Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 112 Daring to Insult My Master? You're Courting Death! The Invincible Prodigal Son, Gu Santong! [Bonus Chapter - Three Chapters Combined]

Huhu~

An unnamed gale quietly swept around the entire pond, caused by Jiang Xuan's true energy circulating at its maximum speed.

At this moment, his eyes were closed, his mind was focused, and his true energy surged and circulated wildly through his meridians.

Before he knew it, he was drenched in sweat, his body was trembling slightly, and the muscles on his face were contorted, clearly indicating that he was in great pain.

Because he is at a crucial stage in opening up his upper dantian!
The upper dantian, located between the eyes, is the center of intention, the abode of the spirit, the place where the spirit is refined and returned to emptiness, and one of the sources of internal energy that is released outward.

This acupoint is the core of life activities; guarding it can cure diseases and prolong life, while losing it will lead to aging and death.

All activities of the mind pass through this aperture, which is the gateway for the consciousness to enter and exit. Exiting it leads to death, while entering it leads to life. Hence, it is also known as the "gateway to life and death"!
To advance from the Innate Realm to the Grandmaster Realm, one must open the Life and Death Aperture and release one's consciousness. However, this does not mean separating the consciousness from the body, but rather opening the aperture, drawing in Qi to refine the spirit, and strengthening the consciousness.

Internal strength and true qi differ in both quantity and quality.

True Qi can only be circulated within the body; once released externally, it becomes uncontrollable, as if weighing a thousand pounds and dissipating in the blink of an eye.

Therefore, it is impossible to release true energy to form an attack effect; it can only attach to objects and weapons, stay there briefly, and enhance the weapon's attack power.

Therefore, it is necessary to open up the upper dantian to achieve the external release of consciousness. By using consciousness to control the external release of true qi, true qi can be mobilized to circulate outside the body. The qi moves at will and can be released and withdrawn at will, so as to achieve the effect of using true qi for long-range attacks.

If this aperture is not opened, even if one transforms true qi, one can only reach the Innate Perfection Realm in this lifetime and will never be able to step into the Grandmaster Realm.

However, opening this door comes with great risks.

After all, the mind is the source of life and intelligence. If one is not careful when impacting this point, the point may be damaged, and the consciousness may be impaired.

In severe cases, it can lead to death; in milder cases, it can result in loss of intelligence, turning one into a mindless, living corpse.

This is also why many of the opponents we encountered before, such as Cao Shaoqin, Cao Feng, and Lu Zhu, were stuck at this level.

Before one can fully control the circulation of true qi and has absolute certainty, very few people dare to risk opening up the upper dantian and attempting to break through to the grandmaster realm.

But Jiang Xuan himself did not have this worry.

Thanks to the 'Heaven rewards diligence' effect on the system panel, he had already achieved perfect control over both internal force and true qi through the perfected practice of Luo Mo's internal energy, and there was no possibility of deviation or error.

Just like the limbs of the body, it is an instinct that has long been ingrained in my memory.

Therefore, after his internal energy was completely transformed into true qi and his condition was adjusted to the best, he then began to open up his upper dantian.

Go all out and advance to the Grandmaster level!

"Boom~"

The true energy circulated like a surging river, driving the blood and qi throughout the body to boil violently and rushing towards the upper dantian between the eyebrows.

Although the airflow was turbulent, it was all perfectly controlled, with no true energy leaking out. It flowed continuously towards the center of the eyebrows at an extremely regular and even speed, exerting every bit of its effect.

But this upper dantian is like a large pool that can never be filled; no matter how much true qi flows in, it does not cause the slightest ripple.

No wonder that only after reaching the Innate Perfection stage and completely transforming internal energy into true qi can one open up the upper dantian.

If one tries to open a space using internal energy, or if one tries to open a space before one's internal energy has been fully converted, then one's internal energy will probably be exhausted before the opening is completed.

Despite the excruciating pain of his acupoint being torn apart, Jiang Xuan proceeded step by step, slowly impacting the acupoint while simultaneously nourishing it with his true energy to alleviate the pain.

gradually.

When his true energy was nearly half depleted, an indescribable sense of clarity suddenly welled up between his eyebrows.

It's as if consciousness was previously confined in a closed space.

But now, a crack suddenly appeared in this space, and consciousness surged out.

In that instant, it felt as if my soul had left my body, and I could clearly perceive and sense all the movements around me.

The sounds of air flowing, the crawling of insects in the crevices of the surrounding rocks, and even the sounds of fish swimming and stirring the water in the pond were all clearly presented in my mind.

In the flow of consciousness, every speck of dust in the air, invisible to the naked eye, became clearly visible.

Inside the body, the heart beats powerfully, and every inch of muscle, bone, meridian, blood and qi, and even the pores can be directly displayed in the mind.

Internal body visualization, incredibly detailed!
This is clearly a manifestation of opening up the upper dantian and releasing consciousness outward!

