A Long River Myth

Two days later, the morning mist had not yet dissipated.

Li Hong had already stood up, showing no signs of relaxation despite the end of the martial arts exam.

For him, being a first-class martial arts student simply meant that acquiring resources became easier.

Empty fame? Li Hong didn't care much about it.

【Iron Wall Skill - Tiger Spine Strength (310/2000)】

[Perfect completion of 100-step standing meditation (510/2000)]

【Mastery of the Hundred Refinements Fist Technique (351/1000)】

【Mastery of the North Wind Spear Technique (125/2000)】

[Mastery of the Converging Edge Technique (251/1000)]

All he cares about now is his progress in martial arts.

One-quarter of the way through the Innate Realm has been reached.

Li Hong estimated that with sufficient resources, he could reach the late stage of the Innate Realm within a month.

"It's just that without subsequent internal cultivation techniques, I'm still unable to step into the next realm..."

"The martial arts exam is still over three months away, and unless you're the top-ranked student, you'll have to go through layers of selection before you can enter a top sect..."

Li Hong swung his left and right arms and slowly warmed up with a set of Hundred-Refined Fist.

The night before, Ye Qingsong personally visited to extend his greetings.

They sent a thousand taels of silver and a box of precious medicine that had been stored for three years.

He was then instructed to visit the business on a chosen date.

It's obvious that it's a matter of compensation.

This first-class martial arts student is already quite famous in the inner city. These past two days, apart from the patrol office and the martial arts hall, he has been very well-known.

Many forces within the inner city also sent people to visit, extending olive branches from various quarters.

After some consideration, Li Hong also declined.

The reason is simple: those forces are not as powerful as Lei's Trading Company.

After taking the box of precious medicine that Ye Qingsong brought the night before, Li Hong had already felt the difference in the past two days.

I practiced the stance training twenty times a day without feeling tired at all, and still had energy to spare. The purity of the medicinal effects was worlds apart from the tonic pills that could be bought in pharmacies.

The pills he had previously taken were all extracted and broken down from precious medicines.

In terms of efficacy, it is certainly not even a fraction of the efficacy of its "original" precious medicine.

"Medicinal herbs aged three years or more are beyond the reach of a mere thousand taels of silver; without a powerful backing, there's no way to purchase them!"

After Jiang Tao's explanation the night before, Li Hong already understood the gravity of the situation.

The Lei family business was indeed a top-tier force in the county, with its goods reaching far and wide.

You have to understand how those centuries-old martial arts families in the inner city have produced so many talented individuals generation after generation.

They all control, to a certain extent, these strategic resources that can be considered part of the martial arts world.

This is something that those second-rate forces in the inner city can't provide with money.

Precious medicines are low-grade natural treasures that cannot be artificially cultivated.

How much would it take to find a single plant in remote, desolate places like cliffs and deep pools?

"A martial arts student like me, who comes from a small pond, still needs to be backed by a powerful force that can stand on the stage in order to have any hope of passing the martial arts exam."

"The envoy's vision is indeed far-sighted..."

"Now that I've stabilized my Innate Stage, in terms of true strength, I can be considered a master even within the inner city. Next, I'll proceed step by step, working my way up to the Perfect Innate Stage, and then I can fight for the top spot in the martial arts exam!"

Li Hong sighed, realizing that if Jiang Tao hadn't paved the way, he would never have known the intricacies of this matter.

He picked up a gold-embossed booklet beside him, titled "Muyang Rising Stars List".

It was sent by Jiang Tao yesterday; it's the latest edition, as is customary after the autumn examinations.

"Rising Stars Ranking: Only one hundred promising talents from within a single prefecture are included based on publicly available records... Updated monthly."

Li Hong opened the booklet and found his name in the fifty-sixth position.

As for Wan Gu, he has now become the fifty-seventh.

A few days ago, during the autumn examination, he defeated Wan Gu on the stage, naturally taking his place in the rankings.

