"We're almost at Liangzhou!"
Thousand-Household Li galloped ahead, shouting, "Just one last stretch of road, everyone—then we can rest!"
"Finally."
Chen Sanshi leaned forward over Qianxun's mane, flipping lazily through a book.
He wasn't tired. What bothered him was the lack of time to train during this long journey—he felt restless.
[Technique: Unified Spear Technique (Mastery)]
[Progress: 168/1000]
After all this time, even using the White Swan horse's incredible speed to travel back and forth, the progress bar had barely budged.
And that was with spiritual grain. Without it, his improvement would have been far slower.
The book in his hands was one of the forbidden ones, obtained from Fang Qingyun. Its title was Record of the Great Sects of the World. It chronicled the most powerful sects that existed across the land.
Even a small county like Poyang had four major martial halls dominating its streets.
Naturally, larger regions had organizations of even greater scale.
Only, they weren't called "martial halls" anymore. They were known as sects.
Chen Sanshi's conclusion was simple:
In this world, the great sects had replaced what noble families once were in worlds where cultivation didn't exist. They were the true powers behind everything.
And the Record of the Great Sects told a very different history than the Book of the Great Sheng Dynasty.
The Book of the Great Sheng Dynasty spoke mostly about Emperor Taizu Cao Xie's unmatched courage and the valor of his founding generals, barely mentioning the sects.
But in Record of the Great Sects, the truth was clear.
Cao Xie had only unified the world because he gained the support of the 36 great sects. Three hundred years ago, some of those sects even held their own fiefs—almost equivalent to vassal kingdoms.
But Cao Xie had a wolf's heart.
Within five years of taking the throne, he launched the campaign known as Trampling the Martial World. The armies crushed the greatest sects, wiped out their influence, and afterward, the empire began suppressing all sect activities—restricting disciples, limiting cultivation ranks, and severing their political power.
This situation only improved centuries later during the Yuan'an Restoration.
Even now, sect disciples were often conscripted during wars, regaining a bit of status—but still not enough. Each sect alone was too weak to stand against the court.
One thing especially caught Chen Sanshi's attention:
Liangzhou had two sects known to harbor Martial Saints—Tiantong Sword Sect and Splitting Moon Manor.
Beyond those, however, there was another name that intrigued him deeply.
The Tower of Seeking Immortals.
It was said to be the most mysterious organization in the world, with a history of several thousand years. The Tower seldom appeared, not even during dynastic transitions.
Their only doctrine was simple—to seek immortality. They transcended worldly desires, existing only to pursue the immortal path.
And then there was the Witch God Sect.
Legend said that thousands of years ago, their Witch God ascended to the heavens. Ever since, their believers had devoted themselves to finding the path to that immortal realm, to follow after their god.
Their support for the Yu Wen tribe was nothing more than a means to build power—using mortal wars and kingdoms to fund their pursuit of immortality.
Their invasion of the Central Plains was born from the belief that this land, rich in talent and vitality, would bring them closer to the traces of the divine.
'So, the truly powerful are all chasing immortality,' Chen Sanshi thought.
While he… was still practicing martial arts.
That difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
Still, coming to the Grand Commander's camp had been the right choice.
There might be many Martial Saints in the world now, but those beyond that realm were still extremely rare.
If he trained under the Grand Commander's command, and if he ever reached that threshold, he might just earn a chance at true guidance.
As for serving under the emperor…
That wasn't even worth considering.
He didn't carry the surname "Cao." That alone set his ceiling in stone.
The emperor was terrified of Sun Xiangzong already. How could he ever allow another powerhouse like Chen Sanshi to rise under his nose?
Finally, something else caught his eye.
The Record of the Great Sects described a rare and special martial body—the Transformative Mysterious Body (Yixing Xuanti).
Those born with this body seemed ordinary before cultivation. But once they began training, no matter the technique or path, their body would gradually reshape itself to perfectly suit their chosen art.
Anyone with this physique, given enough resources, was guaranteed to reach the Martial Saint realm.
