Origin Paradise!

Within the Demonic Sect's ranks, Elder Du Nan spoke up to inquire, but Yin Shengzi shook his head. He stepped forward, his figure soaring into the air, leaping onto the nearby Guocheng Jianshui River.

Dao Chi leaped after him and unleashed a bolt of lightning with a single, light leap.

The two sides only exchanged a few rounds of matches, yet they attracted the attention and cheers of countless people.

On the street crowded with onlookers, Zhuang Ya kept stuffing meat into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a hamster holding a nut.

Jiang He put the bowl back, but the stall owner had already disappeared. People from the surrounding area had gathered at the Jian Riverbank.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

On the roadside, an elderly beggar roared with red eyes, his gaze fixed on the fight on the river like a hungry wolf, while occasionally pounding his own head with his fist.

Jiang He pulled Zhuang Ya away a bit; this old madman was actually a top-grade martial artist.

"Orochi, he's a bit strong."

"More than that, you and he are not in the same league in terms of combat strength."

Jiang He walked towards Jubaolou in the city center of the night. The names of these commercial Jianghu organizations are very down-to-earth. Just like Rouge Tower has beautiful women and Misty Rain Tower has assassins, Jubaolou also has rare and precious materials, especially important branches like Daming Prefecture.

The fight was still going on on Jianshui. The duel between the two prodigies was quite rare, and even the branch manager of Jubaolou came out to watch.

"Greetings, Lord."

Upon seeing the newcomer, the host immediately clasped his hands in greeting. As a recently rising star, anyone who didn't know this Duke of Pingluan could basically be said to have left the ranks of first-rate powers.

"I'm here to buy some things, mainly top-quality ginseng."

The poster reluctantly turned his head away. He didn't want to give up watching, but it would be too much of an insult to the lord to have the transaction take place at the entrance.

Just as the two entered Jubao Tower, a bamboo pole floated down from the river. A tall, burly man stomped on the bamboo pole, splashing the river water several meters high on both sides. He then punched the two prodigies with both fists, his inner strength and true energy forming a fist imprint the size of a millstone. He was clearly a grandmaster.

Yin Shengzi and Dao Chi were forced to join forces against the enemy.

"General Hao's skill has improved greatly again, and he has probably reached the ninth rank. The Great Millstone Fist in the army is easy to learn but difficult to master. This time, the tenth place in the world may have to be changed." The Treasure Pavilion Master praised repeatedly.

Jiang He took the roster from the shopkeeper. According to the "Martial Laws" issued by the Great Qian Dynasty a hundred years ago, the upper, middle and lower grades were further divided into nine ranks. At first, people in the martial arts world thought it was unnecessary and redundant. However, as time went by, the more detailed division did have some positive effect on the increase in the number of lower-rank martial artists. But in general, experts usually didn't care about the "Martial Laws".

Zhuang Ya waited quietly to the side, her stomach rumbling as she quickly digested the chicken, duck, and fish she had eaten.

Jiang He browsed the roster. The Jianchi Mountains in Yizhou were rich in ginseng, with a huge output, which caused the price of ginseng to plummet. At the same time, ginseng was also a controlled item of the Anbei Governor's Office. Once it flowed out of the territory, it would be subject to heavy taxes. The imperial court did not care about this and even secretly supported it. After all, ginseng was a commonly used tonic for military men. Its high price in other states affected the interests of many people.

As a consequence of unilaterally increasing taxes, the Anbei Governor's Office had to pay a large amount of top-quality ginseng to the imperial court every year.

"A ginseng with the medicinal properties of a hundred years, twenty taels of silver?" Jiang He asked in surprise. Even though he had expected it, the price still surprised him.

The owner of Jubaolou smiled helplessly and said, "Lord, don't think it's too expensive. Although ginseng grows quickly in the Jianchi Mountains, it still takes twenty years to go in. If it's too cheap, our goods won't be able to keep up with the outflow during that time. Of course, I can give it to you for free."

The owner of Jubao Tower has a casual attitude, while the Duke of Pingluan is deeply embroiled in a vortex. However, because his combat strength is somewhat unfathomable, all parties are speculating and estimating his abilities.

Based on his age, social standing, and combined power, he could do this deal, but he didn't really want to cause trouble. Whether to pursue a long-term, in-depth transaction was up to this Earl himself.

Jiang He raised an eyebrow; this guy seemed to be taking things as they come.

“A disciple of a Grandmaster, or even a member of the royal family.”

"A half-baked江湖人 (jianghu person, perhaps)?" Jubaolouzhu smiled without saying a word.

“I want a thousand,” Jiang He said.

The owner of Jubao Tower's smile vanished abruptly.

