Chapter 552: Lower Seventh Grade, Engagement

As Zhu Ju’s Cultivation continued to improve, the Quiet Chamber he used for his practice had been expanded several times.

By now,

it took up nearly half of what was once a side courtyard of the Zhu Mansion.

Fortunately, the Zhu Mansion had expanded over the years and was now several times larger than it was a few years ago, so no one else’s daily life was affected.

“Hooo…”

CRACKLE!

Inside the Quiet Chamber.

The firelight flickered.

Zhu Ju sat cross-legged on a cushion, each breath like a whale inhaling the ocean, causing the very air to heave and stir.

Wisps of electric arcs sparked from his body, occasionally striking the floor with a crackle.

Thanks to the resources from Li Chengxia’s storage bag, his Cultivation was once again advancing by leaps and bounds.

Seventh Grade.

It was now within reach.

UNH!

With a muffled grunt, the tightly-lidded Zhu Ju frowned as his body gave a slight shudder.

BOOM!

A violent surge of Qi Blood erupted from within him.

The volume of Qi Blood wasn’t large, but it was incredibly condensed, carrying a sense of immense, profound power.

His Skin and Flesh rippled, his Tendons and Bones cracked like firecrackers, and his body swelled at a rate visible to the naked eye.

The already tall Zhu Ju shot up a full foot in mere moments, his muscles swelling dramatically.

At first glance,

he looked like a giant sitting in meditation.

Not only that,

the erupting Qi Blood wove together in the air, vaguely coalescing into the form of a Giant Spirit. The figure’s musculature was sharply defined, as solid and immense as a mountain range. A single glance was enough to take one’s breath away.

Strength!

Strength!

…

An intangible sense of power filled the entire Quiet Chamber.

Giant Spirit Divine Skill!

SWISH!

Zhu Ju’s eyes snapped open, and two dazzling beams of light flashed before vanishing. A look of delight spread across his face.

‘As expected of a legacy from the Divine Heaven Sect. The Qi Blood Illusion of the Giant Spirit Divine Skill actually has principles of natural law woven into it.’

‘Martial Arts…’

‘…can truly allow one to take the Great Dao into their own body!’

He flexed his wrist, savoring the feeling of power, and couldn’t help but marvel at it.

The sense of strength, once a purely conscious perception, had actually been transformed from illusion into reality now that his Cultivation had reached a certain level.

Now, every one of Zhu Ju’s movements was augmented by the Power of Heaven and Earth.

His original strength, if he were to strike someone, would land with more than four times its initial force.

However, reaching such a level required a complete and thorough understanding of the Giant Spirit Divine Skill’s Divine Intent.

Theoretically,

only a Fourth Grade Martial Artist could do so.

But Zhu Ju…

‘Seventh Grade!’

‘I’ve finally restored my Cultivation to the Seventh Grade.’

He withdrew his Cultivation Technique and stretched his limbs. His Physical Body gradually returned to its normal state.

His massive form…

seemed to have been just an illusion.

This was another feat only possible through perfect mastery of the Giant Spirit Divine Skill.

What would be unthinkable for others was easy for Zhu Ju. After all, only his Cultivation had regressed; his understanding of the Realm remained. Any technique below the Third Grade posed no difficulty for him.

As long as his Cultivation reached the required level, he could perform them naturally.

After changing into a fresh set of well-fitting clothes, Zhu Ju pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber and strolled toward the Martial Arts Arena in the back courtyard.

In the arena,

several figures were sparring.

Zhu Zhenzhen wielded a long whip, fending off the combined attack of three guards. Her movements were methodical, the whip’s shadow a blur.

Among the younger generation of the Zhu Family, Zhu Zhenzhen was the most talented in martial arts, having already reached the lower level of the Eighth Grade.

She had a chance of breaking through to the Sixth Grade before she turned thirty.

As for the others…

From the looks of it, their future prospects were extremely limited.

CRACK!

The blur of the whip vanished, then flashed through the air. A burst of ferocious Strength erupted, sending the three guards flying.

“Brother!”

Zhu Zhenzhen leaped down from the sparring platform:

“How was my Chain Moon Form?”

“Not bad.”

Zhu Ju nodded:

“You’ve reached the Entry Level in terms of applying your strength. It seems your Talent for Whip Techniques is far greater than for Sword Techniques.”

