Chapter 514: Seniority Not Yet Determined

The vast training ground became a battlefield.

A thin layer of yellow mist drifted with the night wind.

The echoes lingered around the beams.

The aftertaste was endless.

Guan Guan Congjian's eyes lost focus, fixed on the hazy white moon in the night sky.

He possessed the Four Symbols' sinew-bone structure, trained by Heliannianci, a lay disciple of Xuan Kong Temple, and had advanced the Golden Bell Twelve Gates to the seventh gate, condensing two true Gang, mutually reinforcing each other—no one in Huaiyin Prefecture at his realm could match him.

Even Qi Zhao Hongyuan, had he not relied on his greater age and higher realm, would have been no match.

But with his true Gang shattered and his primordial energy severely damaged, he would need at least ten days or half a month to fully recover—undoubtedly, he had lost.

The night wind sighed.

Long Yao and Long Li brought over stools.

Long Long Eying helped Liang Qu sit down, massaging his temples; Xiang Xiang Zhangsong stepped forward to assist, but Hu Qi halted him, pressing his lips shut.

Ma Ma Shaobai washed his hands, clenched his teeth, and squeezed and kneaded the small dog in his hands.

Zong Zong Lichan silently squatted beside Guan Guan Congjian, resting his head on her thigh, then pulled out a vial of medicine from her bosom.

Zhang Xu took two steps forward and opened his palm.

"Miss, please use this medicine."

Zong Zong Lichan pried open the stopper, sniffed it, and exclaimed, "Quanyuan Pill?"

Huiqi Pills, Buqi Pills, Zengyuan Pills correspond respectively to the Fourth Gate, Running Horse, and Ferocious Smoke realms.

The Quanyuan Pill, without doubt, corresponds to the Hunting Tiger Grand Martial Artist, and is a top-tier recovery elixir, quite expensive.

"This match was arranged by me; naturally, I must see it through."

Zhang Xu explained, then turned and handed Liang Qu another vial.

Liang Qu held it in his palm and passed it to Long Li.

No.

Using 【Cun Shen】 drains physical strength and imposes heavy strain on the spirit, but I can recover on my own—no need for medicine.

Zong Zong Lichan had no hesitation; Heliannianci and Yang Yang Dongxiong stood by, unconcerned Zhang Xu harbored ill intent, crushed the pill, mixed it with warm water, and fed it to Guan Guan Congjian.

Moments passed.

Guan Guan Congjian's breathing slowed, his eyes regained focus, strength surged back into his body; he pinched Zong Zong Lichan's cheek and leapt up like a leaping carp.

"What was that technique called?"

Liang Qu lifted his head from the chairback.

"Chuanzhu Zhan Jiao."

"Chuanzhu Zhan Jiao…" Guan Guan Congjian chewed the words, a chill rising within him, "What a grand name!"

Long Long Eying, massaging Liang Qu, was startled—her hand slipped downward, shifting to knead his shoulders.

Outsiders did not know.

But she knew perfectly well.

【Chuanzhu Zhan Jiao】—it was likely meant literally.

"You won. Since childhood, I've never lost to someone my age—I won't bother you anymore."

"No problem," Liang Qu straightened his back and grinned, "With Baozhi, I welcome you anytime."

"Your price is too high," Guan Guan Congjian laughed heartily, "I'll have to see if Mr. Zhang is willing to pay next time."

"Should the chance arise, young heroes, please visit Ningjiang Prefecture—I, Zhang, will gladly cover the costs."

"Good!"

Guan Guan Congjian shouted, then closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, formed a seal on the ground, and instantly his aura surged upward without pause.

Liang Qu widened his eyes.

This…

Breakthrough?

Everyone in the arena froze in shock.

Yang Yang Dongxiong pointed at the arena: "Brother Heliang…"

Heliannianci feigned a sigh.

"Ah, Guan Congjian—he cultivates differently from others. Normally, he struggles to break through, but every time he faces a worthy opponent, after the battle, his mind clears and breakthrough comes easily. I thought he'd need to win—but now it seems losing works too, as long as the fight is fierce."???

Could such a freak exist in this world?

Pei Pei Yunkun, Xie Yan, and others gaped with slightly open mouths.

Liang Qu's gaze flickered.

No wonder Guan Guan Congjian spent a thousand taels just to fight him—it was the same principle as consuming Baozhi.

Zhang Xu pointed at the two men in the arena.

"Did you all see? Beyond the Jin River lie a thousand paths, and beyond the horizon lies yet another horizon."

Everyone was solemn.

Pei Pei Yunkun bowed respectfully: "Only atop the highest peak can one see the great river surge; only above the towering peaks can one feel the vast wind roar."

"Thank you, Master Zhang, for your teaching."

"Me too."

One by one, those of Gold, Silver, and Copper ranks bowed.

Today's battle brought immense gains.

Liang Qu gained a Twin-Life Flower; Guan Guan Congjian resolved his mental block and broke through.

The Yingcai of the King of Xu Yue broadened their horizons, shed their arrogance, and would henceforth work diligently.