The body's sensory sensitivity is greatly enhanced!
Jiang Xuan did not rush to stop the opening process. He kept his eyes closed and his mind focused, using his remaining true energy to continue to widen the 'gap' that allowed his consciousness to enter and exit, while continuing to nourish and stabilize it with his true energy.

By the time the acupoint was completely cleared and stabilized, and the pain had completely disappeared, more than two-thirds of the originally abundant true energy had been consumed, and it was almost depleted.

Jiang Xuan slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath: "Hoo..."

"After two and a half years of training, I've finally reached this level!"

Grandmaster!

With a thought, true energy slowly circulates across the body's surface, gradually forming a thin layer of pale golden aura. From a distance, it looks like one is wearing a layer of golden armor.

The true energy is released outwards, forming a protective aura around the body.

This is also a sign of stepping into the Grandmaster realm!

hum~
With a thought, the protective aura slowly dissipated, like a whale sucking in water, disappearing back into the body.

This is the difference between a natural talent and a master.

Before reaching the Grandmaster level, both internal energy and true qi can only be controlled and circulated within the body. Once they leave the body, they will slowly dissipate and cannot be retrieved.

Once the upper dantian is opened and the Grandmaster realm is broken through, one can control it freely.

Even if true qi leaves the body, as long as it is not consumed, it can still be retrieved, which can reduce a large part of the consumption.

The sun sets.

Looking down at the sweat covering his body and his soaked pants, Jiang Xuan shook his head. With a flow of his inner energy, the sweat evaporated completely, and his pants dried quickly.

But this smell is ultimately not very pleasant.

thump!
He plunged into the pond, splashing water everywhere.

A cool sensation filled his body, and Jiang Xuan comfortably rolled over, lying quietly on the surface of the pool, letting the fish at the bottom of the pool gently nibble and rub against his body.

Even the sweat that flows from his body is mixed with true energy, which is of great benefit to these fish. Not to mention that he often practices his skills with medicinal baths, and the sweat that flows from his body also carries residual medicinal power.

Two beautiful figures walked over gracefully.

Looking at Jiang Xuan's blissful expression, Qiu Moyan said irritably, "I've painstakingly raised these fish for so long, and they've been drinking your bathwater every day. They're almost dying from the stench!"

Jiang Xuan placed his hands behind his head, without opening his eyes, and leisurely replied, "It's an honor for them to drink my bathwater. If they drink it every day, these fish might become spirits in time."

Yang Huizhen wanted to laugh, but found that she had long forgotten how to laugh, so she could only shake her head and say softly, "Congratulations on breaking through to the Grandmaster realm, young master."

call……

Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, lightly patted the water's surface with his palm, and then leaped into the air. The moment he landed, the water vapor was simultaneously dried by his true energy.

Crackling~

After stretching his limbs slightly, Jiang Xuan walked up to the two women, carefully sensed their cultivation levels, smiled slightly, and said, "You two will be close too."

Looking closely at Jiang Xuan's strong physique, Qiu Moyan thought of her conversation with her junior sister and couldn't help but blush, turning her head away.

Yang Huizhen lowered her head somewhat awkwardly and said in a low voice, "I am still far behind my senior sister, and it is not certain whether I can successfully open the Heaven and Earth Gate and reach your level."

The transition from the Innate Realm to the Grandmaster Realm is a watershed moment, fraught with immense danger.

Many martial artists fail at the step of opening the upper dantian. Therefore, many people would rather stay at the innate perfection level, which is called "minor grandmaster", for their entire lives than dare to easily attempt to become a grandmaster.

But a junior master is not a true master.

The difference between the two is like an insurmountable chasm.

Not only in terms of combat strength, but also in terms of lifespan, the difference is enormous.

Both women practiced the Radiant Moon Divine Art, but at this moment they were only at the mid-stage of the Innate Realm, still in the stage of opening up the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Even before reaching perfection, there is still a long stage of opening up the twelve meridians, let alone opening up the upper dantian and breaking through to the grandmaster level.

Jiang Xuan smiled and encouraged him, "Take your time. You two have good martial arts aptitude, and you'll be able to reach this level sooner or later."

"Mmm." The two women nodded slightly.

"master!"

At this moment, a maidservant rushed in. Seeing Jiang Xuan with his upper body bare, she quickly lowered her head shyly, but she didn't forget her business. While secretly glancing at him, she said, "Someone is visiting outside!"

Jiang Xuan waved his hand, and Yang Huizhen walked to the side, picked up her coat, and draped it over Jiang Xuan's shoulders.

As Jiang Xuan dressed, he asked, "Could you tell me who they are?"

"He said his name was Li Yanbei," the maid whispered.

"Bring him to the main hall."

Jiang Xuan put on his clothes, tidied himself up a bit, and then walked towards the main hall.

After a while.

The burly Li Yanbei strode in and bowed respectfully to Jiang Xuan, who was seated in the main seat: "Your subordinate Li Yanbei greets Your Excellency!"