For that reason, the Transformative Mysterious Body, along with the Primordial Overlord Body and a few others, was collectively known as an Innate Martial Saint Body.
"Could I… be an Innate Martial Saint Body?"
Reading this, Chen Sanshi felt a tremor of excitement.
He'd never doubted that he'd one day become a Martial Saint—between his Grinding System and the effects of the spiritual grain, it was only a matter of time.
But now, he realized the system's influence wasn't arbitrary or without foundation.
It had transformed him into a Transformative Mysterious Body.
All his different traits, the mixture of powers within him—they weren't a chaotic mess after all. His worry that someone might see through his odd constitution during a bone-inspection had been unfounded.
[Skill: Reading (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: (496/800)]
He closed the book and lifted his gaze.
On the horizon ahead, a small city was emerging—its walls rising from the earth like a faint shadow.
The characters above the gate read: Dongyi City.
It was a small fortress, even smaller than Poyang County. Yet strangely, it was surrounded by heavy troops.
The banners flying above bore the unmistakable mark—Xuanwu Battalion.
Wang Zhi's eyes widened as he stared, a strange feeling stirring in his chest.
Chen Sanshi asked, "Why are they surrounding that place?"
"Lord Chen may not have heard," Thousand-Household Li explained casually, "but during the campaign against the barbarians, manpower was stretched thin. The army temporarily drafted sect disciples to help defend the cities.
"One of those sects—the Seven Absolutes Sect—turned traitor. They secretly conspired with the barbarians, planning to open the gates and hand over Liangzhou itself.
"Of course, that was wishful thinking. Once they made their move, General Lü crushed them immediately. The survivors—about 1,500 disciples—fled here to Dongyi City."
He gestured ahead with his whip.
"Dongyi and Xiyi are two fortress towns guarding Liangzhou's approaches. They hold no civilians and only a small amount of supplies. Since the war's already ended, the Commander hasn't bothered storming them yet—he's just encircled them for now."
He smiled faintly. "Our Grand Commander's strategy always minimizes casualties."
Chen Sanshi nodded slowly.
That was true enough.
Even with just a little over 1,000 men, forcing an assault on a city would still cause heavy casualties.
Inside the walls, there wasn't much grain or supply either. The defenders really only had two choices left: 1. open the gates and surrender, or 2. starve to death.
"Let's give Junior Brother a little heads-up," Fang Qingyun said as Sun Li pushed his wheelchair forward, his tone slow and even.
"This Seven Absolutes Sect is only a second-rate sect in Liangzhou. The reason they've been kept alive this long is because Master intends to use them as the final test for the Elite Selection. What kind of test exactly—well, we'll find out soon enough."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother," Chen Sanshi said with a slight bow.
Fang Qingyun smiled faintly. "It's not really a secret. Many already know. I'm just making sure you're not at a disadvantage."
He gestured politely. "Would Junior Brother allow me a word in private?"
"Of course."
Chen Sanshi dismounted, took the wheelchair handles from Sun Li, and pushed Fang Qingyun into a quiet grove by the roadside. "Senior Brother, what guidance do you have for me?"
"This is for you."
Fang Qingyun reached into his sleeve and produced a small porcelain vial. "Within two months, if you feel unwell, mix this with water and drink it. If nothing happens, throw it away and pretend you never received it."
Chen Sanshi uncorked the vial. Inside was a dark, pitch-black powder.
[Antidote: Jade-Blood Poison Dew]
An antidote.
Of course.
So Grand Commander Sun probably did know that the emperor had poisoned him.
Back then, when Sun had told him to "just play along," it must have been because he'd already prepared this cure. He just hadn't said it aloud.
And waiting two months—was that to see if the emperor would offer a cure himself? If he did, then the matter would be quietly forgotten.
This was a way to keep Chen Sanshi from being forced into enmity with the throne.
"I understand," Chen Sanshi said simply, not asking further.
"That's good."
Fang Qingyun's voice softened. "Nothing else to add. Be so kind as to push me back, Junior Brother. We're almost at Liangzhou."
…
After ten li, the great city finally came into view.
