Promise!

Chapter 254, Three Insects

On the tenth day of the tenth month of the sixty-third year of the Qianyuan era, the Cangzhou Xuantian Division suddenly took action. The three major families mobilized together and launched a precise attack, completely destroying the Round Table Meeting in a single day.

As mentioned before, if a martial artist with innate talent launches a suicide attack, it would pose a certain threat to aristocratic families if they are not prepared. However, this time, the approach was to use both a big stick and a carrot to suppress the backlash.

On the one hand, they were already on high alert and their defenses were at their highest level, so even a suicide attack would be unlikely to succeed. On the other hand, they launched a sudden and proactive attack to precisely eliminate the core members of the roundtable meeting.

The evidence against those who were eliminated was so detailed and conclusive that it was astonishing. Clearly, the Xuantian Division had been keeping an eye on the Round Table Meeting for a long time, and had even been deeply involved in and allowed it to continue as a sting operation.

Secondly, only the core members were punished, while the others were left unpunished, thus creating division.

Finally, those who were eliminated and killed died, and the remaining forces were distributed as benefits, a sweet treat under the heavy blow.

Zhuang Jin was one of the beneficiaries, as she got to eat a portion of it.

In short, the entire Xuantian Division's methods were executed flawlessly, and the entire Cangzhou City was instantly cleared.

However, there was one thing that wasn't quite right. It's said that the biggest fish that escaped was a martial artist at the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm who was the mastermind behind it all. His name was Zhan Shengchu. He used a double to evade capture and escaped.

This seems to be somewhat related to Zhuang Jin as well; the strange death of Ming Guang made him more vigilant.

However, Zhuang Jin didn't quite believe that the Suspended Heaven Division, with its ability to catch one fish multiple times, would really miss it. He secretly guessed that there might be something strange about it. Could it be that they were plotting something, or perhaps trying to catch some fish?

……

On this day, Zhuang Jin came out of the Suspended Heaven Bureau, having just finished attending a small roundtable meeting of the Bureau.

As a result, he had made some progress. He put a pill into his pocket and pondered to himself.

Three days ago, the Hanging Commander sign gained an additional function – a roundtable discussion.

The official name was quite grand: the Xuantian Division stated that it valued, paid attention to, and supported the demands of martial artists at all levels, hence the launch of the roundtable meeting. It also claimed that this regulated roundtable meeting would not involve forced buying and selling, murder and robbery, and that it aimed to create a fair, just, and open roundtable meeting.

The Suspended Sky Division's roundtable meeting format is a direct copy of the roundtable meeting they dismantled. It also has two modes: one is level-free, where high-level martial artists may be able to easily defeat opponents, and participation only requires contribution points; the other corresponds to token levels, and participation requires credentials.

'The fact that the Suspended Heaven Bureau opened up the roundtable meeting function probably reflects the belief that guidance is worse than suppression; furthermore, it also benefits the three major families, as this model can more comprehensively extract valuable items from independent martial artists, such as special resources and intelligence; additionally, since it is launched by the Suspended Heaven Bureau and brought under its supervision, there is no fear of it getting out of control.'

—The event was provided by local families, and all the attendees were wearing masks and did not know each other. Who knew if there were any spies from the Heavenly Bureau among them? Naturally, they would be cautious and restrained.

"The three great families are not rigid and conservative; just look at how the Suspended Commander's Plate continues to add functions—they are constantly learning and improving. They even directly reap the benefits of any methods that oppose them once the model is mature."

Over the past eight hundred years, the Celestial Bureau has been continuously optimized, and it has made tremendous progress compared to the time when it was in the era of immortals.

In this process, many loopholes were plugged one by one. What is even more commendable is that it was not about taking tough measures, but about using a gentle, mild, and acceptable approach, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

This is like facing a flood; instead of directly blocking it, it's like Yu the Great controlling the floods, guiding the waters and subtly mitigating the resistance.

—Don't think this is merciful. In fact, it's a better strategy. This method divides the martial arts community below, making it difficult to unite them. It atomizes individuals, making it virtually impossible for them to climb to higher realms, possess the power to truly threaten the three great families, or challenge their status. The strictness of the blockade is unimaginable, and success is almost impossible.

Unless you're someone like Zhuang Jin who has extraordinary abilities and can turn the impossible into the possible, there's absolutely no chance.

……

After leaving the Xuantian Division, Zhuang Jin did not return. Today was also the day for a small gathering of the Gangqi Realm.

Of the original seven members of the Gangqi Realm small circle, Shen Tu Biao went to Yong'an in the capital, Zong Dai went to the prefectural city, and Li Tingguan was killed in a purge not long ago, leaving only four people, but they were no longer the same as before.

Cui Pangui betrayed Li Tingguan, and Li Tingguan's death was largely due to him. Unexpectedly, he came here today as well, but he was very enthusiastic towards Zhuang Jin.

He joined the Xuantian Division, which is now dominated by the Shangguan family. On the day of the purge, Shangguan Yunchang met with Zhuang Jin, which was a test and an attempt to curry favor.