He then bowed to the two women, Qiu and Yang, who were sitting to the side, saying, "Greetings, Miss Qiu and Miss Yang."

"No need for such formalities, Chief Li." Qiu Moyan nodded slightly.

Over the past six months, Li Yanbei has frequently visited the residence. The two sides had already met before, so there was no sense of estrangement.

Six months later, Li Yanbei exuded an invisible killing intent, and one could even faintly smell blood.

Jiang Xuan said calmly, "Speak, what trouble have you encountered this time?"

Since Li Yanbei was allowed to take over Dongcheng District, his men have been frequently fighting with the underground forces of Dongcheng District for the past six months.

They fought hundreds of battles, big and small, to seize territory and business.

Jiang Xuan had also stepped in to help him resolve several troubles.

Although he did not directly participate in the battle between the two sides, he always appeared when Li Yanbei was at a disadvantage, and never made a move when he had the advantage.

Over time, the forces in Dongcheng District, not being fools, naturally guessed that Li Yanbei's backer was Jiang Xuan.

However, driven by self-interest, these forces are unlikely to relinquish their territory and allow Li Yanbei to interfere, especially since they are not without powerful backers.

Therefore, the situation has become increasingly intense recently.

Even in the imperial court, there were memorials impeaching Jiang Xuan every day.

But just as Jiang Xuan had thought, his discord with the court officials as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was exactly what the emperor wanted to see.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian suppressed almost all the memorials, only reminding him not to make a big fuss.

Therefore, recently both sides have been competing based on their own abilities.

But even Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in charge of urban security, was biased, so the outcome was obvious.

During this period, Li Yanbei's flags had been planted all over most of the streets in the eastern part of the city, which was the most tense time.

The fact that they suddenly came to my door for help at this moment probably means that something unexpected has happened.

"My lord, the people behind the various factions in the East City have made their move. They are hosting a banquet at Jinling Tower tonight and have invited you to attend. I suspect they might want to negotiate peace!"

Li Yanbei said in a deep voice.

Talk about peace?

Jiang Xuan was somewhat surprised, then smiled.

It seems they've truly reached a dead end, hence their idea of ​​a truce?

"Who are they?" Jiang Xuan asked casually.

Li Yanbei said, "Headed by Han Qianshan, the nephew of Grand Secretary Han, and also the sons of the Zhao, Li, and Wang families in the inner city."

"A bunch of privileged kids, what's the point of me talking to them? They're just lowering my status!"

Jiang Xuan shook his head, immediately losing interest.

"What does Your Excellency mean?" Li Yanbei asked respectfully.

"Go to the banquet tonight. I will send someone to assist you."

"Yes, my lord!"

Li Yanbei bowed and left.

"Should we go help him tonight?" Qiu Moyan asked.

"No need."

Jiang Xuan shook his head: "In the capital, apart from the Imperial Palace and the Dragon Guard Manor, there are no experts."

"I'll just have Heiji go and take a look tonight."

After saying that, Jiang Xuan got up and went to the backyard to continue practicing his skills.

In the past six months, in addition to converting his true energy to prepare for advancement, he has not neglected other martial arts.

Martial Arts: Chasing Wind Step (Perfect), Cloud-Piercing Movement (Perfect), Heavenly Net Step (Perfect), Wind-Riding Shadow (Perfect)

[Progress: 50%]

In terms of movement techniques, he not only mastered the Heavenly Net Step to perfection, but also mastered another technique called 'Wind Control Shadow'.

This light-body skill sounds impressive, but it's actually just a first-rate skill that Li Yanbei presented to him as a tribute.

With the help of these two light-foot skills, the progress of the light-foot skill panel has increased to 50%, and there has also been a qualitative leap in speed, whether it is close-range movement or long-range maneuvering.

At this moment, Jiang Xuan had roughly figured out the rules for improving the progress of the lightness skill panel.

A first-rate lightness skill can increase progress by 20%, while a second-rate one increases it by 10%.

In other words, as long as you master two more first-class and one second-class light-body skills, you can fill up the proficiency on the light-body skill panel.

Then we'll know what changes will occur.

Unfortunately, light-body techniques are not common, especially advanced light-body techniques, which are even rarer.

I can't find any other suitable ones for the time being, so I'll just have to wait until I find one.

In terms of artistic conception, there hasn't been much improvement; it remains at 7%.

However, Jiang Xuan now knew that artistic conception could be interconnected, and both sword intent and saber intent could improve the progress of artistic conception.

Therefore, for the past six months, he has been focusing on training the 'Raging Sea Dragon' technique.

In terms of techniques, there are still significant differences between knife techniques and sword techniques, and 'Raging Dragon of the Sea' is a higher level, a master-level sword technique.

Therefore, even with the support of artistic conception, the progress is not very fast, and he has only just reached the perfection level.

It will take some time before I can master the sword stance.

But this sword technique is of such a high level that perhaps after mastering the sword stance, one can directly comprehend its essence in one go.

