Chapter 411 - 294: Technique

As he watched Sun Jiajin’s back disappear into the night, Zhao Xuanqi weighed the packet of medicine in his hand, a strange expression on his face.

The Zuo Dongrui that Sun Jiajin mentioned was the second son of the Zuo Family in Guming County. The Zuo Family and the Zhao Family were both local gentry with similar businesses. As the saying goes, competitors are natural rivals, so conflicts often arose between the two families. This extended to Zhao Xing, who would often clash with Zuo Dongrui whenever he was out and about; the two couldn’t stand the sight of each other.

Now, the Zhao Family had met with disaster while the Zuo Family remained perfectly intact. The loss of the Zhao Family’s assets had a great deal to do with the Zuo Family, who had played a leading role in the affair.

When the Red Heart Sect opened its gates wide, the Zuo Family seized the opportunity and sent their second son, Zuo Dongrui, into the sect. He quickly gathered a clique of disciples who were also connected to the appropriation of the Zhao Family’s assets and began to secretly move against Zhao Xing.

Although Zuo Dongrui, like Zhao Xing, was a hedonistic and uneducated young master, he possessed a bit of talent for cultivation. Combined with some well-placed bribes to grease the wheels, the managing disciples and stewards were willing to turn a blind eye to the matter.

The past few days of cultivation had placed a heavy burden on Zhao Xing’s already weak body. With the Elixir Pills and supplements provided by the School stolen from him, his body would indeed fail if this continued. Sun Jiajin’s worries were not unfounded.

However, while such things were a problem for Zhao Xing, for Zhao Xuanqi...

He didn’t pay the matter any mind at all. Instead, he was more interested in another piece of information Sun Jiajin had revealed.

’A Technique?’

Zhao Xuanqi muttered to himself.

According to Zhao Xing’s memories, these so-called Techniques were similar to the moves of a Secret Martial Dao, but they were far more wondrous. There were many fantastical legends about them circulating among the common folk.

’Interesting.’

Zhao Xuanqi withdrew his gaze. In any case, though Sun Jiajin’s concerns were unnecessary for him, he would remember the kindness of someone who still thought to secretly bring him medicine at a time like this.

Although this body held no lingering regrets from its previous owner, since he was using it now, he felt he should repay some of the karmic debts attached to it.

Besides, for him, it would be a trivial matter.

He closed the door and returned to his room, standing still.

Within his consciousness, the Rebirth Jade suddenly trembled. Wisps of Life Primordial Qi began to strengthen his body.

...

...

「Early morning, 7:00 AM.」

The sun had just risen, its morning rays spilling across the land. All of creation was brimming with vitality—the perfect time for cultivation.

On a hundred-meter-wide platform on the second level of the Red Heart Sect, about three hundred new disciples, all around seventeen or eighteen years old, stood in neat rows. They were spaced apart from one another, facing the morning sun rising over the mountain peak as they practiced the True Essence Skill.

"Heartfelt Conversion Ceremony. Innate Main General, One Qi Divine Monarch, All Heaven Inspector General, Three Realms Selfless Brave Officials and Generals, Golden Eyes and Vermilion Hair, No. 35 Train Thunder God..."

The clear sound of the Imperial Decree’s recitation echoed between heaven and earth.

It was unclear whether it was due to the sound of the Imperial Decree or the light of the morning sun, but the statue of the Great Spirit Official at the center of the sect—with its red face, flowing beard, Golden Armor, and red robes, looking extraordinarily valiant—was emitting a faint fluorescent glow, as if responding to the chant.

Several Skill Transmission Disciples in plain gray robes were stationed at various points, observing and correcting the new disciples’ movements and intonation. They secretly recorded each disciple’s actual performance, and all this information would ultimately be compiled and given to the Dharma Transmission Steward in charge of training.

At the same time, a tall and sturdy middle-aged man with a magnificent, flowing beard was walking among the new disciples, his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a plain black robe, his hair was tied up in a high topknot, and he had an air of authority without being angry.

This man was Hua Guangcan, the Red Heart Sect’s Dharma Transmission Steward in charge of the new disciples’ initiation.

His eyes scanned over them one by one, taking note of each disciple’s cultivation state and progress. This was to prevent any Skill Transmission Disciples from secretly accepting bribes and falsifying reports on their progress.

The Red Heart Sect had suffered considerable losses during the recent Guming County incident. It wasn’t just the sect’s experts; even the ordinary disciples sent out to help the County Yamen evacuate and resettle the town’s residents had sustained significant casualties. The sect was in urgent need of new blood, so they placed great importance on this round of training, hoping to select some promising talents to nurture.

And indeed, he had already spotted a few promising young talents with good aptitude.

His gaze swept past the crowd and landed on a tall, sturdy youth with an honest and simple-looking face.

Peng Lin.

He came from an unknown small village near Guming County. His parents were hunters from the mountains, and the boy had been strong and robust since childhood, born with Divine Power. This made him a perfect fit for the Red Heart Sect’s cultivation techniques. Moreover, his temperament was steady and he could endure hardship—a fine sapling for cultivation.

Then, his gaze fell upon another figure.

This was a handsome youth named Shen Hong. He wasn’t from Guming County but from the more distant Yang City. His family had deep ties to the Red Heart Sect, and having been influenced from a young age, his cultivation progress was extremely fast.

These two could be considered the cream of the crop among this group. Besides them, there were a few other boys and girls from surrounding towns who had come seeking to join the sect. Although they were a step below, they could still be considered promising material.

Just then, he walked over to one particular person.

This youth was about 1.8 meters tall with a naturally large frame. His skin was rather fair, a clear sign that he didn’t come from a poor family.

This one, Zuo Dongrui, wasn’t bad either. His foundation and comprehension were acceptable, but his personality was too ostentatious and arrogant. He would need a lot more polishing, or he wouldn’t get far.

Seeing him, Hua Guangcan was reminded of some things the Skill Transmission Disciples had reported.