Zhuang Jin looked at the man, responding with indifference, a complex mix of emotions in his heart: 'I never imagined that this person, who initially disdained taking breakthrough pills, would now, under the stimulation of my continuous breakthroughs, willingly become a lackey of a powerful family, even betraying Li Tingguan, all for high-end resources.'

Well, he's different from this guy. Cui Panggui begs for food on his knees, while he himself is a freeloader standing up. How can they be the same?

Despite Cui Pangui's attitude towards Zhuang Jin, he treated Xi Guiling differently. He would often intentionally or unintentionally mention aristocratic families and the Xuantian Division to test Xi Guiling's reaction and see if he could make a fool of himself.

Whenever Cui Pangui mentioned it, Xi Guiling's face would turn pale and his body would tremble slightly, looking extremely unwell.

This was a lingering effect of the blood splattered on his face from the day he was made an example of by killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

—Xi Guiling had some dissatisfaction with the Xuantian Division and the aristocratic families in the past, and spoke without restraint. When the people from the Xuantian Division came, they killed Li Tingguan on the spot. The martial artist's control was so subtle that he 'accidentally' splattered blood on this man's face. Wasn't that a warning?
Xi Guiling is quite interesting. He fainted from fright that day. How could a dignified martial artist at the Innate Qi Realm really do that?

'They are probably truly terrified, but at the same time, they also have thoughts of admitting defeat and protecting themselves,' Zhuang Jin thought to himself.

If one only looks at the surface and truly believes that Xi Guiling is so incompetent and pathetic, and that one would not act the same way if one were in his shoes, then one is the one who is ridiculous.

Qin Douzhan couldn't stand Cui Pangui and Xi Guiling's teasing and often changed the subject.

The gathering was utterly boring, with everyone preoccupied with their own thoughts.

……

The gathering was dull and ended in less than fifteen minutes, with everyone leaving.

"Back then, our little circle of seven was so lively, but now it's all scattered like clouds. As for the remaining members, I don't even recognize some of them anymore," Qin Douzhan sighed.

"Yes!" Zhuang Jin sighed, recalling the lively scene of their first gathering after Li Tingguan's introduction. This led her to further reflections: 'Those at the Innate True Qi Realm understand the rules of the city; they know everything they need to know. But those at the Innate罡 Qi Realm seek their own paths, making different choices: some pursue great success, some less so, some fight resolutely, some leave themselves a way out in the struggle, some join forces, and some avoid involvement altogether. The final results are all different.'

"By the way, Brother Zhuang's current level is probably the limit that some people can tolerate. Going any higher..."

Qin Douzhan shook his head and didn't continue, only saying, "Brother Zhuang, you should be careful. I don't want the last person who can drink to be gone."

"Thanks for reminding me, I understand."

Zhuang Jin nodded with a smile.

If this is the case even for those at the Innate Qi Realm, it will inevitably be even more difficult and subject to more intense targeting once they reach the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm. But are things in this world truly easy or difficult? Life will always find its own way.

Of course, this is something others have to do. He had already planned ahead, especially after the incident at the underground cave and ice lake. The hard mode has become easy mode. He only needs to lie low for five years... no, four years, and then he can soar to the sky.

……

Another half month has passed in a flash, and it's now November. On this day, heavy snow is falling.

In the training ground, Ji Tongwei and several of his classmates from Bailu Martial Arts Academy were practicing martial arts with Purple Kangaroo, creating a lively atmosphere.

Ji Tongxiu, wearing a cross-collar jacket and a white fur coat, was brewing tea for Zhuang Jin in a white jade octagonal pavilion beside the rockery.

Perhaps because she was not given a formal title, she felt a sense of crisis and continued to learn and improve. In addition to maintaining her appearance, she also became proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, cooking, tea ceremony, and so on. Now she can be described as an expert in all of them.

"When I left, the willows were swaying; now I return, the rain and snow are falling."

Zhuang Jin stood in front of the pavilion, his hands behind his back, watching the snowflakes fall like goose feathers. He shook his head slightly, told Ji Tongxiu that he was going into seclusion, and that if he didn't come out by noon, he didn't need to wait for him. He then turned and went to his quiet room.

"Now I have reached the perfect third level of the Innate Qi Realm, and among the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, the initial stage of refining essence into qi has been perfected. I have reached the point where qi is full and spirit is manifesting. It is time for me to break through to the Innate Corpse-Severing Realm."

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, and flipped through the Black Fiend Technique again, looking at the description of the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm: The human body has three corpses, also known as the three insects, the three Pengs, and the three poisons.

The Black Fiend Technique states that the Three Corpse Worms are poisons of the corpse body; slaying them can grant one a body without leaks.

"It is a common belief that the three corpse worms reside in the brain, the five internal organs, and the feet, but this is a great misconception. The three corpse worms are hidden within a mustard seed, as large as Mount Sumeru, in the human body. The upper corpse worm, called the green worm, attacks the eyes, causing a wrinkled and dull face, bad breath, and tooth loss; the middle corpse worm, called the white worm, attacks the five internal organs, causing heart exhaustion, shortness of breath, forgetfulness, and anxiety; the lower corpse worm, called the red worm, attacks the bones and blood, causing bones to wither and blood to burn."