The city walls towered six zhang high, and by sight alone were more than five zhang thick. The colossal fortress stretched beyond the horizon, like a stone beast sprawling across the desolate plain.
This was Liangzhou City—the strongest fortress of the northern border.
"Open the gates!"
Once their identities were verified, the column of over a thousand men entered the city without hindrance.
Even though this was the frontier closest to the barbarian tribes, scarred by constant wars, the city's prosperity stunned everyone.
Beyond the gates, streets were packed with towering buildings and merchant stalls. Hawkers shouted prices, buyers haggled, children laughed, and somewhere in the distance people quarreled. All the noise and bustle mixed into the pulse of human life—vibrant, thriving, at peace.
"Lord Chen, please come with me," said Thousand-Household Li. "General Fang has already arranged your residence, as well as quarters for your wife. Your men will also be settled properly in the soldiers' camp. You needn't worry."
"Thank you," Chen Sanshi replied, clasping his hands politely before parting ways.
"Ah, this journey has worn me out."
Fang Qingyun coughed lightly. "Lili, be a dear and push me home."
"Fourth Senior Brother," Sun Li said, worry in her voice. "I ran into Cao Fan and Yin Hanwen earlier. Why did they come all the way from the capital just to take part in the Elite Selection? Is it really that important?"
"The last batch of disciples who entered under Master are all after his ultimate teachings. So yes, it's worth it."
Fang Qingyun raised a hand, signaling for her to stop at a roadside vendor. He bought several sticks of candied hawthorn, handing one each to her and himself. "Not just them—the Crown Prince's men are here too. His Majesty also sent representatives.
"Those people are all born with strong constitutions and endless resources. Some of them are already on the verge of Transforming Strength. This year's Elite Selection will be one of the fiercest ever."
"Transforming Strength?"
Sun Li froze halfway through her bite and lowered her candy. "But Little Junior Brother just reached Tempering organs. How can he possibly compete with them?"
"Stop for a moment."
"Hm?"
As the wheelchair halted, Fang Qingyun turned around to look directly at her. He didn't say a word.
"Fourth Senior Brother, why are you staring at me like that?" Sun Li asked in confusion.
"It's nothing."
Fang Qingyun's lips curved faintly, his tone teasing. "Just noticed that you seem rather… close to Junior Brother Chen. You're worrying about him already."
"Fourth Senior Brother!"
At that moment, Sun Buqi came running up the street, his arms loaded with food and trinkets. "Cao Fan and the others are really strong. You should help Sanshi when the time comes!
"His ability would make him the top choice in any other year, but if he loses this time, wouldn't that be too unfair?"
"What? You think I'd play favorites?"
Fang Qingyun smacked him on the head with a rolled-up book. "Even if I wanted to, do you think that'd help him? It would ruin him!
"Take you, for example. Your body's average, but your comprehension is excellent. With real effort, you could've kept up with the best. But why are you still stuck in the Bone Tempering stage?
"Because you've relied too much on Master's shadow!"
He flicked him sharply on the forehead. "I still remember—when you were a kid at the academy and got into fights, you'd shout, 'My father's a Martial Saint! My senior brother's at the Profound Manifestation stage! I'll have them beat up your whole family!'
"And that Tang Ruoshan brat would actually go and do it! Breaking stone lions with one slap, uprooting willows just to scare people. No wonder you turned out lazy—spoiled rotten!"
"Aw, boring! Why's it always my fault?"
Sun Buqi darted off in defeat.
"Huh…"
Fang Qingyun frowned suddenly, as if realizing something. "Lili, if I'm not mistaken, Junior Brother Chen is already married, isn't he?"
"Yes," she answered without hesitation. Her eyes were clear. "Sister Lan is really skilled with embroidery, gentle, and kind-hearted too."
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!"
Fang Qingyun groaned dramatically, shaking his head. "That's bad news. Really bad. Master's going to blow a fuse again~"
"Senior Brother, what are you even talking about?"
Sun Li frowned, completely lost. She wasn't stupid, but listening to her senior today felt like trying to decode riddles spoken by a drunk sage.