In the aftermath of the chaos, the land was left in shambles.
Houses had collapsed, their bricks, tiles, and wooden beams strewn about.
The wounded lay on makeshift stretchers, their agonized wails echoing without end.
Such scenes were common throughout the city, and the Zhu Mansion was no exception.
"In less than a year, first someone unleashed a horde of Pig Demons in the Prefecture City, then the Sanhe Gang and Qingyi Gang started their war, and now we have a demon scourge engulfing the entire city."
Nursing Director Zhang sighed.
"These are truly troubled times!"
"Things should be fine from now on," Qian Shiyao said in a low voice, bringing over a cloth that had been sterilized in boiling water and wiping at the ’wound’ on Zhu Ju’s body.
"The Sanhe Gang has now established a firm foothold, and even the Demons within the gang have been completely driven out."
"The days ahead should be much more peaceful."
"I hope so." Nursing Director Zhang sighed, then added, "Young Master, you didn’t need to get involved last night. The mansion employs so many guards; we can’t just be freeloaders."
"Now you’ve been injured because of this, and it might hinder your progress in Martial Arts..."
"It’s all our fault for failing to protect you!"
"I was careless," Zhu Ju said slowly, his expression placid as he let Qian Shiyao carefully wipe the blood from his wound. "I never expected that at the same Eighth Grade, a Demon would be so much stronger than a human Martial Artist. It’s quite incredible."
"Later, I’ll make a trip to Lu’s Boxing Hall and consult with Master Lu about my injury."
"By the way."
"How did things go elsewhere last night?"
Though Demons had broken into the Zhu Mansion last night, with him and Nursing Director Zhang holding down the fort, casualties were minimal.
The members of the second and third households in the rear courtyard were completely unharmed, merely shaken by the ordeal.
"I sent someone to inquire first thing this morning," Qian Shiyao replied. "They say this demon scourge was the work of the Sanhe Gang’s Demons. The Sanhe Gang’s Vice Gang Leader, Hai Yunzou, was actually a Sixth-Grade Flood Dragon. After he went berserk, the Gang Leader killed him by the dark culvert in South City."
"The joint defense force formed by the City Lord’s Mansion, the Zhou Family, and the Nie Family has already cleared out most of the remaining Demons in the city."
"I also ran into some of Miss Zhou’s people, who were asking after you, Young Master."
’Hai Yunzou is actually dead?’
Doubt flickered in Zhu Ju’s eyes.
’Demon-Luring Grass isn’t supposed to work on a Sixth-Grade Demon.’
’Besides, Hai Yunzou supposedly has the backing of the East Sea Dragon Race. Even if he really went berserk, would Li Xianshan dare to kill him?’
’Isn’t he afraid of retaliation from the Flood Dragon Race?’
’Still, after this battle, the Demon Race within the Sanhe Gang has been all but wiped out. That solves a major internal threat, at least.’
"Hmm..." Zhu Ju mused, then stood up.
"Prepare the carriage. I’m going to Lu’s Boxing Hall."
"Young Master!"
Qian Shiyao’s expression changed.
"Your injury..."
"It’s nothing," Zhu Ju said, waving his hand.
"Hurry up and go."
"Yes."
Resigned, Qian Shiyao could only obey and turn to prepare the carriage.
*
*
*
Lu’s Boxing Hall.
Although Zhu Ju had learned the Dragon Elephant Force and Giant Spirit Fist from Lu Dingkui, this was only his second time visiting this place.
The reason was simple. As a young master from a wealthy family and the Patriarch of the Zhu Family, he paid handsomely enough to receive private, customized lessons.
He didn’t need to receive standardized instruction at the boxing hall like the other commoners.
HISS...
Lu Dingkui lifted the back of Zhu Ju’s shirt, and his expression changed abruptly, a look of horror filling his eyes.
On what should have been a smooth back, there was now a hideous gash, a foot long.
The skin and flesh were peeled back, faintly revealing the bone beneath.
Another inch deeper, and it would have struck his internal organs.
What truly shocked him, however, was that Zhu Ju could endure such a terrifying injury without so much as flinching.
This wealthy young master, it seemed, possessed a fortitude far more resilient and powerful than anyone had imagined.
"This wound..."
Lu Dingkui’s expression was grave as he slowly shook his head.
"The damage goes deep into the muscle. Even if it heals, it will never fully recover. What a terrible shame."
He let out a long sigh and said, "I heard that you single-handedly killed an Eighth-Grade Demon last night, Young Master Zhu?"
"Not exactly," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head. "The Zhu Mansion guards helped. If I had been on my own, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be here to see you today, Master Lu."
"Incredible!" Lu Dingkui praised. "To fight on even terms with an Eighth-Grade Demon with only a Ninth-Grade Cultivation... even a battle-hardened Demon Catcher would struggle to do that."
"Young Master Zhu, have you cultivated the Dragon Elephant Force to the Minor Success stage?"
