"Thank you both for your care these past days!"
Yan Chuan walked out and thanked Shao Yancong and Zhao Ye, who were waiting outside.
Though Yan Chuan had been immersed in myriad books, engrossed in the research and development of the ’Yijinjing’ and ’Xingyi Boxing’ over the past ten days, he knew that the two had continuously sent various boxing manuals and secret manuals up to the sixth floor and guarded outside to prevent disturbances. Because of this, Yan Chuan was able to focus wholeheartedly on reading, gaining immense benefits.
the development progress of the ’Yijinjing’ was already more than halfway through.
The progress of ’Xingyi Boxing’ was even nearing its end.
Once these two martial arts were successfully developed, Yan Chuan’s strength would undoubtedly undergo a tremendous transformation, and he eagerly anticipated this day to come.
To Elder Shao and Elder Zhao, Yan Chuan expressed genuine gratitude.
"We’re all family; there’s no need for formalities."
Shao Yancong waved his hand and showed concern, "Have you been contemplating creating your own boxing technique these days? How’s the progress?"
Yan Chuan didn’t hold back and laughed, "I’ve been inspired by the ’Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound Technique’ and want to integrate it into our Great Yan Boxing Skill. Now I’ve got some clues."
’Xingyi Boxing’ was almost within reach!
Perhaps, after the trip to Suanzao Mountain, this peak boxing skill could be successfully developed.
Seeing Yan Chuan’s confidence, even though Shao Yancong and Zhao Ye didn’t quite believe it, they didn’t dampen his spirits and merely smiled, "Then congratulations to Professor Yan in advance for creating another astonishing boxing technique!"
It’s customary to praise generously!
The two showed great support.
Yan Chuan was also delighted.
After chatting about this,
Shao Yancong brought up the matter of establishing a sect at Suanzao Mountain and handed Yan Chuan a list: "On this list are the masters from the Three Counties who might pose a threat to you. Those who may cause you trouble tomorrow are specially marked. Take a look so you’re prepared."
"Thank you, Elder Shao!"
Yan Chuan quickly expressed his gratitude.
Though he was skilled and daring, confident in securing his place at Suanzao Mountain, even if not, his ’fundamental pursuit’ could still be achieved.
However, Shao Yancong’s list was still quite helpful for him.
Currently, Yan Chuan had no shortage of strength, but his experience lacked. Although he had some understanding of the masters of Guangling and Taikang, he was much less familiar with those of Liyang, far less than Shao Yancong.
"This time, Sect Leader Huo will be there to look after you. We two old guys won’t go and stir up trouble, lest we give others something to talk about." Shao Yancong laughed to Yan Chuan.
The so-called ’give others something to talk about’—
didn’t refer to Shao Yancong and Zhao Ye.
But to Yan Chuan himself.
"The forces of Jianghu consistently oppose the Martial Arts Academies."
"If Brother Shao and I join, we could definitely assist, but we would also bring you criticism."
Their gossip is unstoppable!
Zhao Ye clearly knew if he and Shao Yancong were to help Yan Chuan, it would surely be rumored that Yan Chuan was a lapdog of the New Faction.
Even if they didn’t join, such rumors might be inevitable.
Yan Chuan wished to contend.
He could only bear it.
"I understand, senior."
Yan Chuan nodded, also comprehending.
There was not much more to discuss regarding establishing the sect.
At this point, Shao Yancong and Zhao Ye exchanged glances and finally brought up the main issue—
"Mid-year, the court released the list of ’Ten Great Martial Arts Schools’, along with the worldwide academy rankings. You should know about this?"
Shao Yancong handed a small booklet to Yan Chuan, inside which were the academy rankings and brief introductions of each academy.
"I am aware of this matter."
Yan Chuan took the booklet and casually flipped through it, matching the rankings he saw in the July issue of the ’Guangling Newspaper’—
’Yanjing Academy’ ranked first.
’Guangling Academy’ ranked three hundred and nine.
’Taikang Academy’ shamefully ranked four hundredth, among the bottom twenty.
And Aunt Thirteen Shen Mei’s ’Tianpeng Academy’ ranked tenth.
The rankings are distinct!
The backward ’Taikang Academy’!
The ’Guangling Academy’ Yan Chuan once crushed!
These two academies, looking across the entire Great Yan, across the Fifteen States, across the four hundred and twenty academies, only ranked at the end, not considered strong at all.
Yan Chuan, always reading the newspaper, constantly reminded himself: "My current achievements are only within one or two counties, without even leveling Jian Province, let alone the Fifteen States of Great Yan!"
He still had plenty of room for improvement!
But why did Shao Yancong suddenly bring up the academy rankings?
Shao Yancong didn’t keep him guessing, sighed, and explained to Yan Chuan: "The court took three years, based on multiple layers of comprehensive determination, to ultimately produce this ranking. Originally, starting next year, resources would be allocated based on the rankings—the higher the ranking, the richer the resources. The lower the ranking, the poorer the resources. These resources include secret medicine, surprise weapons, true gold and silver, and other support from that place."
The Great Yan Court controlled Star Gate and developed the Mountain and Sea Realm to gain a vast amount of resources.
Among them, the harvest of each Martial Arts Academy was a minor part.
The court organized masters to venture, to sweep through the Mountain and Sea Realm, acquiring countless treasures, which was the major part.
Some had miraculous effects on ordinary martial artists, such as ’Dragon Tiger Powder’ and ’Qi Blood Pills,’ both rapidly increasing the Qi-Blood of ordinary martial artists.