Are you here to cause trouble?

The owner of Jubaolou said with a headache, "My lord, we do have some here, but these things are easy to sell. Selling so many at once is equivalent to cutting off this business. It's not just a matter of accounts. The number of martial artists who come to patronize us will definitely decrease sharply. After the news gets out, many martial artists may not choose Jubaolou to buy other things. Right now, it's the Sword Debate Tournament, and there are martial artists everywhere. This loss of customer traffic is too great."

Jiang He dusted off her crimson robe.

Jubao Louzhu rolled his eyes. "Okay, I was just saying. I don't really care whether I make money or not."

Jiang He suspected that this guy was a player; "customer traffic" was a term that didn't sound like an ancient expression.

Half an hour later, several workers carried in a large box. Zhuang Ya went forward and hugged it, but her head was completely hidden from view from the front.

"This little girl seems a bit slow and silly," the owner of Jubaolou teased.

Do you think you're very smart?

Jiang He frowned.

The owner of Jubao Tower raised his hands in surrender. He had thought she was a maid or concubine, since he had never heard of such a noblewoman in Daming Prefecture.

After the money and goods were exchanged, Jiang He led Zhuang Ya away.

“Big snake, I can understand, but I don’t feel anything. The people of White Snake Village are all dead. I know I should take revenge, but I’m not really sad.”

From a distance, it looks like a large, long-legged box that can move is talking.

"Even without preschool education, I can just send you to school whenever I have time," Jiang He said nonchalantly.

"I don't understand," Zhuang Ya replied crisply.

"You'll be surprised if you understand what I'm saying."

Chapter 128 The Second Serious and Xiao Cheng

midnight.

Jiang He returned to the Earl's Mansion from the night market by horse-drawn carriage.

The maids and servants had already gone to sleep, and Steward Wu went to the Wangfu Chamber of Commerce overnight and returned with three thousand taels of silver notes.

Jiang He only took two thousand taels and instructed Steward Wu to prepare the banquet at the restaurant the next morning. That one thousand taels was the expenditure, and his reserves were restored to nearly six thousand taels. In fact, Zhuang Ya spent twenty taels of silver on eating and drinking at the night market.

Back in the bedroom, Zhuang Ya transformed back into her white snake form, crawled to the corner of the bed, curled up, and went to sleep.

Jiang He sat cross-legged. With an ample supply of ginseng, he no longer hesitated to use the bloodstone. He ate ten of them in one go and immediately refined them with the Withered Heart Sutra.

A life force equivalent to a hundred days' lifespan flows from the limbs and bones, and the progress of the second level of the Heart Sutra of Withering and Flourishing is rising steadily, with energy rushing and surging through the meridians.

This alarming rate of growth gradually became unbearable for the meridians, but fortunately, the advanced self-healing continued to work, preventing the person from suffering the fate of having all their meridians severed.

The profound energy was activated, and time flew by.

Five hours later, the second legitimate route was successfully established.

[Hint: Your energy level +100]

[Energy Value: 1801]

[Hint: Rare Skill Quantity Trait - Wither, deals 3% → 6% additional Wither damage]

On the bed, Jiang He opened her eyes, pressed her hands down from her chest, and as the external movements prompted her, the internal energy circulation ended, and a distinct feeling of dizziness returned.

After resting for a quarter of an hour, Jiang He exhaled a breath of turbid air. The effects of the ten Aphid Bloodstones were extremely significant. A complete cultivation session opened up a proper meridian. He still had forty-nine stones on hand, which would be enough for a short time. As for the thousand hundred-year-old ginseng roots, they had been placed in his inventory bag to be used as snacks.

The sky outside the window is about to brighten.

Jiang He reached out and pulled the little white snake over.

"They've been practicing."

"Big snake, I'm sleepy," Zhuang Ya replied groggily.

"alright."

Jiang He casually placed her on the pillow. Without a training partner, he could still cultivate using other methods.

The Sacred Iron External Skill is a compilation of nine Iron-generation martial arts techniques. Its quality is not yet up to the excellent level corresponding to a Grandmaster, and it is currently only at the high-grade level.

By damaging the physical body, energy permeates it and achieves a deep fusion, thus gaining a tough defense when activated. Its greatest advantage is that it does not consume energy, and the duration depends on physical strength.

In certain extremely harsh environments, this martial art can provide basic yet effective protection.

Jiang He raised her hand, and a drop of corrosive energy flowed from her fingertip, resembling a dark red water droplet.

As the possessor of energy, the power of corruption cannot harm oneself under normal circumstances, but this is just the case.

Jiang He relaxed his mind, and the extremely dangerous drop of water immediately corroded his finger.

