Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Bai Ming gestured towards the door with his chin: "There's a restaurant nearby, Brother Chen, would you like to stop by?"

Chen Ping nodded and followed him out.

After passing through two narrow alleys, turn into the main street.

Bai Ming pushed open the wooden door of a restaurant and gave the manager a wink.

The innkeeper understood immediately and led the two upstairs without saying a word. He pushed open the door to the private room by the window at the far end of the room, then respectfully withdrew and closed the door behind him.

Bai Ming lifted the hem of his long robe, sat down, and poured two cups of hot tea.

He raised his head, his gentle smile fading slightly, and went straight to the point: "Brother Chen, what have you thought about the place my father mentioned before?"

Chen Ping picked up his teacup but did not speak immediately.

Bai Ming didn't urge him, but just waited quietly.

A moment later, Chen Ping placed the teacup back on the table and tapped it lightly: "Let's talk about it after the Dragon Head Ritual is over."

Bai Ming nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the table: "I only learned about Mr. Li's identity and place of origin when he passed the imperial examination by chance. I have listened to Mr. Li's lectures and have also communicated with him. He is a man of great vision, and it is only a matter of time before he passes the imperial examination. If Brother Chen is interested, my father can easily settle his place of origin with just a word before the provincial examination."

The private room fell silent for a moment.

Chen Ping raised his eyelids and glanced at him: "The price?"

Bai Ming was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

This time, his smile was much more sincere: "This favor is done as it comes. Besides, my father heard that Brother Chen has entered the stage of refining tendons and blood through sword cutting these days. The scales in my heart have tipped in your favor. If the scales in my heart are not balanced, this business cannot be done. This matter is my father's new bargaining chip, nothing more."

Chen Ping picked up his teacup and pondered the meaning behind Bai Ming's words.

Helping Li Wenxiu is also a kind of investment. On the one hand, it gives him leverage to think more about going to Tianyan Prefecture with Bai Chongshan.

On the other hand, if Li Wenxiu really passed the imperial examination, the Bai family would have more benefits in their future business dealings because of Li Wenxiu's connection.

He nodded and said calmly, "I've got it."

Bai Ming raised his teacup, clinked it against his own, then put it down again, and said, "My father said that only by going to Cangwu Terrace can one avoid being buried in obscurity. Brother Chen, do you know what he meant by that?"

Chen Ping remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Bai Ming said, "When the late emperor was in power, the northern barbarians invaded, the war was fierce, and the court was short of soldiers. At that time, the major sects recruited martial artists from all over the world, but they regarded themselves as superior and closed their gates, refusing to defend the country. The late emperor was furious. Led by the Cui family and several aristocratic families in the capital, the Prince of Zhenbei took action and subdued the three major sects of Tai Miao, Tai Yue, and Qing Yue, bringing them under the jurisdiction of the court. Whenever there is a foreign enemy, they must take action."

Chen Ping, holding his teacup, asked, "Did the Prince of Zhenbei subdue three factions single-handedly?"

"Yes, even if the sects harbored rebellious intentions, they could only kneel down." Bai Ming's eyes were deep. "Since then, the imperial court has established institutions similar to Cangwu Terrace in various provinces to recruit martial artists from all over the country. The imperial court has poured resources into their training and continuously sent them to the front lines. The path of sects monopolizing martial arts has been completely cut off."

Chen Ping didn't say anything more, keeping those words to himself.

Bai Ming continued, "In recent years, there have been fewer and fewer martial artists in Huai'an Prefecture. The promising ones have all gone to Tianyan Prefecture. Sects have taken the opportunity to extend their influence here, and the Huamen Sect is one such example."

Chen Ping understood the implication but didn't respond.

Bai Ming held up three fingers, his tone highly persuasive: "Going to Cangwu Terrace has three tremendous benefits. First, the Governor of Lichuan concurrently serves as the Dean of Cangwu Terrace. Once you're there, you'll have the opportunity to receive personal guidance from the Governor. This kind of opportunity is priceless, even with mountains of gold and silver."

"Secondly, Cangwu Terrace possesses an extremely profound foundation and a complete system. Its martial arts, including fist techniques, sword techniques, and others, all have been paved with unparalleled paths by great predecessors! Brother Chen..." He leaned forward slightly, speaking frankly, "No matter how high your talent is, you are ultimately a self-taught individual. In Huai'an Prefecture, where even those at the Blood Refining Realm are few and far between, no one can tell you how to progress beyond the Transformation Realm. But Cangwu Terrace has ready-made steps to heaven!"

The private room fell silent for a moment.

"Thirdly," Bai Ming lowered his finger, throwing out his final heavy bet, "Cangwu Terrace has strict rules, recognizing only fists and military merits! As long as you have enough military merits and strength, you can obtain a real military officer contract from the imperial court! That's something that these lowly outlaws in gangs can't compare to."

After Bai Ming finished speaking, he picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and did not urge him any further.

Chen Ping lowered his head and remained silent.

The path beyond the level of Transformation.

He suppressed those words in his heart and put down his teacup again.

Bai Ming picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at him: "You came to the city today not just to see Mr. Li, were you?"

Chen Ping thought for a moment: "We need to go to the black market to find Xuan Tie."

Bai Ming stood up and straightened his long robe: "I know the way, I'll take you there."

Chen Ping had been to the streets east of Shanyang City before, and he knew the way well, so he followed Bai Ming into that dead-end alley.

Bai Ming walked to the wall, raised his hand and knocked three times, paused for a moment, and then knocked twice more.

The brick walls are staggered, revealing the stone steps leading to the entrance.

The two walked down.

The underground smells were still the same: a mixture of mold, blood, and an indescribable bitterness. The oil lamps were dim, the shadows were long and thin, the stalls were cluttered and disorganized, and the voices were kept very low.

Chen Ping followed Bai Ming inside and stopped in front of a short, stout middle-aged man's stall.

The stall owner looked up, saw Bai Ming, and smiled broadly as he stood up: "Oh, Young Master Bai, is there anything you need today?"

Bai Ming lowered his voice: "Do you have Xuan Tie?"

The short, stout stall owner rolled his eyes and mysteriously took half a step closer: "To tell you the truth, I just got here. It was smuggled in by a smuggling caravan at great risk. The customer is in a hurry to get the money and get rid of it. The price is negotiable. Gentlemen, please come with me."

The stall owner wrapped up his stall and led the two straight to a low, earthen house deep inside the black market.

He knocked on the door several times in a very rhythmic manner.

The wooden door opened a crack, and a man wearing a gray cloth shirt cautiously poked half his body out.

He clutched a heavy black cloth bag in his hand, his eyes wary as he scanned Chen Ping and Bai Ming.

The short, stout stall owner quickly stepped forward and whispered a guarantee: "This is Young Master Bai from the Bai family. He's absolutely safe. You can rest assured."

The man's suspicious gaze lingered on Bai Ming's face for a moment before he relaxed his tense shoulders slightly, nodded, and opened the half-closed door.

Bai Ming quoted a price.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed, a glint of wild joy flashed in his eyes, and he was about to open his mouth to agree.

The hidden door on the other side of the earthen house was pushed open, and a tall, thin man entered, followed by a burly man with a strong build and a heavy gait, carrying a thick-backed knife at his waist.

The tall, thin man cupped his hands in greeting to the seller and lowered his voice, saying, "Old Li, this brother is also here for that thing you have."

The burly man's eyes fell directly on the cloth bag, and he said, "Wait, I want this black iron too."