According to Zhuang Jin's understanding, the Three Corpse Worms are the lesions in the human gene pool. It is because of their constant erosion and wear that people experience symptoms such as bad breath, tooth loss, wrinkled and dull skin, palpitations, shortness of breath, forgetfulness, anxiety, bone atrophy, and blood stagnation when they get old.

Therefore, if one eliminates the upper corpse worms (green worms), one will not have bad breath, will not lose teeth, and will have smooth skin before dying of old age; if one eliminates the middle corpse worms (white worms), one will not have declining internal organs or depleted physical strength before dying of old age; if one eliminates the lower corpse worms (red worms), one will not have weak bones or deficient qi and blood before dying of old age.

In other words, a martial artist who has severed the three corpses will maintain peak combat power until the moment before death, making it impossible for them to be "punched up in a nursing home in Nanshan".

So how do we find the Three Corpse Worms?
When the vital energy is fully developed, one can introspect and examine oneself.

"As I understand it, after achieving the basic conditions—the perfection of the third level of the Innate Qi Realm, the perfect harmony and smooth circulation of Innate Qi, and the state of full Qi and spiritual awareness—one uses the accompanying techniques within the cultivation method to sense and detect the corpse worms, and then uses divine will as a blade to slay them."

This step is very different from the previous realms, as it involves the soul, and the strength of the soul is crucial in breaking through to this realm.

Only those with a powerful soul can activate the secret technique, discover the corpse worms, and then use their divine will as a blade to slay them in one fell swoop.

If one's spiritual strength is insufficient, even if one reaches the state of "full of Qi and spirit", one will not be able to detect the corpse worms. If one cannot even detect them, how can one talk about eliminating them?
Then naturally, one would be unable to break through to the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm.

Furthermore, even if the corpse worms are discovered, if the spirit is insufficient and the secret method of slaying corpses cannot kill them, then the corpse worms will rampage, backlash, and disrupt the three elements, causing premature symptoms such as a wrinkled and dark face, bad breath, and tooth loss.

Therefore, breaking through this step is extremely dangerous. If the breakthrough fails, the corpse worms will devour the person, causing them to age rapidly.

'The corresponding elixir for the Innate Corpse-Slaying Realm is the Corpse-Subduing Pill, which suppresses corpse worms. However, this pill cannot be used to detect the three corpse worms when one's Qi is full and one's spirit is fully aroused.'

Corpse-Subduing Pills are something that even a martial artist like Zhuang Jin, who is not from one of the three great families, can only dream about. Without spending decades risking their lives, they wouldn't even qualify for an auction.

Even if I were to establish a relationship with Shangguan Yunchang now, it would be difficult to succeed by relying on her as a kept woman. This is because even if Shangguan Yunchang becomes the designated head of the family, she would have little say in the matter and would not be able to give away such resources privately.

'But I don't need to. My divine soul is powerful, far surpassing even Shangguan Yunchang, the designated head of a noble family. There's no reason I can't pass this test. If I can't, then no one in this world can.'

Zhuang Jin thought for a moment and took out a pill.

This is the Corpse-Breaking Insect Pill, which targets the Three Corpse Insects. After ingestion, one must take a specially made antidote regularly. If the antidote is not taken, the corpse insects will rampage and cause a backlash.

This Corpse-Expelling Insect Pill was a method used by the Round Table Council to control its core members. Joining the core of the Round Table Council had many benefits, but it also had methods of control. After the Round Table Council was destroyed, he obtained this pill through an exchange at the Round Table Council of the Suspended Heaven Bureau.

"For martial artists who haven't reached the Three Corpses Realm, this is a controlling poison, a great harm. But for those who have reached the Three Corpses Realm, it might be a good medicine. For example, if their spiritual strength is insufficient to detect the corpse worms, this pill can be used to deliberately make them rampage, greatly reducing the difficulty of detection."

However, Zhuang Jin has no need for it and doesn't know how to use it—this was leaked from the Xuantian Division's roundtable meeting, and they don't take responsibility for after-sales quality. If you really try to cheat with this pill, who knows what problems might arise?
He exchanged it only for research purposes. As his martial arts skills deepened, he would gain some understanding of human medicine. By using this pill to explore the essence of the corpse worms, he could deepen his understanding of the Corpse Slayer Realm, thus making good use of it.

'Through the information within the Black Fiend Technique, and my research into the Corpse-Slaying Insect Pill over these past few days, I now have a complete understanding of the Corpse-Slaying Realm.'

"The path of martial arts requires utmost caution, like walking on thin ice, with reverence in one's heart. Yet, one cannot lack the resolve to make decisive moves and the courage to advance relentlessly. I believe I have already reached the pinnacle of my abilities, so there is no need for hesitation. Let's break through today!"

Zhuang Jin thought to himself, silently circulating his cultivation technique to break through to the next realm.

……

(End of this chapter)