Chapter 390: Luo Tiancong’s Man

During the time Wangchuan was cultivating at Caobang Headquarters, everything in the Sanhe Commandery hall remained in perfect order.

Because they had recruited a large number of people during the martial tournament, the Caobang hall’s control and influence over Sanhe Commandery had even surpassed the peak period when Yin Xingtian had still been in office.

The Beggar Sect could not drive in so much as a needle, nor pour in so much as a drop of water.

Old Seven successfully broke through to fourth rank!

Because Zhao Heiniu had placed in the top ten during the martial tournament, he was rewarded by the gang with one Lesser Rejuvenation Pill and two third-rank martial arts. During this same period, he actually broke through to third rank.

Wang Yuehui had been doing a fine job developing the Sanjiang Branch Helm and quietly broke through to third rank as well.

Although Chen Ergou and the others had not yet broken through, they were already not far from third rank either.

The entirety of Sanhe Commandery, including Sanjiang Studio, was full of vigor and vitality.

Knowing that the Sanhe Commandery hall and the Sanjiang Branch Helm were both operating steadily, Wangchuan set his mind at ease, remained in the capital, and continued cultivating at Caobang Headquarters, doing his utmost to push forward 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》.

“Ding!”

The system prompt sounded:

“《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: +2 Agility.”

“Phew!”

Wangchuan let out a long breath of relief, smiling as he muttered to himself:

“What a ridiculous 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》. After reaching Minor Mastery, it actually requires at least three hidden weapons to be launched at the same time, with three different attack trajectories calculated so they all strike the target together, before experience can continue to increase.”

“Fortunately, I already mastered the techniques for both hands. Using that advantage, I managed to break through to ‘Practice Makes Perfect’… Now even the circulation of internal force feels much smoother and more natural.”

As he spoke, three Iron Caltrops appeared between the fingers of his right hand.

With a flick of his wrist—

three dark flashes traced out three arcs, one forming a Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl pattern while the third followed a parabolic path, all three striking the Iron Dummy Stake in a triangular formation.

Smack! Smack! Smack!!

All three Iron Caltrops struck the Iron Dummy Stake at the same instant, embedding themselves deeply into the third layer of iron plating.

Each attack consumed 6 points of internal energy.

Twenty attacks meant expending 120 points of internal energy for a single point of experience.

For every 3 points of experience gained, he had to return to his room, log off, and circulate his cultivation method to recover his internal energy. In a full day, he could only increase it by a little over twenty points of experience.

He had ground away at a single realm of 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》 for a full twelve days.

By now, aside from his internal cultivation method, this was the martial art that had cost him the most time.

Seventeen days in total!

The day of his departure from the capital was drawing ever closer.

After taking the Gold Notes and leaving, Elders Wan Xiwen and Hu Weicheng had not come by even once.

Wangchuan had not gone looking for them either.

In this life, not every investment yielded a return.

He treated those two thousand taels of gold as money fed to dogs.

However—

that very night, one of the Iron Dummy Stakes from the western training ground was delivered before the Gang Leader, Luo Tiancong.

“Gang Leader.”

Lin Zhentao stood with his head lowered.

“This is one of the Iron Dummy Stakes that was replaced from the training ground today.”

The Iron Dummy Stake was covered in deeply embedded Iron Caltrops. Each one had almost entirely sunk into the stake.

There were so many of them that they looked like dense rain.

Luo Tiancong rose and walked over, reaching out to touch it, feeling the condition of both the Iron Dummy Stake and the Iron Caltrops. A trace of surprise appeared in his eyes.

“《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》.”

“Ten days ago, it was still only at ‘Minor Mastery.’ I did not expect that today it would already have broken through and attained such power.”

“This Deputy Hall Master named Wangchuan truly is a young man blessed with extraordinary talent and remarkable comprehension.”

“…”

Lin Zhentao kept his head lowered and said nothing.

Luo Tiancong continued murmuring to himself:

“He has been in the capital and at headquarters for quite some time now, yet he has not come to the main discussion hall, nor has he gone to see Wan Xiwen or Hu Weicheng. He has not even gone to find Yin Xingtian, who is also staying in the capital. This little fellow has spent every day and night with a single-minded focus on cultivation. He truly has endurance.”