Therefore, Jiang Xuan was not in a hurry.

If he just follows the steps and practices diligently, he will eventually grasp the second level of understanding.

By layering multiple artistic conceptions, we can enhance the progress of artistic conception and take the second step in creating artistic conception!
[Martial Arts: Raging Sea Dragon (Perfect)]

【Progress: 1768/20000】

Glancing at the sword technique panel, Jiang Xuan took a deep breath, calmed himself down, casually picked up a longsword from the weapon rack beside him, and continued practicing his swordsmanship. His proficiency began to steadily increase.

far away.

Qiu and Yang stood in the garden, watching Jiang Xuan practice his sword. They looked at each other, both with some doubt in their eyes.

The two women were quite puzzled by Jiang Xuan's recent sudden decision to start practicing swordsmanship.

In their view, Jiang Xuan had already mastered the essence of the sword, so why did he need to put the cart before the horse and cultivate sword techniques?

Unfortunately, they didn't know that the power of artistic conception can be shared.

If he could directly step into the second step of the realm of intent, why would Jiang Xuan bother to practice swordsmanship again?

The two women are not yet able to reach this level.

However, even just by observing the sword moves, the two women could see how exquisite this sword technique was.

Moreover, Jiang Xuan had only practiced for half a year, yet his swordsmanship had already surpassed theirs.

Such talent is truly unbelievable.

Remembering what her junior sister had said, Qiu Moyan remained silent for a moment, a resolute glint in her eyes, and walked into the courtyard to begin practicing her sword.

She has always been a person who refuses to admit defeat.

Even if she can't catch up with Jiang Xuan, she will try her best to narrow the gap between them!

Seeing Qiu Moyan's actions, Yang Huizhen vaguely understood her thoughts. She then sighed softly and walked to the side to meditate and practice her skills.

……

Gulou East Street, Jinling Tower.

In terms of class and luxury, Jinling Tower is even superior to Mingyue Tower in the south of the city. A meal here would cost at least ten taels of silver, so those who come and go here are all high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital.

at dusk.

Li Yanbei, accompanied by two guards, arrived at Jinling Tower on time for the banquet.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance, a waiter led him upstairs to a private room.

Several well-dressed young people were already seated in the private room.

The leader, who appeared to be in his thirties, was dressed in a pristine white robe and had a faint air of arrogance between his brows.

This person is none other than Han Qianshan, the nephew of the current Grand Secretary Han Kuang.

The people beside him were also dressed in fine clothes, all from prominent families, and their elders held official positions in the court.

In the capital city, these individuals are undoubtedly top-tier second-generation rich kids.

Apart from the royal family, no one can compare to them.

Meanwhile, the underground bosses of Dongcheng District didn't even have the right to sit down. They all stood respectfully behind Han Qianshan and his group, acting as guards.

"puff!"

Han Qianshan casually picked up a grape, tossed it into his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, then spat out the seeds and frowned as he asked, "Li Yanbei hasn't arrived yet?"

"Young Master, there are people waiting downstairs. When we arrive, our men will lead us up," the burly man behind Han Qianshan replied respectfully.

This man is Huang Long, the underground boss of East Street, who is actually the black glove controlling the Han family's underground business.

"What an arrogant attitude!"

Han Qianshan snorted coldly, "You promised one update, but you still haven't come. Do you really think the Han family is afraid of Jiang Xuan?"

The young master of the Zhao family smiled slightly and said, "Brother Han, please calm down. Jiang Xuan has only recently been promoted to commander and is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. Otherwise, we wouldn't need to negotiate with him. If we can resolve this matter tonight, it won't hurt to wait a little longer."

A sneer flashed in Han Qianshan's eyes as he said, "A mere peasant like him wouldn't even be qualified to be my dog ​​two years ago!"

"If he hadn't relied on currying favor with Wei Zhongxian to solve several major cases and rise to the rank of commander, and hadn't been favored by the emperor for assisting him in inheriting the throne, what qualifications would he have to command the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

"Now that these petty people have gained power, they dare to set their sights on the underground in the East District. Do they really think we're made of clay?!"

"Tonight's peace talks with him will be the last bit of face we'll give him. If Li Yanbei's men don't withdraw from the East District, we'll just have to fight to the death!"

Upon hearing this, the other young masters exchanged glances, all shaking their heads inwardly, while a hint of disdain flashed in their eyes.

If the Han family is really that powerful, why haven't they found a way to get rid of Jiang Xuan in the past six months?
Because Jiang Xuan held great power and controlled the security of the capital, their families had suffered repeated setbacks in the past six months, and their territory had been continuously encroached upon by Li Yanbei.

Now that they have no other choice, they are thinking of negotiating peace with Jiang Xuan.

But this idiot still can't see the situation clearly and spouts wild words; he's truly courting death.

If Han Kuang hadn't been childless, and if Han Qianshan hadn't been Han Kuang's favorite, how could this idiot have come to control the Han family's power?

