson Pavilion.
Seventeen ordinary assassins of the Crimson Pavilion were either killed or captured;
Three Bronze-Ranked assassins were surrounded and executed by the Six Gates;
One Silver-Ranked assassin was apprehended in the Capital!
The Crimson Pavilion had suffered grievous losses.
Old Seven told him:
For a time now, there had been no news of Crimson Pavilion assassins in the Jianghu;
The Crimson Pavilion’s actions against the authorities and the Caobang seemed to have completely ceased!
Whether they had been frightened by the heavy losses;
Or whether they could not withstand the imperial court’s offensive and had fled overseas to lie low.
In the end, Old Seven commended him:
“I have heard about your clash with the Beggar Sect’s sub-branch.”
“The Beggar Sect has always liked to use dock business to threaten us, squeezing gold and silver from the various branch helms, eating and drinking for free. Over time, they truly began to think that our Caobang needed to pay them tribute. They have grown increasingly arrogant, and their appetite ever larger.”
“You handled the conflict at the Sanjiang Branch Helm well. You taught Zhang Ye a lesson and struck a warning to the Beggar Sect, setting an example for the other branch helms!”
“Many thanks for your praise, Old Seven.”
Wangchuan remained humble.
Old Seven sighed.
“It is a pity.”
“The helm leaders of the other three branch helms have already grown accustomed to lying flat. They would rather spend a little money to keep their docks running normally. They will not adopt your method.”
Wangchuan only smiled and said nothing.
“By the way.”
“How has your cultivation been lately?”
Old Seven asked, “Your aura seems longer and steadier than before. Are you cultivating 《Xuanwu Art》?”
“Old Seven truly has sharp eyes. Nothing escapes your notice.”
“《Xuanwu Art》 is the foundation of our Caobang. I have seen many practice it. For you to show results in such a short time is quite impressive.”
“Practice diligently. I believe that one day, you will rise above the rest in the Caobang.”
Old Seven clearly held high expectations for him.
“Thank you, Old Seven! I will cultivate diligently and not disappoint your expectations.”
After taking his leave, he made a trip to the Armory Manual Vault, browsed through Third-Rank martial arts manuals, and selected a staff technique, 《Overturning Rivers and Seas Staff》, to make up for his lack of strength-based techniques.
He then returned to the branch helm.
And continued cultivating 《Xuanwu Art》.
Since the Crimson Pavilion had gone into hiding, it was the perfect opportunity to focus on training and push 《Xuanwu Art》 to “Practice Makes Perfect.”
Sanjiang Branch Helm.
Daily affairs were busy.
But with Wang Yuehui, Chen Ergou, and Zhao Heiniu handling matters, and Li Qing keeping watch outside, Wangchuan had assembled a complete team to manage the branch helm’s operations. He became a thorough hands-off shopkeeper, strolling around once a day to check in, and spending the rest of his time immersed in cultivating 《Xuanwu Art》.
Another half month passed…
Under Zhao Heiniu’s training, the Sanjiang Branch Helm had cultivated more than a dozen full-fledged Martial Artists. The number of official Martial Artists at the branch helm had increased to sixty-two;
The reserve disciples had grown from just over three hundred to four hundred!
After turning in fifty percent of its profits to the hall, the branch helm retained a net monthly income of one thousand two hundred taels of gold.
The gold notes accumulated in Wangchuan’s possession had surpassed six thousand five hundred taels.
In the midst of his tranquil cultivation life, a breakthrough finally arrived.
“Ding!”
System Notification:
“《Xuanwu Art》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: +2 Stamina, +2 Spirit.”
In that instant, Wangchuan felt the inner breath in his dantian suddenly swell. From a thread as thick as a finger, it condensed and expanded into something the size of a small mouse.
Under compression, that “small mouse” raced swiftly through his meridians. The speed of circulating a Major Heavenly Cycle clearly increased.
At the same time—
He could also feel that as the realm of 《Xuanwu Art》 advanced, his meridians were strengthened. Power filled his muscles and bones, and a more distinct current of Qi seemed to circulate around the surface of his body, bringing a stronger and more reliable sense of security.
Wangchuan’s heart filled with joy.
He circulated his inner breath through several more Major Heavenly Cycles before opening his eyes and stepping out of the bathing pool.
He logged into 《spirit realm》 and summoned his Status Panel:
Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 72/100)
(Life Profession: Blacksmith)
(Combat Profession: Second-Rank Martial Artist)
Strength 41; Attack 13–14;
Agility 45; Defense 9; Speed +45;
Stamina 47; HP 470/470;
Spirit 12; Internal Power 120/120.
Free Attributes: 5 (Assignable)
(Cultivation Methods Folded)
He tapped open the detailed attributes of 《Xuanwu Art》:
Xuanwu Art: Practice Makes Perfect
At the current realm: temporarily increases Stamina cap by 8 points; increases HP cap by 80; increases personal Defense by 20%; increases Body-Protection Defense by 30%; increases Attack by 20%;
Next Realm: Entry-Level Mastery
At the next realm: temporarily increases Stamina cap by 12 points; increases HP cap by 120; increases personal Defense by 30%; increases Body-Protection Defense by 40%; increases Attack by 30%;
“A 20% increase to personal Defense makes it 10.8; a 30% increase to Body-Protection Defense gives 13 Defense on the torso and 11.7 on the limbs. My overall Defense now ranges between 22.5 and 23.8.”
“A 20% increase to Attack!”
“If I use a Third-Rank martial art—assuming 60 Attack—it would increase by… 12 points!”
A smile appeared in Wangchuan’s eyes. He was deeply satisfied with the results of nearly two months of hard cultivation:
With just one 《Xuanwu Art》, his Defense rose from 19 to 23.8—equivalent to half an extra suit of Chainmail Armor; and with 12 additional Attack, it was like wielding another weapon.
With one gain and one enhancement, among martial artists of the same rank, he could be considered to have entered the veteran stage. He could now cultivate Third-Rank martial arts, stack attributes, and aim for the realm of a Third-Rank Martial Artist.