As a core disciple of the Cloudstride Sect, Xu Shouyi had a deep understanding of the Chu-Jiang Empire that once ruled the sect.
During Xu Shouyi's childhood, the Chu-Jiang Empire had yet to crumble entirely. Thus, upon laying his eyes on the characters "Chu-Jiang" etched onto one side of the token, Xu Shouyi immediately recognized it as the fabled Chu-Jiang Token.
Could it be a forgery? Certainly, such a possibility existed! From what Xu Shouyi knew, rumors of the Chu-Jiang Token had circulated throughout the Chu Continent, the Jiang Continent, and even the Yuan Continent, causing quite a commotion.
But considering the fact that it instigated Yang Long to massacre an entire manor, and even provoked the involvement of Beast Mountain Ming Lie and that enigmatic expert, it is highly probable that it is authentic. I wonder if Jiang Dongque has found out about it.
Given the significance of the Chu-Jiang Token, the sect would undoubtedly dispatch an expert to investigate once they caught wind of it. Once the token's authenticity was confirmed and it fell into their possession, Xu Shouyi, being the first to report it, would undoubtedly earn great merit.
As for that mysterious spearman, I wonder where he has vanished. Nonetheless, this is my chance.
He didn't waste any more time, immediately writing a confidential report, and swiftly packaging it along with the two sheets of drawings.
"Go, immediately take this to the sect's postal station. It must be urgently delivered to the sect headquarters overnight." Xu Shouyi ordered his guard, urgency evident in his voice. "Hurry! It is of utmost importance!"
"Yes, General." Sensing the gravity of the situation, the guard promptly departed.
"Old Xu, we're leaving!"
Xu Shouyi straightened his clothes and walked towards the door. "Take me to the two witnesses. I must personally interrogate them."
"General, it's quite late." Steward Xu was taken aback.
Ever since the treacherous attempt on his life under the cover of darkness, Wu Yuan had not ventured far from the alleyways of the Wu family's street, never straying too far from his home.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
On this day, Wu Yuan was in his family's modest courtyard, methodically practicing his punches with a deliberate cadence, reminiscent of an elder's health-preserving exercises.
However, upon closer inspection, one would notice a subtle quiver running through his skin, muscles, tendons, and bones.
Ordinary martial artists relied on a multitude of rigorous exercises to build their strength. However, for a martial arts Grandmaster whose control over their own body has already reached the highest possible level, controlling the musculoskeletal system to vibrate subtly could allow him to achieve excellent training efficacy!
Hmm? Wu Yuan, ever vigilant of his surroundings, suddenly narrowed his eyes.
He ceased punching, pausing in place. His pores, previously contracted, now expanded, allowing copious amounts of sweat to cascade from his body, forming a gossamer sheen on his skin.
Someone was approaching!
As long as one's mind was agile enough to multitask, Strength Training and Environmental Mastery cultivation could be trained in tandem without conflict.
"Wu Yuan, are you at home?" A melodious voice drifted through the air.
Huan Xinyan? Wu Yuan was slightly startled.
"Yes." Wu Yuan took a measured step forward and swung open the courtyard door.
In an alley not far from the courtyard house stood Huan Xinyan. She was clad in a loose purple robe, a faint smile on her face. She was strikingly gallant.
"Practicing?" Huan Xinyan's discerning gaze swept over Wu Yuan. As an Adept, she could detect the subtle perspiration that clung to his body, the telltale sign of an intense workout.
"Yes, I have just concluded my session!" Wu Yuan wiped away the perspiration and offered a warm smile. "Instructor Huan, please come in."
"No need for that." Huan Xinyan said with a smile, "These past few days, why haven't you been at the martial academy?"
"I wanted to spend more time with my family." Wu Yuan answered simply.
"Hmm." Huan Xinyan nodded. "Very well. You should have a rough idea of why I'm visiting. Protectorate Gao Yu has returned from the Southdream City."
"The sect has tentatively approved your special recruitment request. Please come with me to the martial academy now," informed Huan Xinyan.
"Approved?" Wu Yuan seemed to brighten up. He moved to step out the door but then hesitated, withdrawing his foot.
"Instructor Huan, please give me one moment, I'll change into clean clothes." Wu Yuan darted into his room.
Huan Xinyan wasn't in a rush and waited patiently.
After changing to clean attire, the two departed from the Wu family's street and boarded a rather opulent carriage waiting along the main road. They headed directly to the martial academy.
"Wu Yuan, Protectorate Gao Yu went to considerable lengths to visit the hall master to appeal for your case." Huan Xinyan said.
"The hall master?" Wu Yuan was slightly surprised. He didn't understand much about the organizational structure of the Cloudstride Sect. But just from his scant knowledge about the five halls of the sect, the hall master was, without a doubt, a figure of utmost authority within the Cloudstride Sect. Perhaps even the sect leader himself would show deference to such a person.
In just five days, Gao Yu had an audience with the master of the Finance Hall?
"I'm telling you this not because I want you to do anything, but just so you remember this favor." Huan Xinyan said softly, "This is how much the sect values you, as well as our expectations for you."
Wu Yuan nodded gently.
The carriage raced swiftly, coming to a stop deep inside the martial academy. This was an area Wu Yuan seldom visited.
As he dismounted from the carriage, his eyes quickly scanned his surroundings, taking in the sight of the grand, open gates of the central hall.
Gao Yu occupied the principal seat. In the guest's seat by his side was a middle-aged man in linen clothes. His head was lowered, and he appeared quite inconspicuous.
What kind of person would have the privilege of sitting there?
There was something peculiar about this unassuming figure.