"That’s right." Zhu Ju flexed his wrist and replied slowly, "I was just one step away from forming the Golden Threaded Jade Robe. But alas... I’m afraid that final step is now beyond my reach."
The light in Lu Dingkui’s eyes dimmed.
Indeed.
The Strength flowed unimpeded through Zhu Ju’s Skin and Flesh, but this wound had torn a hole in his otherwise flawless Physical Body.
Unless he could find some Spiritual Medicine capable of repairing the Physical Body, a scar on his back was inevitable.
And that scar,
would make it impossible for his Cultivation Technique to reach the Perfection stage.
"This is the nature of Body Refining Hard Skills."
Lu Dingkui sighed softly.
"Body Tempering Methods require external trials to hone the body. The slightest misstep can cause self-injury and cut one’s path short."
"For you to cultivate the Dragon Elephant Force to the Minor Success stage in such a short time, Young Master Zhu, you are truly a prodigy of Body Refining."
"It’s a pity..."
"The heavens are jealous of talent!"
As the master of a Martial Arts Hall, he knew better than anyone what this kind of injury meant to a Martial Artist who cultivated a Hard Skill.
A bright future, snuffed out just like that.
"Master Lu." Zhu Ju frowned, his face showing just the right amount of urgency. "Is there really no other way?"
"No," Lu Dingkui sighed. "Unless you can get a Third Grade master to perform Bone Marrow Cleansing on you, otherwise... it’s unlikely you’ll ever fully recover."
"A Third Grade master?" Zhu Ju’s voice grew hurried. "I’ve heard that some Cultivation Techniques can also allow a cultivator to undergo a complete transformation. Is that true?"
"Where in the world would you find a Cultivation Technique like that?" Lu Dingkui frowned. "It’s impossible..."
"Then again, perhaps!"
Perhaps trying to console Zhu Ju, he changed his tune and nodded.
"I am merely the master of a boxing hall, and my knowledge is limited. It’s not impossible that such a method exists."
"Father."
Just then, a young man walked in holding a tray.
"I’ve brought the Jade Cream."
"Good."
Lu Dingkui stood up.
"This Jade Cream is a secret ointment of the Lu Family. Applying it helps cultivators temper their Physical Body, but it also regenerates muscle and invigorates blood circulation—it’s the perfect remedy for your situation."
"Brace yourself, Young Master Zhu."
"Mm," Zhu Ju nodded, his gaze falling upon the young man. "This must be Young Master Lu Yifei, I presume?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Lu Yifei said hurriedly. "Please, just call me Yifei, Young Master Zhu. It was thanks to you that my older sister had the good fortune to go to the Divine Capital."
"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled softly. "Your sister is the one with a keen eye for talent. She turned one of my handmaidens into a phoenix. Going to the Divine Capital was a result of her own ability."
"Yifei..."
"And who might this be?"
He looked at the man behind Lu Yifei, his eyes flickering slightly.
’Last night, this man also witnessed Lu Dingkui’s display of divine might, but he just pretended to be unconscious and never opened his eyes.’
"This is my senior, Brother Zhang Luo."
Lu Yifei introduced with a smile.
"Brother Zhang is exceptionally talented. He’s already reached the Eighth Grade and is poised to inherit the legacy of our boxing hall in the future."
"Greetings, Young Master Zhu." Zhang Luo stepped forward and bowed with his fist in his palm. "I can’t compare to you, Young Master Zhu. You cultivated the Dragon Elephant Force to the Minor Success stage in just over a year."
"..." The light in Zhu Ju’s eyes dimmed.
"Let’s not talk about it."
......
「Soon after.」
Zhu Ju boarded the carriage back to the mansion, his expression gloomy. But as the carriage curtain fell, his face transformed in an instant.
Under his robes,
his Skin and Flesh began to writhe, and the once-hideous wound started to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye.
In the blink of an eye, it was gone without a trace.
’Giant Spirit Divine Skill...’
’A Cultivation Technique this mysterious and profound is impossible to master without an expert’s guidance. If Lu Dingkui had cultivated the Dragon Elephant Force, he might already be at the Seventh Grade. But he foolishly insisted on cultivating the Giant Spirit Divine Skill, and as a result, he’s only at the Eighth Grade at his age.’
’Lu Yifei is the same. He clearly has decent Talent and access to resources, yet he’s achieved little. It seems they don’t understand that a Divine Skill and Wonderful Dharma isn’t suitable for everyone.’
’But...’
He flexed his fingers and smiled faintly.
’Now that I’ve left a mark on Lu Dingkui, I’ll be able to sense it in advance if anything happens.’
As for the Giant Spirit Divine Skill,
Zhu Ju wanted to obtain it, but he wasn’t in a hurry.
Before he advanced to the Sixth Grade, the Dragon Elephant Force was more than enough for him. Switching techniques now would be pointless.
Besides,
forcibly seizing someone else’s Cultivation Technique was risky. If the Method was incomplete or contained hidden traps, the consequences would be dire.