Chapter 19: Strength Greatly Increased, A Challenger Arrives

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Strength Greatly Increased, A Challenger Arrives

After registering Lu Yuan’s basic information, the final section was the recommender’s column.

Wu the Cripple wrote his own name: Wu Sanchuan.

"Alright, here is your waist badge and the rulebook," Feng Ze said, taking out the two items and handing them to Lu Yuan. "You must not lose the waist badge, and you must memorize the rules!

"Old Wu will teach you the rest, show you around, and take you to collect some supplies."

"Thank you, Director Feng," Lu Yuan said, solemnly accepting the items.

"Let’s go," Wu the Cripple said, turning on his heel.

Next was a trip to the logistics department to collect clothes and weapons. Lu Yuan received two sets of uniforms, including hats, belts, and boots. The standard issue weapon was also a saber. If one wished to use other weapons, they had to purchase them themselves, but damages would not be reimbursed.

"Another newcomer arrived."

"Wu the Cripple recommended someone?"

"He doesn’t look very old, and his cultivation is not even at the Eighth-Grade yet—interesting."

Many people saw them along the way. Since it wasn’t the designated time for mass recruitment, very few newcomers were joining the Demon Suppression Bureau right now. The main point of interest was that Lu Yuan’s cultivation was below the Eighth-Grade. Moreover, he was recommended by Wu the Cripple, a rather unique figure within the Demon Suppression Bureau. It was hard not to attract attention as they walked.

"Go back for now, and come here before 7:45 AM tomorrow," Wu the Cripple said with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, Old Wu," Lu Yuan replied, leaving with his saber and uniform.

Today was just an introduction, a matter of going through the formalities. There were very few places he could go and very little he could learn for now. Only by truly gaining experience and earning the recognition of the Demon Suppression Bureau would he gradually obtain more authority and access to more resources.

[Congratulations on successfully rejoining the Demon Suppression Bureau. A reward of 5 Root Bone points and 3,000 EXP has been credited.]

Five Root Bone points and 3,000 EXP! Both were massive rewards.

As the five Root Bone points integrated into his body, the changes were far more pronounced than before. He could clearly feel his skeleton becoming stronger and tougher, expanding his potential. Lu Yuan even felt his meridians and muscles strengthen slightly, while his True Qi underwent a faint transformation. Root Bone altered the very essence of the entire physical body.

"I’ll add all 3,000 EXP to the Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes!" he thought.

Only the Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes remained, and it had to reach perfection!

A flood of comprehension surged into his mind. The Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes was elevated, becoming even more profound and unpredictable. Originally, Lu Yuan had deduced the Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes using his Prodigy Moment. However, possessing a Cultivation Technique and proving its feasibility was entirely different from actually mastering it through practice. He still needed to refine and perfect it upon that foundation.

It was like the difference between a bare skeleton with meridians and a complete person filled with flesh and blood who still needed to learn arts like the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The latter was vastly different from the former, with entirely different possibilities and potential.

[Martial Arts: Cyan Gang Fist (Perfection), Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes (Great Success 7993/10000)]

Lu Yuan’s current progress in the Wind-Breaking Nine Slashes was approaching four-fifths; he was only one-fifth away from perfection. This meant he had pushed it two or three levels beyond Great Success, making it absolutely distinct. Even his footsteps generated wind, as if he were a saber continuously cleaving through the air.

Returning home, Lu Yuan quickly set down his things and began to practice.

"SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—"

"SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—"

Fierce winds howled, and saber qi crisscrossed the courtyard. There was a sensation of man and saber about to merge into one. Unfortunately, he was still just a tiny bit short. His cultivation level also restricted him, preventing him from fully unleashing the power of the Saber Technique. Still, this was a significant improvement compared to yesterday. Even without using Unyielding Will, he could unleash the Ninth Slash...

"Is this the Lu Family’s home?"

"It shouldn’t be wrong. The doorway matches."

"The home of Chief Constable Lu Ming of the Government Office. Is his son, Lu Yuan, at home?"

"Go knock on the door and see."

"Did Lu Yuan really have an epiphany? I don’t believe it for a second!"

Suddenly, a clamor of voices rang out at the door. Soon after...

KNOCK KNOCK—

Someone pounded on the door.

"Coming," Lu Yuan called out. He sheathed his saber, tucked it behind his back, and walked over to open the door with a smile.

CREAK—

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—

In an instant, more than a dozen gazes locked onto Lu Yuan’s face, their expressions varying greatly.

