Chapter 100: One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques

Chen Yue opened his eyes. With a flip of his right hand, several bottles of Elixirs appeared in his palm.

Of all the Elixirs he had taken, the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill had always been the most pleasant surprise.

This Elixir affected nearly all of his Cultivation Techniques and Talent cultivation, continuously reducing the time and experience required. It was the accelerator behind his rapid progress in Cultivation.

But five days ago, the effects of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill had hit a bottleneck. Or perhaps, his own Bone Marrow Cleansing process had entered a deeper stage, and the amount of experience the pill could reduce had started to drop significantly.

’I need to find an Elixir similar to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, but with stronger effects.’

Back in Youlin County, resources were limited, and the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill was the best he could get.

But here in Celestial State Prefecture, where the essence of an entire state was gathered, there had to be Bone Marrow Cleansing Elixirs of a higher tier and greater efficacy.

Chen Yue wasn’t worried about whether such resources existed. The only thing he needed to consider was whether he had enough silver coins in his pocket.

Fortunately, he was an Alchemy Master himself. As long as he could establish a foothold, obtain Pill Formulas and materials, he could refine Elixirs on his own, generate income, and create a virtuous cycle.

Reining in his thoughts, Chen Yue placed the Elixirs into his Little Pill Furnace and began to circulate the Vast Firm Essence Technique. He started his daily, unwavering cultivation, calming the Heart Spirit that had been stirred by his contemplation.

Two hours later, there was a soft knock on the door.

Hu Shaoyu and Shen Dujiang returned one after another, and the four of them gathered in Chen Yue’s room.

Hu Shaoyu first poured himself a cup of lukewarm tea, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. Wiping his mouth, he said:

"Chen, Master Lin, I was mainly asking about housing and storefronts.

Sigh, this is the State Capital, all right. Every inch of land is worth its weight in gold! The prices for buying a small courtyard or a storefront in a decent location are just ridiculous. And even if you have the money, there’s nothing to buy. Very few people are willing to sell.

Most properties are ancestral heirlooms or are backed by powerful factions, so they aren’t sold lightly. Therefore, I suggest we rent a courtyard first to get settled. The rent is also expensive, but we can afford it in the short term. It’s more cost-effective than staying in an inn long-term, and much more convenient."

Hearing this, Lin Quan nodded in agreement. "Hu is right. No matter how high the price, it can’t be more than the cost of staying at an inn long-term. Besides, having our own courtyard is ultimately more convenient and reassuring. As for opening a shop, that’s something we need to plan carefully. The prices are too high, and so are the risks."

Chen Yue thought for a moment. After pouring tea for Shen Dujiang and the other two, he said:

"Then let’s rent a small courtyard for now. As long as it can house the four of us and provide a quiet environment for cultivation and Alchemy, it’ll be fine. The location doesn’t need to be bustling; peace and safety are the top priorities. Hu, I’ll have to trouble you with this."

Hu Shaoyu quickly agreed. "Don’t worry, Chen. I’ve already found a broker. He can show us a few suitable courtyards tomorrow. I’m sure we’ll find one we’re satisfied with."

After settling the matter of their lodging, Chen Yue turned his gaze to Shen Dujiang.

Hu Shaoyu was responsible for looking into food and lodging, while Shen Dujiang’s task was to understand the power structure of the various factions within Celestial State Prefecture. This was crucial for their future choices and establishing a foothold.

Shen Dujiang gently set down his teacup. His expression grew more solemn as he cleared his throat and began to speak slowly.

"Chen, Master Lin, Hu, I made extensive inquiries today and have a general outline of the powers in Celestial State Prefecture. To put it simply, there are seven dominant forces within the prefecture, known as the Three Palaces, the Two Gates, and the One Sect."

Hearing this, Lin Quan subconsciously counted them out. "The Three Palaces, the Two Gates, and the One Sect? But that’s only six. Boss Shen, did you miss one?"

Shen Dujiang smiled at his words and shook his head.

"There are indeed six top-tier Jianghu powers, but the seventh one is special. It doesn’t belong to the Jianghu sects, yet it’s more deeply entrenched and powerful than any of them."

Shen Dujiang paused, his voice lowering with a trace of reverence. "This seventh power is called the Divine Forest Prefecture."

"Divine Forest Prefecture?" Chen Yue’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

"Yes, the Divine Forest Prefecture."

Shen Dujiang nodded in confirmation. "Or, you could call them the Lin Clan of Celestial State. The Divine Forest Prefecture is not only the number one great family in Celestial State Prefecture, but more importantly, the entire Government Office of Celestial State Prefecture is under their control.

The Prefect and Garrison Commander of Celestial State Prefecture, and even the major officials of the counties under its jurisdiction, all have intricate ties to the Divine Forest Prefecture. They are either their protégés, old acquaintances, or related by marriage.

To be blunt, the entire region of Celestial State Prefecture can be seen as the Divine Forest Prefecture’s fiefdom. They have operated here for over a hundred years, with deep roots and influence that permeates every aspect of society. They are, in the truest sense, the local tyrants.

Even the Three Palaces, Two Gates, and One Sect must abide by the rules set by the Divine Forest Prefecture."

The room fell silent for a moment. Shock was written all over the faces of Chen Yue and Lin Quan.

They knew that the powers in the State Capital were complex and intertwined, but they never expected such a colossal hegemon to exist, one that controlled almost all the authority in an entire state.

A glint flickered in Chen Yue’s eyes as he fell into thought.

The Three Palaces, Two Gates, and One Sect represented the pinnacle of power in Celestial State Prefecture’s Jianghu. The Divine Forest Prefecture, on the other hand, represented the apex of official and local power.

Together, these seven forces formed the complex and rigid power pyramid of Celestial State Prefecture.