With such an idiot in the Han family, they're bound to be ruined sooner or later!

The group had already made up their minds that if they couldn't reach an agreement tonight, they would have to sever ties with the Han family to avoid being implicated by this good-for-nothing!
at this time.

The door opened, and a servant led Li Yanbei in.

The conversation ceased, and Han Qianshan's expression softened somewhat, but upon glancing towards the door, his brows furrowed: "Chief Li, where are the people I asked you to invite? Why are you the only one here?"

Li Yanbei walked straight in, cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd, and said, "I, Li, greet you all, young masters. I arrived first tonight, and my master will arrive shortly after."

As he spoke, he was about to step forward and sit down.

"Wait!"

At this moment, Huang Long, standing behind Han Qianshan, said coldly, "Didn't you see we're all standing? Lord Jiang isn't here. With your status, Li Yanbei, what right do you have to sit at the same table as Young Master Han and the others?"

A flash of anger crossed Li Yanbei's eyes. He looked at Han Qianshan and the others, but seeing that no one spoke, he could only suppress his anger and stand aside to wait.

Han Qianshan glanced at him, sneered, and said, "Li Yanbei, you're just a peasant from the West District. Instead of staying put in your rural area, you dare to set your sights on the East District. Do you think that by currying favor with Jiang Xuan, you can take food from us?"

"All this time, we've only been giving Jiang Xuan face. Otherwise, do you think you'd be worthy of entangled with us for so long? You'd be lying in some stinking ditch by now!" "Benevolence and righteousness throughout the capital? Ha!"

Han Qianshan sneered, "After tonight, go back to where you came from. This is not a place for a peasant like you to get by!"

The others also wore cold smiles. They were indeed wary of Jiang Xuan, but they were extremely disgusted with Li Yanbei, who dared to snatch food from their hands.

Li Yanbei's face was gloomy, and he remained silent.

"Do you think you need to give face to my master?"

Suddenly, a cold voice came from outside the door.

The crowd's expressions changed slightly as they looked towards the door. The door opened, and a handsome young man of about seventeen or eighteen walked in. Although he appeared somewhat immature, he already possessed an air of heroic arrogance.

Behind him followed a man in his late twenties, dressed as a bodyguard.

Everyone frowned.

"Who are you?" Han Qianshan asked, frowning.

Upon hearing the word "master," he had already vaguely guessed the boy's identity.

"Lin Pingzhi, a probationary commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Lin Pingzhi said coldly.

Sure enough it was him!

Everyone's eyes flashed.

In the past six months, a young man in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, just like Jiang Xuan two years ago, rose to prominence out of nowhere. He possessed extraordinary martial arts skills and exquisite swordsmanship. He assisted the Northern Garrison in solving several major cases in succession and was promoted to the sixth-rank probationary centurion position in just six months.

Once a vacancy for centurion is filled, he can be directly promoted to the position of centurion, essentially becoming a pre-selected centurion.

At the tender age of seventeen or eighteen, to have achieved such success is a testament to his boundless potential, and he is already not much less capable than Jiang Xuan was back then.

Later, it was rumored that the young man was Jiang Xuan's personal disciple, named Lin Pingzhi.

Upon learning of this, everyone suddenly understood.

If the master is so outstanding, how could the disciple be any worse?

Unexpectedly, this young man was Lin Pingzhi.

"Young Master Lin!" Li Yanbei respectfully clasped his hands in a salute to Lin Pingzhi.

Han Qianshan and the others also became slightly more polite.

The young master of the Zhao family cupped his hands in greeting and said, "So it's Commander Lin. I wonder if Governor Jiang has come?"

"My master said he doesn't have time to deal with you!"

Lin Pingzhi said coldly, "My master told me to tell you that the underground struggle in the East District ends here. Whoever seizes the territory owns it. In business competition, everyone should rely on their own abilities!"

"If any family dares to break this rule, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will personally take action to eliminate that family's power!"

"Anyone who disagrees is welcome to try and see just how sharp our Embroidered Spring Blade is!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Li Yanbei breathed a sigh of relief.

In the past six months, with the favoritism and assistance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he has seized nearly half of the territory in the eastern district.

If this matter ends here and these territories can be held, the profits will be extremely considerable.

It's at least no worse than his West District, and might even be better.

The East District is, after all, an affluent area.

In contrast, Han Qianshan and the others looked extremely grim.

Lin Pingzhi's words made it clear that Li Yanbei would not give back the territory he had swallowed.

In other words, Li Yanbei owns half of the underground voices in the East District, while the other half is shared by several other families.
It’s so deceiving!
Swish!
Han Qianshan suddenly stood up, staring coldly at Lin Pingzhi, and said, "Go back and tell him that this is absolutely impossible. Li Yanbei must return the territory he swallowed. This is the premise for peace talks. Otherwise, we'll see!"

"Not bad!"

