Chapter 507 - 489: Nomination Order and Merit

"Brother Su, did you achieve a breakthrough?" Yang Zhen approached and asked.

"I did. Right now, I’ve just broken through to the Dragon Tendon Realm, reaching the Little Dragon Tendon Realm," Su Yu said, looking at the information on his interface.

[Martial Arts]: Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist (Minor Perfection 1/2000)

If he correlated his progress with the known realms—Little Dragon Tendon, Middle Dragon Tendon, and Great Dragon Tendon—then reaching Minor Perfection should allow him to step into the Middle Dragon Tendon Realm, followed by the Great Dragon Tendon Realm.

Once he maxed out Great Perfection, he should be able to step into the legendary True Dragon Tendon Realm and become a True Dragon Pride.

As for how to break through to the Profound Bone Realm after becoming a True Dragon Pride, he currently had no clue. However, there was no rush; he would cross that bridge when he reached the corresponding realm. The top priority now was to continue steadily increasing his skill level step by step.

"Brother Su, with your current strength, can you fight against those in the True Dragon Tendon Realm?" Yang Zhen asked curiously. Su Yu’s combat prowess had always been terrifying. Back in the Jiao Tendon Realm, he could fight against those in the Great Dragon Tendon Realm. Now that he had broken through, just how powerful was he?

Su Yu’s mind raced as he calculated his current combat power. After reaching the Little Dragon Tendon Realm, the explosive power of his great tendons had transformed and grown once again. This alone was enough for him to fight against experts in the True Dragon Tendon Realm! Coupled with his Ape Demon Evil Qi, which had recently grown stronger again, he believed that he would be an outstanding figure even among those in the True Dragon Tendon Realm.

However, those capable of breaking through to the True Dragon Tendon Realm were true geniuses. Even in the Inner City of Black Stone City, there were probably only a handful of such individuals. They were naturally vastly superior to their peers. Take Gu Changfeng, for example—a monster with Spirit Tier bone structures who could tear apart a giant bear with his bare hands when he was just a teenager. One could only imagine how terrifying his physical strength was. Such a figure would absolutely be an extraordinary genius even in Jian’an Prefecture, or even Qingzhou Prefecture.

At this thought, the situation in Black Stone City provoked Su Yu’s deep reflection. There were simply too many monstrous geniuses appearing here! Even for Qing Province’s most important military stronghold, which naturally attracted talent, this situation was somewhat abnormal. The geography surrounding Black Stone City was also astounding. Take the Black Water River, for instance; it connected two major provinces, and its depths harbored countless secrets. Tiger Roar Mountain was rumored to connect to Kunlun, which spoke for itself. Most importantly, too many ancient inheritances had been discovered near Black Stone City. During the Ancient Era, this place was probably anything but ordinary!

"Brother Su, did something come to mind?" Yang Zhen asked, seeing Su Yu lost in thought.

Su Yu looked at her, another thought stirring in his mind. There was also Zhen’Er, a person favored by the heavens. Thinking about it carefully, it was actually even more astonishing. Her talent was ridiculously good, and she had even obtained the inheritance of the Cyan Lotus Sword Master. Her future potential would absolutely not be low.

Suppressing the myriad of thoughts in his mind, he said, "I just thought of a few things. It’s nothing. My current combat power is indeed comparable to the True Dragon Tendon Realm."

"That’s amazing, Brother Su! Then you will definitely take first place in this Martial Examination! When the time comes, you’ll be famous throughout Black Stone City again, and martial arts resources will come rolling in!"

Seeing her excited expression, Su Yu couldn’t help but flick her snow-white forehead. "You really have faith in me. I’m only in the Little Dragon Tendon Realm, yet I dare to boast about taking first place. If the people from the Inner City heard that, they’d definitely think we were frogs in a well."

However, a glint of sharp light flashed through Su Yu’s eyes. There was no time for him to raise his realm before the Martial Examination began, but he might be able to elevate his Breakthrough Points again. If he could trigger another Breaking Limit, his combat power would experience another surge. He was actually looking forward to exchanging blows with Gu Changfeng and the seeded candidates of the three major families to see if he could truly make a name for himself in Black Stone City once more!

Afterward, Su Yu practiced the Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist for a while longer. It was partly to familiarize himself with his newly acquired strength and partly to monitor the progress of his skill level.

[Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist Skill Level +10]

[Cyan Wood Shadow Ape Fist Skill Level +10]

...

