Chapter 106: The Master's Assessment

Next, Yang Xing purchased a small courtyard on the outskirts of the Four Absolutes Sect. Many disciples’ families of the Four Absolutes lived there, and it was very close to the sect itself, making it quite safe.

Madam Zhang’s eyes lit up when she saw the private courtyard, and she could not speak highly enough of her prospective son-in-law. After all, compared to Chunfeng Alley or Mazi Alley, this place was worlds apart—no gang would dare come here to collect protection money.

That night, everyone gathered for a lively dinner. Aunt Zhang cleared her throat and said, “Aunt Chen, since Yang Xing does not plan to take this year’s martial examination, shouldn’t the marriage be settled soon?”

Passing the martial imperial examination granted one a military post and access to cultivation resources. Now that Yang Xing was with the Four Absolutes Sect, he naturally had no need to rely on the military. Moreover, the spots for this year’s examination had long been divided up—this was the real inside story. People in small towns still foolishly hoped to advance through merit, unaware that the channels for promotion had already been blocked, leaving only a glimmer of hope.

Yang Xing suspected that Liu Chengfeng’s top-ten success in the martial exams was not only due to his strength but also powerful backing. Unless one reached the Dan Energy level, connections were essential.

Madam Chen smiled and nodded, “Alright, tomorrow I will find a diviner to choose an auspicious day based on the children’s birth charts.”

Madam Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief. The two women then began chatting idly, as if endless topics of daily life awaited them.

Zhao Tiezhu, taciturn as ever, ate a bite and sipped his wine quietly.

Yang Xing took Zhao Yuniang’s hand and said, “Let’s take a walk outside.”

“Mm,” she replied, nodding.

Moonlight poured like water, flowing endlessly. The two walked side by side along the clean, tidy street. Zhao Yuniang surveyed the unfamiliar surroundings and instinctively gripped Yang Xing’s hand, sighing, “This place is even better than the inner city of Liyang County.”

Yang Xing gently squeezed her delicate hand. “Yuniang, you’ve grown thinner.”

“Brother Xing, I’m not afraid of anything, not even death, but I’m terrified of never seeing you again.”

Zhao Yuniang lifted her head; her exquisite face still bore the traces of tears, like a pear blossom glistening with morning dew—fragile and heart-rending. Her eyes were like a pool of autumn water, veiled with mist, resembling distant mountains shrouded in rain, elusive and unclear.

Yet beneath that hazy veil lay a profound fear and helplessness, as if she had just emerged from a terrible nightmare.

Yang Xing looked at her with pain and pulled her into his arms. Leaning against him, she felt his warmth and comfort, her body gradually relaxing, ceasing to tremble.

After a long moment, she pulled away and noticed Yang Xing staring blankly at the ground. “Brother Xing, what are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at the shadows,” he whispered.

She glanced down as well. Moonlight cast two shadows on the ground.

Yang Xing smiled, “One is me, and the other is also me.”

“Brother Xing, since when did you become so slick?”

Her face flushed a deep red, as if bleeding.

...

The next day, Madam Chen and Madam Zhang found a diviner who chose the wedding date: the eighth day of the eighth month.

The days that followed grew peaceful.

Zhao Yuniang went to help at the mistress’s pharmacy and took the opportunity to learn medicine.

Zhao Tiezhu, restless, became a fisherman on the Suiyang River that ran through the city. He left early every morning and returned only after dark. Madam Zhang grumbled but could do nothing, as every time Zhao Tiezhu went out, it was supposedly to support the family.

Yang Xing spent most of his time training martial arts—by day practicing hard skills like Iron Shirt Technique and Iron Lotus, and by night cultivating the Black Tortoise Scripture.

Five months later, early summer arrived. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground. A gentle breeze rustled the trees.

Yang Xing sat cross-legged on his bed, silently reciting the Black Tortoise Scripture. The energy and blood coursed through his limbs and bones, his mind becoming clear and lucid.

Cultivating Dan Energy meant drawing the hidden energy into the dantian, transforming it into Qi energy.

Qi energy, when released outward, could harm enemies; when gathered inward, it nourished the body.

Reaching Dan Energy was a qualitative leap.

In the martial world, it was said that only masters with Dan Energy truly entered the inner sanctum.

Within the Four Absolutes Sect, only those who reached Dan Energy were permitted to handle sect affairs.

To attain Dan Energy, one must cultivate and gather Qi and blood, using them to draw all hidden energy into the dantian.

Two steps were the most arduous: one was cultivating sufficient Qi and blood, for only ample vitality could guide the hidden energy’s convergence.

Boom!

After more than half a year of cultivation, Yang Xing’s energy and blood had grown daily. Now, as he operated the Black Tortoise Scripture, his Qi and blood even began to boil.

His vital force surged like a flood—boundless power roiling within, radiating a formidable aura, like a beast lurking in the wilds.

[Black Tortoise Scripture Level One (19,000/20,000): Ten practices a day, diligence overcomes lack of talent; mastery within a year, proficiency within three.]

“Phew!” Yang Xing exhaled a breath of stale air. “Now that my energy and blood have reached their peak, the final step awaits.”

Cultivating Qi and blood was not difficult; the hardest part was gathering hidden energy into the dantian.

To ordinary people, this was the “mystical gate.”

But for Yang Xing, this so-called gate did not exist.

Compared to the rapid progress with the Black Tortoise Scripture, his Iron Shirt Technique advanced more slowly, still some distance from the fourth level, the Myriad Phenomena.

After tidying up, Yang Xing changed into a black training suit and stepped out of the house.

Today was special.

Huang Zhen, head of the Black Tortoise Courtyard, unprecedentedly planned to assess the progress of every inner courtyard disciple.

All inner disciples of the Black Tortoise Courtyard were to gather punctually at the Black Tortoise Pavilion at the hour of Wei.

When Yang Xing arrived, most of the disciples had already assembled.

In the past six months, besides Guo Cuicui, the Black Tortoise Courtyard had accepted a new disciple named Wang Dong, said to possess superior innate bones and excellent comprehension. He often followed Lu Shaoyou around, becoming his shadow.

At that moment, Guo Cuicui chatted casually with Yu Baoquan and several others, Lu Shaoyou was lecturing Wang Dong on something, and several female disciples gathered around Second Senior Sister Shao Qiujun.

The three Dan Energy disciples of the Black Tortoise Courtyard naturally attracted attention, forming distinct cliques.

Yang Xing casually found a seat and sat down.

“Why do you think Master wants to check our cultivation this time?” one disciple asked.

“Rumor has it that the sect master is about to emerge from seclusion! Other branches have seen experts appear frequently over the years, but our Black Tortoise line has been silent. They want to see how we’ve progressed.”

“The sect master is really coming out of seclusion!?”

...

Hearing this, Yang Xing’s heart stirred.

The sect master of the Four Absolutes Sect was named Xi Yanzheng, known in the martial world as ‘Holder of Sun and Moon,’ one of the three great masters of Hezhong Prefecture. Yet he had long secluded himself in cultivation, rarely managing sect affairs.