But ’Dragon Tiger Powder’ significantly decreased in effectiveness after Qi-Blood reached 30, with minimal growth, better than nothing.
The ’Qi Blood Pills’ drastically reduced after Qi-Blood hit 40, with the effect no longer prominent.
The court amassed numerous ’Dragon Tiger Powder,’ ’Qi Blood Pills,’ or materials for refining such secret medicine in the Mountain and Sea Realm, which were unnecessary for many masters but immensely precious resources when distributed to various Martial Arts Academies to cultivate more backbone disciples.
"Dragon Tiger Powder."
"These are merely resources for ordinary disciples; you may not value them, nor do we."
"But the court’s resources are not limited to these. Without considering surprise weapons, gold and silver, jewels, single secret medicine, ’Dragon Tiger Powder,’ and ’Qi Blood Pills’ go further up to ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill’ and ’Heavenly King Pill,’ both beneficial for limit-breaking level cultivation!"
Shao Yancong introduced court resources.
Dragon Tiger Great Pill!
This ’Heavenly King Pill,’ Yan Chuan hadn’t heard before.
But the prior ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill’ he knew. It was supposedly an upgraded pill of ’Dragon Tiger Powder,’ with stronger effects. Even after Qi-Blood reached 40 points, consuming this pill could greatly increase Qi-Blood.
Yan Chuan had not seen ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill,’ much less had consumed it.
However, when Guangling Academy’s Wang Kuan returned the Sky Shattering Bow, representing Guangling Academy, he gifted Yan Chuan ten pounds of dragon blood, at that time he said, "Golden Rock Earth Dragon’s dragon blood, drinking one bowl, isn’t less effective than ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill’!"
One bowl equals three taels!
By this calculation, ten pounds of dragon blood approximately equals fifty-three ’Dragon Tiger Great Pills’!
"Golden Rock Earth Dragon’s dragon blood classes as a resource too."
"Cultivation-enhancing treasure."
"The court indeed holds a lot."
"But once distributed, spread across the Fifteen States, four hundred and twenty academies, it’s too little, far from enough."
"Therefore, the Martial Arts Academies must also compete!"
"Especially for high-level resources like ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill,’ ’Dragon Blood,’ etc."
Shao Yancong further explained the importance of high-level resources to Yan Chuan: "For instance, Brother Zhao, after breaking the limit, and tempering all the muscles with Qi-Blood. The human body has 485 muscles; most martial artists start with either two legs or two arms. Brother Zhao started with his two arms."
Shao Yancong looked at Zhao Ye.
Zhao Ye picked up the conversation, lamenting, "Taikang Academy was opened four years ago. But I actually joined Liyang Academy nine years ago. In the fifth year, I broke the limit of Qi-Blood, and I started ’Muscle Training.’ Relying on Liyang Academy and Taikang Academy, relying on that place, I worked hard for four years, and now, I’ve only just completed tempering my right arm, and just started the left, having only tempered 3 of the 39 muscles. Body refining is difficult, not only is it ’Muscle Training,’ but also Elder Shao’s ’Bone Training.’ The human body has 206 bones, among which, the upper limb bones are 64, and the lower limb bones are 62. Elder Shao started from the upper limb bones. After six years, he’s still some way from completing all 62 upper limb bones."
This is limit-breaking level cultivation, extremely meticulous, tedious, and slow grinding work.
Either master ’Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound.’
Or use resources to pile up.
’Dragon Tiger Great Pill,’ ’Heavenly King Pill,’ and ’Dragon Blood,’ etc., are important resources for the court to spur and control limit-breaking masters like Shao Yancong and Zhao Ye.
This is a temptation with benefit!
"To quickly complete ’Bone Training’ or ’Muscle Training,’ the simplest method is drug consumption!"
"Secret medicine assistance!"
"The progress is rapid!"
"But for us, Inner Courtyard Elders of the academy, the resources like ’Dragon Tiger Great Pill,’ ’Heavenly King Pill’ we receive each year are extremely limited. As for the other place, these secret medicines, treasures are equally precious, and not a bit easier to obtain than here in Great Yan."
Shao Yancong was evidently deeply troubled by the lack of secret medicines, giving Yan Chuan a wry smile, "With your aptitude breaking the limit isn’t difficult, but starting now, you must also worry about how to acquire high-level resources."
Low-level resources, if you have money, you can get them aplenty!
High-level resources, gold and silver cannot buy!
Yan Chuan held ten pounds of ’Dragon Blood,’ equivalent to fifty-three ’Dragon Tiger Great Pills;’ he was actually quite wealthy!
But Yan Chuan still didn’t understand why Shao Yancong was telling him this?
Again with academy ranking!
Again with high-level resources!
Is this an attempt to get him involved in the construction of Taikang Academy, striving in the next three-year evaluation to significantly improve Taikang Academy’s ranking and thereby secure more resources for the academy?
Yan Chuan awaited Shao Yancong’s follow-up.
Shao Yancong solemnly stated, "Distinguishing each academy’s resources by ranking is actually fair, and no one disputes. However, this is only the case if the academies accept the rankings. But the list released by the court mid-year was based on various criteria of each academy’s level, claiming ’comprehensive’ evaluation, implying in some aspects, those ranked lower might perform better than those ranked higher. How can those lower-ranked academies accept such a situation? How can they be convinced?"
"Academies don’t accept the rankings?"
Yan Chuan was taken aback, he didn’t think of this point, but listening to Shao Yancong, it indeed made sense.