"It's all just empty fame... Once you're on this list, perhaps there will be others vying for it, seeking the so-called higher positions?"

"How come Zhu Wen is ranked thirty-sixth?"

Li Hong spotted another familiar name; this list of rising stars would include experts under the age of twenty-five from within a prefecture.

The requirement for inclusion on the list is having official rank or title.

Li Hong smiled and shook his head. According to Zhu Wen's ranking, the inner strength is complete.

Now that I am already at the Innate Realm, if I were to unleash my true strength, I should at least be in the top thirty, right?

My gaze immediately fell upon the first place: Tang Yue, aged nineteen.

Public achievements: At seventeen, he won first-class martial arts title in his first martial arts examination; at eighteen... he single-handedly defeated the leader of Wave Mountain...

"The top spot on the list is still quite prestigious; this resume truly makes one a leader in the prefecture. They even entered the Xiantian Pass last year!"

Li Hong's eyes were burning. This Tang Yue came from the Tang family in the inner city, which was second to none among the eight great martial arts families.

They can be considered leaders, at least within the Muyang County area.

Even people in the outer city had heard of his name.

His family has been rooted here for hundreds of years, with countless members serving in official positions, making them a true local power!

Looking at the second person, their resume isn't as intimidating.

He only broke through the Innate Realm this year, and he also comes from one of these eight great martial arts families.

"Then I'll probably have to mainly compete with Tang Yue for the head armor!"

"That's still a little bit of pressure..."

Thinking about it, he ended his morning exercise.

They arrived in their own yard.

Yao was dressed in a satin outfit and had already prepared breakfast for him.

Li Fulin is dealing with the last remaining groceries in the shop.

The Fulin Grocery Store had been open for decades, and now it was closing down. The old man was still somewhat sentimental and reluctant to let it go.

Li Hong glanced at his grandfather's retreating figure, sat down, and said with a smile, "Mom...Grandpa's still not over it?"

Madam Yao smiled and said, "Your grandfather is getting old, he needs time to adjust. Hong'er, are you going out today?"

"Yes, I need to go to the inner city trading company."

Li Hong nodded, looking at Yao's rough hands, and said:

"In two more days, we can move to the inner city. Then we can hire a few servants, and you won't have to cook every day."

Madam Yao nodded, recalling the important man surnamed Ye who had come from the inner city the night before last.

He confidently asserted that Li Hongqian should move into the inner city as soon as possible.

........

Lei's Trading Company.

When Li Hong arrived at the agreed time, Ye Qingsong and his entourage were already waiting at the door.

"Welcome, Mr. Li!"

Ye Qingsong smiled slightly, adopting a very humble posture.

It should be noted that while there are many innate masters among the enshrined members of the Lei Clan, most of them have exhausted their potential.

Only Li Hong was able to stand out in the outer city.

Since it is still uncertain how far they will go in the martial arts examination, they must be given due attention.

They arrived at the inner hall.

Ye Qingsong personally poured the tea and got straight to the point:

"Li Gongfeng, the business wishes to promote you to the rank of First-Rank Gongfeng, with a monthly salary of three thousand taels and three boxes of three-year-old precious medicine every month."

The merchant also offers you a three-courtyard house in the inner city. What do you think?

Three boxes of three-year-old precious medicine? Li Hong's heart trembled slightly, but his face remained calm as he nodded.

"Thank you for your kindness, Manager Ye. I will not refuse."

Li Hong didn't say anything polite; there were still more than three months until the martial arts exam.

He was desperately short of money.

Judging from Zhu Wen's performance in the autumn examination, although he possessed a martial arts certificate, he also had the foundation of the eight great martial arts families in the inner city.

The competition for the top spot in the martial arts exam is bound to be fierce.

Only by raising my strength to the peak of the Innate Realm can I put his mind at ease.

Ye Qingsong praised the many benefits of being a first-rank official, and the two chatted for a while.

The former has already set a date, and he can move to the inner city with his family in two days.

At least in terms of resources and family, Lei's Trading Company has done everything perfectly.