Huang Long, standing behind him, also looked furious and blurted out, "Jiang Xuan is nothing but a peasant who was promoted to commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard by sheer luck thanks to the Emperor's favor. He's just a third-rank commander. Does he really think our Han family is afraid of him?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's face changed.

Even Han Qianshan's expression changed, and he quickly scolded, "Shut up!"

Although he looked down on Jiang Xuan, he only dared to say it in private, after all, the other party was ultimately a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who held real power.

Unexpectedly, Huang Long, that idiot, spoke without thinking and dared to say it in front of the Imperial Guards. Wasn't that giving them a handle to use against him?

A hint of panic flashed in Huang Long's eyes. He had been arrogant in the underground world of Dongcheng District because he relied on the Han family for support, which had made him impulsive and irritable.

Just now, I was just indignant because I saw Lin Pingzhi being so arrogant, and I also thought that since Young Master Han was here, I wanted to show off in front of Young Master Han.

But he regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

Han Shao wasn't afraid of Jiang Xuan because he had the Han family backing him up, but he was just a leader of an underground force, while Jiang Xuan was a commander of the Imperial Guards. Jiang Xuan wouldn't take him seriously.

Hearing Han Qianshan's reprimand, he came to his senses and quickly tried to apologize.

But it was too late.

"You dare insult my master? You're asking for death!"

Lin Pingzhi's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He suddenly looked at Huang Long, raised his hand, pointed, and shouted, "Brother Yue, kill him!"

Stupid!
Without uttering a word, Yue Mingke suddenly drew his long sword, its sword energy as powerful as a mountain, sweeping towards the yellow dragon.

"Stop!" Han Qianshan quickly called out to stop them.

Huang Long's expression changed drastically. He immediately tried to draw his sword to defend himself, but as soon as he drew the sword halfway out, he felt a pain in his throat and froze in place.

Chi~
Yue Mingke sheathed his sword and, as if nothing had happened, calmly walked back to stand behind Lin Pingzhi.

"Young Master Han..." Huang Long clutched his throat, his eyes wide, and turned to look at Han Qianshan. But he could only utter two words before he could no longer hold on. He staggered back a few steps with a face full of resentment, slowly collapsing and his life gradually fading away.

The scene fell silent, the atmosphere becoming eerily heavy.

"you……"

Coming to his senses, Han Qianshan was filled with shock and anger. He looked at Huang Long's corpse, then turned back and stared intently at Lin Pingzhi, his heart filled with dread.

Beating a dog depends on the owner.

But Lin Pingzhi killed Huanglong right in front of him, which shows that he didn't take him seriously at all.

But most importantly, he was very clear about Huang Long's strength.

With his mid-stage Innate Realm and mastery of swordsmanship, he wouldn't be considered weak even in the underground world of the capital. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Han Long manage the Han family's business for him.

But in front of the swordsman behind Lin Pingzhi, Huang Long was stabbed through the throat without even drawing his sword. What terrifying strength that was!

Even Huanglong was no match for him; if the other side wanted to kill him, it would be an easy task.

Thinking of this, no matter how angry Han Qianshan was, he dared not utter the words that were on the tip of his tongue, for fear that Lin Ping would order him to be stabbed to death here as well.

Given this kid's ruthless nature, he's probably capable of doing something like this.

Looking at Lin Pingzhi, who still looked young but had a fierce look on his face, the others swallowed hard and dared not speak anymore.

Who wouldn't be afraid of such a reckless young man who kills at the slightest provocation?

Lin Pingzhi's gaze slowly swept over everyone, and they all quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

Lin Pingzhi sneered and said, "I killed the man. Anyone who is not satisfied can go to the yamen to file a complaint tomorrow. I will be there to await your arrival!"

Having said that, Lin Pingzhi said no more and turned to leave.

Li Yanbei quickly turned around and followed.

But it's different from when I came in.

At this moment, he stood tall and proud, feeling an overwhelming sense of joy that was about to burst out. If the timing hadn't been so inappropriate, he would have burst out laughing.

These bastards, these second-generation officials, weren't they all so arrogant just now?

Why are you so afraid to say anything now?
It's truly unexpected that Young Master Lin's decisive and ruthless nature is no less than that of Lord Jiang.

It seems that if something like this happens again, it would be more effective to have Young Master Lin intervene.

Li Yanbei secretly made up his mind.

At this moment, the private room remained deathly silent.

After a long while, the sounds of heavy breathing and swallowing gradually began to emerge.

"Too much deception! Too much deception!"

Han Qianshan could no longer contain himself. His anger erupted, and he overturned Jiang Xuan's table, his face contorted with rage as he roared, "Jiang Xuan, you scoundrel! I will kill him! And this little beast, I want him dead too!"

"My Han family will be locked in a life-or-death struggle with those two masters and disciples!!"

The others looked at each other, shook their heads, and left without saying a word.

They dared to kill people right in front of them, which proves that they are not afraid of the forces behind them at all.