Zhang Xu was thoroughly satisfied.

"Night has fallen. I shall not disturb further. Brother Yang, Brother Brother Heliang, let us meet again another day—farewell!"

"Safe travels."

Dozens of people gradually left the lively training ground; it grew empty and quiet.

Heliannianci seized the chance to bow to Liang Qu: "May I ask, young brother, where did you learn your Golden Body?"

"Why, Master Brother Heliang…"

"Don't call me Master," Heliannianci interrupted humbly, "Our seniority has yet to be determined—let us address each other by name for now."

Liang Qu stared at the bearded man before him, unsure whether to call him Nianci or Brother Heliang.

Yang Yang Dongxiong stepped in: "Brother Brother Heliang is a lay disciple of Xuan Kong Temple, hence his curiosity."

Xuan Kong Temple?

Liang Qu thought of Guan Guan Congjian's Golden Bell, lost in thought.

Golden Bell, Xuan Kong Temple, the old monk…

Finally…

He fell silent.

Whether he said "I'll ask" or anything else, it risked revealing the old monk's whereabouts.

His own master could be mentioned—but Guan Guan Congjian's master?

Sorry, not familiar…

Heliannianci understood the situation, did not press further, and added: "As a lay disciple, encountering our ancestral master in the world, it is only proper to pay respects—I mean no harm. If you cannot say, that's fine too."

Liang Qu nodded and began cultivating to restore his qi.

Half an hour later.

Guan Guan Congjian's aura stabilized; the weariness from his shattered true Gang largely faded. He bade Liang Qu farewell, took Zong Zong Lichan's hand, and left with his master.

"Master, I intend to take the King of Xu Yue's heir as my disciple tomorrow."

"Hmm, return early and rest. Don't be rude."

"Farewell, Master, Mistress, Senior Brother, Senior Sister."

A few parting words—the performance ended, the crowd dispersed.

Liang Qu, satisfied, dressed himself, and departed with the Dragon Maid.

Several servants picked up wooden mallets and began compacting the training ground anew.

…

By the Jianghuai River, the moon shone bright, stars sparse.

Ripples on the water reflected shimmering moonlight; a single lotus leaf drifted gently with the current.

Splash.

Two large eyes surfaced atop the lotus leaf, cautiously scanning the surroundings.

Whenever a passerby approached, they immediately ducked down, pretending to be still.

Su Guishan, standing by the window of the Heposuo office, sipping tea, raised an eyebrow.

"Exceptionally high concealment of aura."

Had he not been standing right by the window, he, a Grand Master, would never have sensed the old toad's arrival.

Wu Wu Cangshou stretched his neck, seeing the drifting lotus leaf on the marsh: "A little frog? What's it here for?"

Without asking, the man and the turtle immediately knew.

The old toad, atop the lotus leaf, waved its webbed paws.

Not long after, a river otter surfaced from the water, crawled ashore, and led the way ahead.

One otter and one frog slipped into the reed bed, dodged the patrolling soldiers, and crept quietly toward the white marble pillar behind the government office.

Su Guishan stroked his beard, a flicker of interest stirring.

"It wants to go to Ningjiang Prefecture?"

Wu Wu Cangshou sneered: "That old miser—he probably heard about Liang's kid getting a jade tablet and thinks it's something valuable, so he's come to beg one for himself."

Su Guishan laughed heartily and patted his belly.

"It's been days since I went back—my five viscera are missing it."

"Where's the old miser?"

"Send word down—tell them to act as if they saw nothing. Be careful not to hurt it," Su Guishan said.

He had heard rumors about the relationship between the old toad and the Toad King.

The Multitreasure Toad may be powerful, but the wrath of the Martial Saint behind it is not something to bear lightly.

……

West wing chamber.

Pages turned; candlelight flickered.

"Master, that's the whole story," Liang Qu finished recounting today's events. "Master Helian Nianci is Guan Guan Congjian's master—they moved here from the old Huaiyin County. I don't know if he has other motives; he said nothing at the time."

"A lay disciple…" The old monk set down his scroll, pondered briefly. "No matter. Next time you see him, bring him to me."

Liang Qu did not leave.

"What else?"

Liang Qu chuckled, turned, and carried in a half-human-tall seated lotus Buddha statue covered in golden thread-like patterns.

It was precisely the Ming wood root statue that once held the *Weishi Lun*!

Ming wood is worth its weight in gold, amber-hued, capable of calming the heart, enhancing thought, and awakening wisdom.

Carved into a pendant the size of a fingertip, worn constantly by a child, it makes them wiser than other children—even cultivators can benefit from its aid in enlightenment.

Among them, those with golden patterns are Ming wood roots—its effect is several times stronger than ordinary Ming wood!

Liang Qu once gave away a small amount; the rest he kept beside his bed, sleeping with it every night.

"Tomorrow I'm taking on a disciple—a little child, four or five years old. This will be perfect. Master, please carve me off a sliver of lotus leaf, so I may present it as a gift."