“…”

Lin Zhentao still remained bowed and silent.

Luo Tiancong carefully examined the Iron Dummy Stake before him.

“《Raging Tide Sword Art》 and 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》 at the Practice Makes Perfect realm. In terms of strength, he can already firmly hold his footing among fourth-rank martial artists. 《Xuanwu Art》 at Perfect Mastery. 《Swift Sword Art》 at Perfect Mastery. 《Water-Moon Sword Art》 at Integration. 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 at Integration.”

“He is barely twenty years old!”

“His future achievements are limitless.”

Luo Tiancong’s gaze settled on Lin Zhentao’s face.

“What do you think of him?”

The mighty Gang Leader of the Caobang was actually asking a mere ordinary disciple of the gang, one with only second-rank cultivation, for his opinion.

Only then did Lin Zhentao raise his head. His tone was calm, utterly unlike the way he appeared in public.

“On his first day at headquarters, he rewarded this subordinate with five taels of gold. This subordinate took the opportunity to warn him that there would be difficulties waiting for him at the Armory Manual Vault, and reminded him that if he found some familiar elder, he might obtain even better martial arts manuals. But he did not go to either of the two elders, nor did he go to Yin Xingtian.”

“…”

“This subordinate originally thought he had noticed some clues, but during this entire period, he has not stepped out at all. He has devoted himself to cultivation with single-minded focus. Even when this subordinate leaked to him the news of the Hall Masters of Heitu Commandery and Shenyu Commandery dying violently, he still showed no sign of going to seek out any of those three. He simply continued cultivating, as though the outside world could not shake him in the slightest.”

“So, what do you think of this man?”

Luo Tiancong asked again.

Although Lin Zhentao’s cultivation was not high and he lacked talent for martial arts, he had grown up among the gangs of the capital. His eye for judging people was sharp and venomous. He was deeply trusted by Luo Tiancong and was one of Luo Tiancong’s hidden lines placed inside headquarters, specifically responsible for gathering intelligence on Deputy Hall Masters.

Lin Zhentao thought for a while before choosing his words carefully:

“This subordinate believes that for Hall Master Wangchuan, coming to the capital for the first time and facing all the flourishing temptations and countless opportunities here, yet still being able to restrain the desires in his heart and devote himself wholly to quiet cultivation—this state of mind is something this subordinate deeply admires. It is beyond ordinary people. His future achievements are immeasurable!”

“Especially since his talent for cultivation is extraordinarily high! When these two traits are combined… the position of Hall Master may not even be something he particularly cares about.”

A look of surprise appeared in Luo Tiancong’s eyes.

“You have seen so many Hall Masters and Deputy Hall Masters. This is the first time I have ever heard you regard someone from a provincial hall with such special esteem… You rate Wangchuan very highly.”

Lin Zhentao nodded.

“During this period, this subordinate has replaced the Iron Dummy Stakes in the training ground every day.”

“I have seen Hall Master Wangchuan’s changes with my own eyes every single day! He is progressing far too quickly! It seems that in his eyes there is only becoming stronger and nothing else! If such a person remains in the Caobang, he will become one of its great generals! But if he were to go to an opposing force, he would be terrifying!”

Luo Tiancong frowned slightly.

“You think the reward I gave him for his performance in the martial tournament was too light?”

“I would not dare.”

Lin Zhentao replied:

“Two fifth-rank martial arts are an appropriate reward. But the arrangement by which Wu Sanlei and Jin Zhixian, though guilty, still received appointments, will inevitably give rise to criticism and make people doubt the fairness of the Gang Leader’s rewards and punishments.”

“Insolence.”

Luo Tiancong grew faintly displeased, his eyes sharpening.

Lin Zhentao cupped his fists.

“This subordinate has spoken improperly and angered the Gang Leader. This subordinate takes his leave.”

“…Go.”

Luo Tiancong waved him away in irritation.

By the time Lin Zhentao stepped out of the courtyard, he had already resumed the deferential, cowering demeanor of an ordinary disciple.