"The difference lies in the judgment of will."

Advanced self-healing is activated in succession, white bones proliferate, meridians and blood vessels extend and intertwine, flesh and blood grow, and the epidermis is covered. During this period, a trace of energy runs through the acupoints of the Holy Iron External Kung Fu, taking the opportunity to infiltrate the body.

[Sacred Iron External Skill Progress: 21%]

Jiang He followed the same method, corroding his hands, arms, and shoulders in turn. Compared to striking with the back of a knife, this method was undoubtedly much faster. He hadn't chosen it before because the pain was too intense, to the point that it wasn't cost-effective.

The morning sun rises outside the window.

Time passed, and the sun rose higher and higher.

[Sacred Iron External Skill Progress: 99%]

As Jiang He's eyes gradually recovered from the corrosion, the progress reached 100%.

[Name: Holy Iron External Kung Fu]

[Category: Cultivation Techniques]

[Quality: Rare]

[Effect: Holy Iron state is partially completed; when activated, the body gains low-level toughness]

[Note: Body like iron, tough as steel]

[Hint: Your constitution +1]

[Constitution: 10+2→11+2]

Jiang He activated the Holy Iron state, and a layer of dark and deep light appeared on the surface of his body, like putting on a seamless suit of armor. During the entire cultivation process, only his perineum was numb; the rest was just simple pain.

"The maximum duration of the Holy Iron state is roughly six hours, but you can't use all your energy on it. In the current situation, an ordinary person wielding a sword would have to use all their strength to break through the defense."

Jiang He dispelled his external martial arts, and a knock sounded on the bedroom door.

"My lord, you must depart now," said Steward Wu.

……

Daming Prefecture, Chuyao Tower.

When Jiang He arrived here by carriage, the courtesan was leading a song and dance performance in the restaurant.

As one of the largest restaurants in Daming Prefecture, Chuyaolou, as its name suggests, is famous for the graceful and charming waists of the women who sing.

The building is eight stories high, with walls-like pavilions on all four sides. Accompanied by the consul, Jiang He ascends each floor, looking down to see courtesans dancing and singing girls on the first floor.

Upon reaching the top floor, the view is exceptionally expansive. The Jian River flows eastward, offering a panoramic view of the entire city. In the distance, the majestic Jianchi Mountain Range lies horizontally, resembling a colossal beast. Above, the heavy, dark clouds of Shenlingtian have remained for millennia. On the other side of the Jianchi Mountain Range lies a thousand-foot abyss, where falling in would surely result in certain death.

“Sir, there’s no reason for the guests to arrive first.”

The banquet was ready amidst the four beams and eight pillars. Princess Anbei was still dressed in a simple Taoist robe, her face veiled in white gauze.

Jiang He looked down from the railing and saw a young man in white standing downstairs. It was undoubtedly the eldest son of the Yan family.

"Which spy is from the Prince of Anbei's mansion?"

The princess chuckled: "You're young, so the Prince's mansion is preparing a slightly older, plump woman. Of course, I can't get involved in these internal affairs for now. Right now, Madam Chen has the final say on the inner quarters and the spies. If the concubine weren't surnamed Yan, she probably would have fallen into a well long ago."

Jiang He said calmly, "Your Highness is really living a very stifling life."

“There’s nothing we can do.” The princess spread her hands. “Even if the Anbei army were twice as many, that Grand Eunuch in the palace could still take the prince’s life. That Grandmaster is the best assassin in the world. He can make four governors submit to him single-handedly. The prince didn’t believe in such things before, which is why the heir died.”

While the two were chatting, the eldest son of the Yan family went up to the top floor.

"This humble subject greets Your Excellency and Princess."

Jiang He remained calm. Logically speaking, this eldest son was unable to participate in the imperial examination due to illness, did not go to the capital to receive imperial favor, and refused all kinds of gifts. At this moment, he was indeed a commoner. However, as the eldest grandson of the Yan family, it would be an insult to others to call him a commoner before the family fell.

Moreover, this guy is very likely a grandmaster.

Jiang He's expression remained unchanged as he secretly canceled his active skill, Eye of the Beast. Through this ordinary skill, he could gain the vision of the target animal. The Grandmaster's visual reaction speed far exceeded that of a mid-level martial artist, and so far, there had been no misjudgments.

The eldest son of the Yan family is clearly of an abnormal level, even surpassing the young prodigies.

"I hope you two aren't really here for dinner."

The princess smiled gently: "His Highness only asked me to ask one thing: was the military advisor from the North City Commandery yesterday a barbarian?"

"Perhaps subjectively," Jiang He replied indifferently.

Chapter 129 Assassins of the Misty Rain Pavilion