“When I have time, I’ll help you find a Qi Blood Divine Weapon in the form of a long whip.”

“Really!” Zhu Zhenzhen’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Brother.”

She had long heard about the benefits of Qi Blood Divine Weapons, but they were too expensive and she knew she couldn’t afford one.

So now, she was naturally ecstatic.

“Next time you spar, don’t use so much force.”

Glancing at the three guards struggling to their feet, supporting each other with pale faces, Zhu Ju spoke slowly:

“Controlling your Strength is also a form of training. There’s no need to hurt people.”

“It’s fine.” Zhu Zhenzhen waved her hand:

“I pay for their lost wages and medical expenses. They’re probably hoping I hit them even harder.”

“Their lives are cheap.”

Zhu Ju frowned slightly.

He believed that the sparring guards were willing to take the hits for more money, but that didn’t give Zhu Zhenzhen a reason to be so reckless.

‘Disregarding human life…’

“Brother.”

Zhu Zhenzhen’s eyes shifted, and she lowered her voice:

“I heard Mother found a young man from the Nie Family for Sister Yingg, and they’re preparing to arrange the engagement.”

“Oh?”

Zhu Ju tilted his head:

“So soon?”

“This is the Nie Family we’re talking about.” Zhu Zhenzhen’s voice rose slightly:

“He might not be from the main branch, but just by marrying into the Nie Family, you have no idea how happy Mother is.”

She said, curling her lip.

It was unclear if it was jealousy or disdain.

“Happy?”

Zhu Ju shook his head gently:

“Parents always want their children to marry and settle down, but they never realize how hard it will be for them when it happens.”

“Never mind.”

“Let her do as she wishes.”

Although he was the head of the family, when it came to his younger siblings’ marriages, he could only offer advice.

If he really wanted to stop it…

Why should he stop it?

Zhu Ying didn’t want to endure the hardships of practicing martial arts and was still suffering from a broken heart. She chose to get engaged early herself. As her older brother—and one who was essentially a ‘body-snatcher’ who had ‘possessed’ this form—he had no right to interfere.

「Half a month later.」

The engagement was settled.

The groom-to-be was Nie Sheng of the Nie Family. He was eighteen and had seen Zhu Ying once during a festival. He had been smitten ever since and had specifically hired a matchmaker to seek her out. Coincidentally, Aunt Liuu was also looking to arrange a marriage for her daughter.

Both parties came to an immediate agreement.

Nie Sheng’s Talent for martial arts was mediocre; he was currently at the lower level of the Eighth Grade. In an ordinary family, this would be remarkable, but in a clan like the Nie or Zhou Family, it meant his path in Martial Arts was effectively over.

Zhu Ying was a few months younger than him.

The matchmaking, the exchange of compatibility letters, the betrothal gifts, the formal engagement…

The entire process was completed, fulfilling the rituals. Typically, the wedding would follow within a few months to a year.

*

*

*

「Zhou Mansion.」

The doors to the Profound Ice Cave slowly swung open.

Her face deathly pale and her aura unstable, Zhou Ruxuan strode out and rushed towards Zhou Jingren’s study.

“Big Brother!”

“You’re out of seclusion!”

Zhou Jingren rose to greet her, his expression complex:

“You… failed?”

The breakthrough from Seventh Grade to Sixth Grade had a high chance of failure, so he wasn’t surprised that Zhou Ruxuan had been unsuccessful.

However,

it was still a pity.

“Yes.”

Zhou Ruxuan nodded, then gritted her teeth and said:

“Although my breakthrough failed, I know where I went wrong. As long as you give me one more Innate Pill, I can definitely achieve the Sixth Grade.”

“Another Innate Pill?” Zhou Jingren’s eyes narrowed.

“Innate Pills are priceless and rarely available on the market. Even our Zhou Family can only trade for them from the Pai Sect, and only when the opportunity arises.”

“You’ve already had one. It’s impossible for you to get another.”

“Brother!” Zhou Ruxuan said anxiously.

“My Qi is still unstable from the attempt, so I still have a chance! If you just give me one more…”

“If I reach the Sixth Grade, I can do more for the Zhou Mansion.”

“This matter is not up for discussion.” Zhou Jingren lowered his gaze.

“I cannot give you another Innate Pill. You’re not that old. Even if your foundation has been damaged, you will have another chance to try again someday. There’s no need to rush.”

“Brother!”

“No!”