"At this rate, getting a little over a hundred points a day, it will still take more than twenty days to break through." Su Yu shook his head in slight resignation. This speed was already very fast, but for him, it still wasn’t enough.

After all, time waited for no one. This was especially true since the Black Lotus Sect had started stirring again recently; he heard that new battle reports had already come from Cangya Pass.

"I’ll wait and see once the Shi family delivers the Dragon Tendon Pill. Given its previous effects, perhaps it can rapidly increase my skill level too!"

In the Inner City, at the Zhenwu Mansion.

Grand Master Jin Fugui flipped through the numerous intelligence reports on his desk.

The first report detailed that Tiemu Xiaoyun lay in ambush alone at Tiger Roar Mountain, slaying one Black Lotus Church Master and two Incense Masters... He was pursued by a mid-stage Profound Bone Realm Senior Hall Master of the Black Lotus Sect but eventually escaped successfully.

"Bravo, Tiemu Xiaoyun. With such a battle record, he is likely only a step away from the True Dragon Tendon Realm. He will definitely secure one of the Martial Arts Examination Nomination Orders!"

The subsequent reports noted that Gu Changfeng infiltrated a Black Lotus Sect stronghold alone, slaying one mid-stage Profound Bone Realm Hall Master and five Incense Masters... He nearly wiped out an entire stronghold single-handedly.

Zhao Daoran, suspected of leveraging the Zhao family’s power, killed a Senior Incense Master at Tiger Roar Mountain and heavily crippled a Black Lotus Sect supply convoy.

"Adding Su Yu and Li Jingfeng to the mix, it seems the Martial Arts Examination Nomination Orders will be contested among these few," Jin Fugui muttered. He picked up his teacup from the side and took a slow, deliberate sip.

The others were within his expectations; only Su Yu from the Outer City was a true dark horse. Although he had relied on external forces, slaying two Profound Bone Realm Hall Masters this time was an incredibly dazzling feat.

At this rate, with only four Nomination Orders available, one person would eventually have to be eliminated. That unfortunate outcome might just fall on Li Jingfeng or Zhao Daoran. Jin Fugui shook his head in slight resignation. He hadn’t expected this offending task to land in his lap.

"Men! Distribute the merits to all the Great Commanders for slaying the Black Lotus Sect Demons. In addition, deliver the Nomination Orders to Gu Changfeng, Su Yu, and Tiemu Xiaoyun!"

In the Inner City, at the Tiemu family residence.

Clad in blood-red clothes reeking of evil qi, with his two signature Blood Sabers tucked at his waist, Tiemu Xiaoyun strode toward the backyard with the imposing gait of a dragon and tiger. Along the way, the Tiemu family disciples hastily made way for him. A look of fear flashed in the eyes of most, while others harbored a strange gaze of disdain.

"Big brother!" Right then, a short-haired young girl came skipping over, her face beaming with a bright smile.

This girl was Tiemu Xiaoxiao, Tiemu Xiaoyun’s biological younger sister. Having heard that her older brother was returning today, she had been waiting for a long time.

Upon seeing his sister, Tiemu Xiaoyun halted his steps. For the first time, a trace of a smile appeared on his murderous face.

"Xiaoxiao, how have you been recently?" he asked, a hint of doting affection flashing in his eyes as he patted the girl’s head.

Tiemu Xiaoxiao immediately pouted, looking displeased. "Big brother, so many people are watching. Don’t pat my head like I’m a little kid."

Tiemu Xiaoyun’s hand instantly stiffened, and he withdrew it, somewhat at a loss for what to do.

"I’ve been doing perfectly fine... It’s just that Third Uncle has been constantly asking me to meet one of his distant junior relatives lately, and I really don’t like it..." Her voice was somewhat quiet. She hadn’t intended to tell her brother about this, but when he asked, she couldn’t help but blurt it out.

Hearing this, dense killing intent immediately flashed through Tiemu Xiaoyun’s eyes.

His sister was his only remaining worldly attachment now. If even now the Tiemu family was still scheming against her, he had to send her away as soon as possible!

"Tiemu Xiaoyun, the elders are waiting for you. Hurry over," an Iron Wood Guard from the Inner Courtyard came to report.

Tiemu Xiaoyun patted his sister’s head once more and said softly, "Wait for me."

Afterward, he resumed his strides toward the Inner Courtyard.