For four outsiders like them who had just arrived, establishing a foothold—whether it was acquiring resources or avoiding trouble—was impossible without understanding and weighing these seven major powers.

"This place is the Divine Forest Prefecture’s fiefdom? Is the Lin Clan of Celestial State an imperial-decreed noble house?" Lin Quan asked.

Shen Dujiang shook his head, his expression a complex mix of awe and an indescribable sense of wistfulness.

"They are not nobles enfeoffed by an explicit imperial decree, but here in Celestial State Prefecture, the Lin Family is greater than any noble house.

Countless famous masters in the Jianghu wish to join the Divine Forest Prefecture, even just as a Guest Minister, but can’t find a way in. The Divine Forest Prefecture’s standards are too high; ordinary people don’t even register in their eyes.

So, the Divine Forest Prefecture is a transcendent existence in Celestial State Prefecture, and they don’t have much to do with newcomers like us. We should focus more on the six top-tier Jianghu powers."

After hearing this, Lin Quan’s curiosity was piqued. He quickly asked, "Then, Boss Shen, what are the specifics of these Three Palaces, Two Gates, and One Sect? What are they known for?"

Shen Dujiang cleared his throat and began to list them one by one.

"The Three Palaces refer to the Xuanqing Palace, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, and the Flame Palace.

The Xuanqing Palace: The Cultivation Techniques of its disciples contain Vast Righteous Qi. They emphasize Central Justice and Peace and focus on Suppressing Evil and Upholding Righteousness. They have an excellent reputation among the common people, and their disciples generally act with integrity.

The Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace: This sect is rather unique. Their methods are a mix of righteous and evil, and their Cultivation Techniques lean toward the strange and secretive. They don’t have many members, but each one is difficult to deal with. Their reputation is mixed.

The Flame Palace: As the name suggests, their Cultivation Techniques follow a path of the Supreme Yang and Firm, wild and ferocious. Their members tend to be hot-tempered and straightforward, and they possess formidable combat strength."

After speaking, Shen Dujiang took another sip of tea. Seeing no objection from Chen Yue, he continued.

"The Two Gates are the Liuyun Sword Sect and the Panshi Sect.

The Liuyun Sword Sect specializes in the Sword Dao and believes in ’One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques.’ Their Swordsmanship is exceptional, and their disciples often exude a sharp aura.

The Panshi Sect is somewhat similar to the Flame Palace, but they emphasize Fierce External Skills and focus on Body Refinement."

Lin Quan took the initiative to refill Shen Dujiang’s teacup. For an Alchemy Master like Lin Quan, these top-tier Jianghu powers were things he had only occasionally heard about from storytellers.

Shen Dujiang picked up his cup and continued.

"The One Sect is the Canglan Sect.

This sect has the fewest members. It’s said their recruitment standards are extremely strict; they only accept those with extraordinary Talent. But because of this, every one of their disciples is powerful, with few rivals at the same level. They just tend to keep a low profile and rarely appear in the Jianghu."

After listening to Shen Dujiang’s introduction, Chen Yue nodded slowly.

These six powers certainly had their own distinct characteristics and focuses, covering almost all the major paths of Martial Dao cultivation.

He pondered for a moment before asking his most pressing question, "Boss Shen, are any of these powers openly recruiting disciples recently? Or are there other ways to join?"

Hearing this, a trace of regret appeared on Shen Dujiang’s face as he shook his head.

"Although these six top powers recruit disciples year-round, most have fixed times for opening their gates to new recruits.

I’ve asked around. Unfortunately, the recruitment periods for all the major sects have basically passed for this year. The next large-scale recruitment will likely not be until after the beginning of spring next year."

Lin Quan heard this and grew anxious. "Doesn’t that mean Chen Yue can’t get in for now?"

Shen Dujiang smiled and offered some reassurance.

"Don’t worry, Master Lin. Although the large-scale recruitment is over, sects like the Flame Palace and the Panshi Sect—because their Cultivation Techniques have high requirements for physical Talent—will still make exceptions and offer assessment opportunities for some exceptionally gifted prospects.

As long as Chen Yue can pass their Entry Level assessments and prove his worth, it’s still possible for him to be accepted. Moreover, the reputations of these two Sects are considered quite good among the six major powers.

While Flame Palace disciples are hot-tempered, most are straightforward and value camaraderie and loyalty. Panshi Sect disciples are mostly simple and honest, and they value practical work."

Hu Shaoyu asked curiously, "Boss Shen, among these six powers, which is the strongest and which is the weakest? There must be some kind of ranking, right?"

Shen Dujiang thought for a moment before answering cautiously.

"From what I’ve gathered from various sources, these six major powers are more or less equal in terms of top-tier combat strength. They keep each other in check, and no one can dominate the others, which is how the current situation came to be."

After he finished speaking, Shen Dujiang picked up the teapot to pour himself a cup, only to find it empty.

Noticing this, Hu Shaoyu took out some tea leaves from the side and began to brew a new pot.

Chen Yue, however, was lost in thought, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop.

’From the perspective of my own Cultivation Techniques, the Body Refinement path of the Panshi Sect seems to be the most compatible. It would allow me to maximize my physical advantages.

The Supreme Yang and Firm path of the Flame Palace isn’t bad either. But if I’m looking for a quiet cultivation environment without too many disturbances, the tranquility of the Xuanqing Palace or the elite-focused path of the Canglan Sect seems more suitable.

Wait until next spring for the official recruitment?

That’s still several months away. Am I supposed to just cultivate slowly in Celestial State Prefecture during that time?

My experience in Youlin County has given me a sense of urgency. I can’t wait to increase my strength.’

His gaze swept over Shen Dujiang, Hu Shaoyu, and Lin Quan, who were all looking at him. Chen Yue made a decision.