If the fighting continues at this point, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard really makes a move, they might not even be able to hold onto the remaining territory.

According to their understanding, Commander Jiang Xuan is someone who does what he says!
It’s better to quit while you’re ahead.

Soon, everyone left.

Only Han Qianshan remained, standing in the private room, raging with impotence and venting his anger.

……

The next day, Jiang Xuan woke up from his meditation and slowly opened his eyes.

After a night of medicinal baths to aid cultivation, the true energy lost yesterday due to opening the upper dantian has now been completely restored.

Moreover, after reaching the Grandmaster realm, the amount of true energy that can be contained also increases.

The cultivation process from the Acquired Realm to the Grandmaster involves more than just strengthening one's physique.

Each breakthrough enhances the quality of Qi and raises its upper limit.

At this moment, the amount of true energy in his body has increased by at least one-third compared to before his breakthrough.

This is still the effect of widening the meridians.

After all, the capacity of the meridians is ultimately limited.

Only after reaching the third rank of Grandmaster and opening up the lower dantian can one store more true qi.

"call……"

Jiang Xuan let out a long breath and stood up, feeling his current physical condition. He murmured, "It's time to go to the Heavenly Prison..."

After reaching the Grandmaster realm, Luo Mo's internal energy circulation speed became extremely slow, unable to keep up with his cultivation.

To increase cultivation speed, one must find a higher level of internal energy cultivation method.

With the strength of a Grandmaster, the power of his sword, and the physical body of a Vajra Body, even if Gu Santong went berserk and attacked him, he should be able to protect himself.

Although that guy was strong, he had been imprisoned for twenty years after all.

It's already quite remarkable that he has half of his full power left.

As Jiang Xuan stepped out of the room, Cheng Shifei and Lin Pingzhi were already standing respectfully at the door, waiting for him. Upon seeing Jiang Xuan come out, they quickly bowed and said, "Master!"

Jiang Xuan glanced at Lin Pingzhi, nodded slightly, and said, "You handled things well last night."

Although he sent Lin Pingzhi to the banquet in his place, he was not entirely unprepared.

Besides Yue Mingke protecting her closely, Xi Yu also followed her secretly.

In this capital city, apart from a very few people, Xi Yu's strength is already considered top-notch. Below the Grandmaster realm, few people can rival Xi Yu.

Lin Pingzhi said, "Master, I killed the Han family members, they may not stop there."

“As long as Han Kuang isn’t stupid, he won’t continue to oppose me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind completely eradicating the Han family’s underground forces.”

Jiang Xuan said calmly.

He left half of the territory for those other families because he didn't want to completely break ties.

If the other party is truly ungrateful, then he is someone who can do what he says.

As a powerful Imperial Guard in the capital, how dare you try to do shady business instead of currying favor with me? What are you thinking?

Do you really think my sword is useless?!

"Let's go, let's go to the yamen first."

Jiang Xuan said no more and walked out with his hands behind his back.

"Master!"

Cheng Shifei quickly asked, "You said last night you'd take me to see someone today, who is it?"

Jiang Xuan said calmly, "You'll know when you see it."

"Oh~" Upon hearing this, Cheng Shifei scratched his head, but could only suppress his curiosity and not ask any more questions.

Soon, the three arrived at the government office.

"Captain!"

"Meet the Governor!"

Along the way, everyone bowed and paid their respects.

In just six months, Jiang Xuan had completely taken control of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Apart from some spies planted by other forces, almost no one in the Embroidered Uniform Guard dared to disobey him.

Even the spies planted by other forces wouldn't dare to oppose him on the surface.

After all, a local official is more powerful than a distant one.

As long as Jiang Xuan is not dismissed, he will be the most powerful person in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Governor, these are the latest official documents. Please take a look."

Upon entering the main hall, Luo Yangxing, the garrison commander of Nan Si, respectfully presented a stack of official documents.

Besides the Northern Garrison, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had fourteen thousand-household offices under its jurisdiction. These included the five core offices responsible for maintaining order and the six additional offices, as well as the Southern Garrison, the Eastern and Western Offices, and the three functional offices responsible for military affairs and logistics. They had a lot of official business to handle every day.

Many official documents, after being processed by various departments, had to be personally approved by him, the commander, before they could be implemented.

Jiang Xuan rarely slacked off. No matter how big or small the matter was, he was always serious, diligent, and hands-on.

However, Jiang Xuan waved his hand and said, "I have business to attend to at the palace today. If Commander Luo is busy enough, he can review these official documents for me. I will have Pingzhi help you."

After spending half a year together, Jiang Xuan still trusted Luo Yangxing.

This guy is quite reliable in his work and cautious in his conduct, so he rarely makes mistakes.

"Yes, Governor." Upon hearing this, Luo Yangxing said no more, put away the official documents, and went to Jiang Xuan's office to review and process them.

"Master, I'll go help Governor Luo now." Lin Pingzhi cupped his hands in greeting and turned to leave.