“Let us enter.” Huan Xinyan led Wu Yuan in. As they stepped into the chamber, Wu Yuan was greeted by a subtle fragrance that seemed to melt away his tension and put his entire being at ease.
"Senior," Wu Yuan greeted respectfully.
"Please, take a seat," Gao Yu gestured towards a table and chair, a slight smile on his face.
"Yes." Wu Yuan bowed courteously before taking a seat alongside Huan Xinyan.
Gao Yu began speaking softly, "Wu Yuan, I have discussed your special recruitment with the hall master, and there are no issues. We have also prepared a cultivation plan for you. It is right in front of you on the table. Please take a look."
"A cultivation plan?" He picked up the topmost page from the neatly arranged stack of papers on the tea table. The paper was of exceptional quality and filled with intricate lines of writing.
The Cloudstride Sect had stood for three centuries, but for the majority of its existence, it had been subject to the rule of the Chu-Jiang Empire, sharing governance over the subordinate provinces and counties. It was only in recent decades that the sect had gained complete control over local affairs. But even then, it still largely adhered to the laws of the Chu-Jiang Empire.
The common folk, though considered citizens of the sect, were only required to pay taxes and uphold the laws. Nothing more was demanded of them. Yet this cultivation plan opened with 'responsibilities' at the top.
The elementary and intermediate martial academies require disciples to pay tuition fees. These disciples are not considered true sect members. But for disciples of tertiary martial academies and the Cloud Martial Hall, each one is a true disciple of the sect!
Disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall were exempt from any fees. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The sect poured a vast amount of resources into the Cloud Martial Hall each year, providing every disciple with ample resources for their cultivation. As disciples of the sect, they were given the privilege of enjoying the sect's resources. And so, when the sect called on them to serve, they had to unconditionally obey the sect's orders, including going to war, and killing for the sect!
In simple terms, to become a member of the sect was to die as a ghost of the sect. This was an unbreakable bond.
However, Wu Yuan wasn't too concerned. The notion of 'obedience to the sect' might seem limiting, but if one continuously improved their strength, eventually controlling the vast majority of the sect's power, they could naturally command the sect's resources. It was a reciprocal relationship!
"All disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall receive approximately 5000 sect contribution points worth of cultivation resources each year. Meanwhile, I will receive cultivation resources worth 50,000 sect contribution points each year?"
Ten times more than an ordinary disciple!
"One can earn contribution points by rendering meritorious services to the sect, which can be exchanged for various resources within the sect, or directly gifted to some young disciples." Huan Xinyan explained, "Generally speaking, one contribution point is equivalent to one silver tael."
"However, contribution points can be exchanged for some precious resources that are difficult to come by in the outside world."
Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. In his perspective, contribution points acted as the internal currency of the Cloudstride Sect, facilitating the distribution of resources.
Wu Yuan quickly skimmed through the content. What followed were detailed descriptions of cultivation resources such as types of natural treasures, secret techniques, cultivation environments, educational materials, and so on. It was rather complex.
Wu Yuan had to concede that the Cloudstride sect truly lived up to its reputation as a great sect with centuries of history. The written plan, at the very least, was comprehensive and reasonable... even though Wu Yuan had little use for it!
He placed the stack of papers down on the table.
"Wu Yuan, how do you find it? Are you satisfied?" Gao Yu inquired.
"Quite satisfied," Wu Yuan replied with a nod.
"For disciples of the Cloud Martial Hall, aside from the annual basic contribution points, there are a multitude of missions and ranking duels. As long as you steadily improve your strength and work diligently, the resources you receive will only increase," Gao Yu elaborated. "Moreover, our Finance Hall guarantees that if you can become a first-rate Adept before the age of twenty, we will dedicate all our resources to aid your growth."
"Mm," Wu Yuan nodded. Such a promise was essentially empty words, devoid of any real meaning. If one truly possessed such exceptional talent, the Cloudstride Sect would wholeheartedly support them, unless they were complete fools.
"More details will be provided once you join the sect," Gao Yu smiled. "Let us move on to the second matter for today. We have prepared a welcome gift for you." As he spoke, he rose from his seat and approached Wu Yuan, presenting a pristine book adorned with gilded lettering.
"Your martial arts skill has reached the Power Surge level. This 'Cloud Martial Power Surge: Nineteen Movements' manual encapsulates the wisdom accumulated over countless generations of sect members and will aid you in bolstering your strength," Gao Yu explained earnestly.
"Thank you, Senior," Wu Yuan looked overjoyed as he accepted the book.
"The second gift is a collection of twenty top-grade body tempering pills, which will assist you in your body tempering cultivation," Gao Yu produced a purple jade vial.
"Top-grade body tempering pills?" Wu Yuan asked in confusion, "I only know of high-grade and medium-grade body tempering pills."
"Haha, the higher the grade of a body tempering pill, the fewer impurities it contains. High-grade body tempering pills still possess a considerable amount of impurities, rendering them unsuitable for consumption in large quantities by martial artists," Huan Xinyan chimed in. "The top-grade body tempering pill, on the other hand, is meticulously refined by a master alchemist from our sect and contains almost no impurities. Such a treasure is not easily obtainable even with wealth in the outside world."
"So precious? A master alchemist?" Wu Yuan seemed quite surprised. He stowed away the purple jade vial.
"There are three gifts in total, the first two are conventional, nothing out of the ordinary," Gao Yu said. "Only the third one is a treasure of immeasurable worth, a rarity that our sect, with all its resources, could never hope to replicate."
"It is considered an immortal treasure, and cannot be bought with money. It was collected from an immortal relic, the ruins of an immortal's dwelling, by two ancestors of the sect, and the hall master has chosen to bestow it upon you!"
"This is known as a Soul Condensing Pill!" Gao Yu produced a white jade vial.