novellaaa Chapter 33 Blood Soul Jade
Chapter 33 Blood Soul Jade
"Senior Brother Pang was injured after all, so he inevitably lost ground in front of Wang Zhenguang."
Liu Shijie sighed as he finished speaking, "Ever since that incident, many people have stopped coming to learn martial arts. Those who remain here are mostly from poor families; they've already paid the fees and have no choice but to come."
Chen Qiyuan nodded, understanding the martial arts school's current predicament.
To put it bluntly, it's a difference in prestige.
This kind of thing is invisible and intangible, but it can still affect other people's judgment.
Pang Guoyong was a generation younger and had lost a hand, so compared to Wang Zhenguang, he was naturally far inferior.
Martial arts schools don't have much cohesion; as long as you pay, it doesn't matter which school you go to to learn.
Thus, with Wu Tianhuan dead, his followers scattered like monkeys falling from a tree.
The key issue is that only Pang Guoyong and Wen Zhenzhen remain as direct descendants of the Wu family martial arts school. One is disabled, and the other is a woman, making them unsuitable for important responsibilities.
In the eyes of others, Chen Qiyuan is also one, but he is too young and cannot convince the public.
Actually, breaking this deadlock is quite simple: just go directly to Zhenguang Martial Arts School and challenge him in front of everyone. The situation will then naturally reverse.
However, Wang Zhenguang broke through to the Marrow Refining Realm ten years ago, so his strength is definitely not weak. Pang Guoyong is missing an arm after all, and even if he trains for a few more years, he may not be able to defeat him.
As for Chen Qiyuan, he naturally wouldn't do something so risky and unprofitable; his relationship with the martial arts school wasn't that close yet.
Pang Guoyong's response was correct. When you are weak, you should be patient and wait for ten or eight years. When your strength has increased to a higher level, Wang Zhenguang will be old, and everything will be different.
"And you? Why aren't you leaving?"
Chen Qiyuan looked at Liu Shijie and asked with a smile.
Liu Shijie said frankly, "In my opinion, those people are all short-sighted. They don't even consider that Senior Brother Pang is only in his early thirties, while Wang Zhenguang is nearly sixty. The glory of Zhenguang Martial Arts School is only temporary."
Besides, with you at Wu's Martial Arts School, what is a mere Wang Zhenguang worth?
He didn't say the next sentence.
What does it mean to be a sixteen-year-old at the Transformation Realm?
He has high hopes for Chen Qiyuan, so he chose to stay; this is an investment in the future.
Chen Qiyuan smiled and said, "You're suited for business; you have a keen eye."
"Haha, this is the first time someone has praised me like this." Liu Shijie said with some pride.
"Alright, I'll go check on Senior Brother Pang."
……
Chen Qiyuan went to see Senior Brother Pang and found that he was in a stable mood and had not been affected by the pressure from Zhenguang Martial Arts School.
When Pang Guoyong saw him, a slight smile appeared on his face. "Is everything done?"
"Um."
He took out several secret manuals from his pocket and placed them on the table. "I've finished reading them. Return them to their rightful owner."
Pang Guoyong didn't even glance at the manuals, and said, "Go check on my senior sister. She's been in a bad mood ever since Master died."
"it is good."
Chen Qiyuan immediately got up and left.
His relationship with Pang Guoyong was never the kind where they would sit down and chat idly.
He went to Wen Zhenzhen's courtyard, only to be told by a maid that she had already gone to sleep.
It seems that his absence from Wu Tianhuan's funeral still left a grudge in her heart, and she refused to see him out of spite.
Chen Qiyuan didn't insist. He told the maid to rest well and then turned and left.
……
After leaving the martial arts school, Chen Qiyuan arrived at a secluded place. After confirming that no one was following him, he turned several times and entered an inconspicuous house.
This is the very place where he hid with that mysterious old woman last time.
After that last time, the old woman disappeared without a trace, as if she had vanished into thin air.
He thought he'd come back for a quick look, but when he opened the door, he was stunned to see someone sitting in the yard sunbathing. "S-senpai?"
The person in front of me looked very similar to the old woman, except that there were still some black hairs in her white hair and her wrinkles were not as severe.
She looks twenty years younger.
He wondered for a moment if she was the old woman's daughter.
The old woman smiled. "What, don't you recognize me?"
"It really is you, senior?" Chen Qiyuan said with surprise. "It's so good to see you're alright. How come you've become so young? I almost didn't recognize you just now."
The old woman looked him up and down and praised, "Not bad. In such a short time, your cultivation has improved so much. It was worth waiting for you here."
Chen Qiyuan felt that uneasy feeling again, as if all his secrets had been seen through. He suppressed his discomfort and said, "Thanks to the book 'Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound' that you gave me, senior."
"You don't need to be afraid. Even if you have some secrets, I won't pry into them."
He didn't know how to respond, so he could only give an awkward smile.
Seeing his expression, the old woman smiled and said, "I told you last time that if you can break through to the Marrow Refining Realm within half a month, I will give you a great opportunity."
As she spoke, she took something out of her bosom and tossed it over.
Chen Qiyuan subconsciously took it. It was a black stone the size of an egg, with a smooth surface and a jade-like luster, somewhat like a pebble.
It glows with a reddish light in the sunlight.
He asked, "What is this?"
The old woman said, "Some say it's the blood of an ancient demon beast, others say it's the blood of a deity. People call it Blood Soul Jade. For ordinary martial artists, it can only be used to temper their will. But for martial artists who cultivate ancient martial arts and have not been touched by the power of the spiritual roots of heaven and earth, it is an opportunity."
"Ancient martial arts lineage?"
Chen Qiyuan noticed that she used this term, "You mean stance training?"
"Indeed," the old woman said leisurely. "In ancient times, everyone started with stance training. Later, the world changed drastically, and spiritual roots appeared, making martial arts training easier. The ancient martial arts began to decline."
Chen Qiyuan never imagined there was such a secret involved; no wonder he felt the two martial arts systems were so different. It turns out that in ancient times, there were no spiritual roots.
So here's the question.
"Senior, how could something like a spiritual root suddenly appear in the world?"
"I want to know too. This is probably the greatest secret in the world." The old woman shook her head and said, "You are the fifth ancient martial arts inheritor I have met. I must make it clear to you."
Her expression turned serious. "This Blood Soul Jade is both an opportunity and a test. If you fail the test, your soul may be damaged. But if you pass the test, you will receive great benefits."
"Here you are the Blood Soul Jade. Whether you choose to accept the test is up to you. The method is simple: at midnight, place it close to your forehead."
"Alright, I have to go. I have an enemy who will be catching up with me in Nan'an City soon. If he comes looking for you, you can tell him everything about me, and he will give you some benefits."
After saying that, she disappeared from the spot.
Chen Qiyuan had no idea how she left; it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
What an extraordinary person!
"Oh, and I left you a small gift. I hope you like it. It's a way of repaying you for your help that day..."
The old woman's voice rang in his ears again, her tone carrying a sly glint of triumph.
Gift?
What could it be?
Chen Qiyuan still harbored a small amount of expectation.
"By the way, how should I address you, senpai?"
He remembered something and asked loudly.
After waiting for a while without receiving a reply, it seems they really left.