"Is he Lu Yuan?"

"It shouldn’t be wrong!"

"That’s Lu Yuan, I recognize him!"

"So this is Lu Yuan?"

Lu Yuan’s image and aura had undergone a subtle transformation, especially after his Fist Technique reached perfection, elevating his spirit and vitality. With his Root Bone altered and his Saber Technique nearing perfection, he looked youthful but not the slightest bit immature. Instead, he carried the demeanor of a peerless genius and a supreme swordsman.

After all, with the system in his possession, Lu Yuan’s cultivation speed surpassed even that of true geniuses, giving him unshakeable confidence in becoming an unparalleled powerhouse. This inner confidence radiated outward as an imposing aura. It unconsciously inspired admiration, envy, jealousy, and even a sliver of apprehension among the onlookers.

Lu Yuan also surveyed the crowd. They were all Martial Artists. There were Rough-clothed Independent Cultivators, Martial Arts Hall Disciples, members of Small Family’s Guard Houses, and Sect disciples. Their ages ranged from fourteen or fifteen to thirty. Only two men with thick beards looked to be in their thirties or forties.

"Everyone, what business brings you to my Lu family’s door?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Are you Lu Yuan?" A solid, muscular young man in his early twenties stepped forward. His chin was slightly raised, projecting confidence and a hint of arrogance.

"And who might you be?" Lu Yuan asked.

"I am Zhou Peng from the Yaoyang Martial Arts Hall. Though I am not very talented, I rank third in our hall!" The young man cupped his fists, a proud expression on his face.

The Yaoyang Martial Arts Hall was a rather famous martial arts establishment within the Zhen Fourth Ring. Its past and present masters were both Seventh-Grade Martial Artists. Furthermore, they had trained over a dozen Eighth-Grade Martial Artists and more than a hundred Ninth-Grade Martial Artists, forming a relatively strong faction in the surrounding area. At the Daqian Martial Arts Hall, one graduated upon reaching the Eighth-Grade. For him to fight his way to third place among the Ninth-Grade disciples proved a certain level of strength.

"Oh," Lu Yuan nodded indifferently, looking toward the others. "Who else?"

Their purpose for coming today was self-evident. He wanted to know, who else wanted to challenge him? Even though more than a dozen people had shown up, very few actually dared to stick their necks out and issue a challenge.

CLACK—

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth dressed in yellow stepped forward and crossed his arms over his chest. "You should defeat him first. If you can’t even beat him, then you aren’t qualified to exchange blows with me."

"A nobody?" Lu Yuan scoffed.

"You..." The youth was instantly enraged. "I am Cen Hui, an Outer Disciple of the Northwest Liangzhou Huasha Sect!"

The Huasha Sect was a relatively famous sect in Liangzhou, located three hundred thousand miles northwest of the Jade Capital. Rumor had it that the strongest expert in the sect was a Fourth-Grade master.

"Oh, and what exactly are you all here for?" Lu Yuan asked the crowd calmly.

"I heard that you suddenly had an epiphany during your cultivation the night before last, and even upgraded your family’s ancestral Cultivation Technique. I, Zhou, am not very talented, but I have come specifically to seek guidance," Zhou Peng said, cupping his fists.

"What about you? Are you here for the same reason?" Lu Yuan asked, looking at Cen Hui.

"Exactly!" Cen Hui nodded, though his face was written with disbelief and mockery. "Just don’t build a reputation on lies and steal fame, or you might end up in a very miserable state later."

"That did indeed happen," Lu Yuan nodded.

"He admitted it!"

"He actually dared to admit it?"

"He doesn’t know the meaning of death!"

"This is going to be a good show!"

The group immediately grew rowdy. Daring to admit it in broad daylight meant things were about to get serious. It made their visit today much more meaningful and guaranteed a good show. They had been worried that Lu Yuan wouldn’t dare to confess, meaning they would have made the trip for nothing.

But now, it was perfect. Next would be the fight to verify his claims. If Lu Yuan lost, he was a fraud. If he won, it still wouldn’t prove much. There would be even more powerful challengers coming after him...

"Do you dare to fight me?" Zhou Peng asked, overjoyed. He was going to use Lu Yuan to make a name for himself!

"Yesterday, I went to the Zhendong Sub-Office to look for my father. At the entrance, I ran into Deputy Chief Yang and a few constables..." Lu Yuan deliberately changed the subject, slowly beginning to recount a story.