Jiang Xuan went to the archives room and found several volumes of records from twenty years ago. After everything was prepared, he took Cheng Shifei to the prison.

……

The imperial prison was not located inside the palace, but rather on the west side of the main gate, right next to the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This is also for safety reasons.

In case of any unexpected incident in the prison, personnel can be immediately dispatched from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle it.

However, the imperial prison was not under the jurisdiction of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but rather under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

However, as the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jiang Xuan would naturally not be hindered from going to the Heavenly Prison.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Heavenly Prison, Jiang Xuan summoned the prison officer on duty that day and said calmly, "I have a case to investigate on the ninth floor of the Heavenly Prison. Take me down there."

Upon seeing Jiang Xuan's bright yellow flying fish robe, Si Yu knew his identity without asking and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Upon hearing Jiang Xuan's words, the prison warden paused for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, our Heavenly Prison does not have a ninth level."

"There is no ninth floor?" Jiang Xuan was also slightly taken aback.

"Yes."

The prison warden carefully said, "The lowest level of the Heavenly Prison only has eight levels, and from the second level down, all those imprisoned are serious criminals. But since the Emperor ascended the throne, he has granted a general amnesty, and many ordinary people have been pardoned and released."

"The cells below the fifth floor are all empty now."

Eight floors?

Jiang Xuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "Take me down to the eighth floor to take a look."

"Yes."

The jailer dared not refuse and immediately stepped forward to lead the way.

Soon, the group entered the prison and walked all the way to the end before they saw the entrance to the second level.

This is true on almost every floor, and the humidity increases as you go down.

Living in a place like this for a long time, without some martial arts skills, one would not be able to withstand all kinds of illnesses for long. Even if one is not beheaded, one will die in there sooner or later.

Furthermore, as the most important prison in the Ming Dynasty, the Heavenly Prison has a very special structure. The walls are almost all made of special bricks and stones that have been poured with molten iron, so even martial arts masters would not be able to escape from here.

"My lord, this is the eighth floor!"

After a long time, they finally descended to the eighth level. The air underground was extremely cold, and Si Yu and the others were shivering from the cold.

Jiang Xuan waved his hand: "You go up first, I'll stay here and take a look."

"Yes!"

The jailer breathed a sigh of relief and dared not ask any more questions. He quickly waved his hand and led his men upstairs.

Cheng Shifei was also freezing and couldn't stand it anymore. Looking at the pitch-black environment in front of him, he swallowed hard, then looked at Jiang Xuan and asked, "Master, who exactly did you bring me here to see?"

Jiang Xuan ignored him and went straight to the deepest part of the eighth floor. He looked around but did not find an entrance to the ninth floor.

But if there's an eighth level, then there must be a ninth level!

Jiang Xuan released his true energy directly, carefully exploring every crevice underground.

Soon, Jiang Xuan's eyes flashed.

found it!
He walked to the wall at the end, squatted down, and tapped the ground with the scabbard. Sure enough, an echo came from below.

"Stand back!"

Jiang Xuan waved his hand in acknowledgment.

Cheng Shifei quickly ran away.

Jiang Xuan circulated his true energy, and the pale golden true energy slowly condensed in his palm before he slammed it down into the ground.

boom!
A loud bang, and debris flew everywhere.

A huge, dark hole suddenly appeared before our eyes!

The Ninth Level of the Heavenly Prison!
"go!"

Without hesitation, Jiang Xuan jumped down.

Cheng Shifei climbed to the cave entrance, looked around carefully, and made sure it wasn't too high so he wouldn't fall to his death before jumping down himself.

Jiang Xuan lit a torch and looked around, discovering that the passage to the ninth floor was right next to him. There must be another secret passage leading down, and since he had broken through the underground of the eighth floor, he had essentially bypassed the secret passage and arrived at the ninth floor directly.

They were standing at the entrance to the ninth floor, where a tall iron monument, more than a person's height, stood with four large characters engraved on it.

"Iron-Blooded Marquis?"

Cheng Shifei read it out word by word. Before, he definitely wouldn't have been able to recognize even these four characters. However, after studying with Jiang Xuan for almost a year, he has now made some progress and naturally wouldn't be unable to recognize the characters.

Cheng Shifei looked at Jiang Xuan with a puzzled expression: "Master, how come there is this strange iron tablet here? And what is the connection between this iron tablet and Iron-Blooded Marquis?"

Now that they were already here, Jiang Xuan decided not to hide anything any longer and said directly, "I brought you here to see your father. Your father's name is Gu Santong. Twenty years ago, he was imprisoned here by the Iron-Blooded Marquis."

"what?!"

Cheng Shifei was stunned.

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Just then, a strange laugh suddenly came from the cave behind the iron monument, followed by a hoarse, cold, and aged voice.

"I, Gu Santong, have never had any children in my life. How could that old pig think of using this method to deceive me? Has he become so shameless in order to obtain my martial arts skills?"

(End of this chapter)