Chapter 367 - 197: Reaching the Top (Part 2)

Below the title was the latest, and final, edition of the Hidden Dragon List, updated by the Four Seas Tower!

Hidden Dragon List, Number One: Jiang Che!

Identity: Chief Disciple of the Cangyun Sect’s Yunhai Courtyard!

Strength: Peak of the Refining Organ Realm (has Refined Spirit), suspected of possessing the terrifying combat power to threaten an Early-stage True Master!

Evaluation: ???

This time, in the Four Seas Tower’s evaluation column, they had only used three question marks, filled with endless speculation.

It was as if even they, the "professionals" who made a living selling information and prided themselves on being omniscient, could no longer find the words to describe the terror and mystery of this young man who had appeared out of nowhere!

And at the bottom of the list, a line of small text was appended:

"The former number one on the Hidden Dragon List, Qin Xuange, son of General Qin Fuhu, successfully broke through to the True Master Realm in the army on the northern front half a month ago, and has thus been automatically removed from the Hidden Dragon List rankings."

This news, though equally shocking, didn’t spark much discussion, as Qin Xuange had been in the army for years, was seldom seen, and had always been rather mysterious.

Jiang Che, on the other hand, had been making frequent appearances lately and was often at the center of public opinion.

Thus, everyone’s eyes were now focused on that new name, seared like a brand onto the top of the list!

Jiang Che!

In that moment, this name could finally be said to have truly resounded throughout the entire Cangzhou Prefecture!

From the bustling city streets to the heavily guarded sect manors.

From street vendors and porters to the noble and wealthy families.

Whether it was the storytellers in taverns and teahouses or the unmarried young ladies of prominent families.

Everyone was discussing this legend who had risen like a comet, claiming the top spot with an unstoppable, domineering presence!

He was no longer just the Chief Disciple of the Cangyun Sect, no longer just a prodigy on the Hidden Dragon List.

He was the strongest of the younger generation in the entire Cangzhou Prefecture!

The benchmark for all young Martial Artists!

From this day forward, his name completely shook the entire Cangzhou Prefecture!

...

However, as more and more people discussed Jiang Che, the fact that he was collecting a large number of Qi Blood Realm Martial Arts was also exposed.

Soon, a shocking piece of "inside news" seemed to sprout wings, quietly spreading from some unknown corners.

It propagated at a viral speed, rapidly sweeping through the Martial World of Cangzhou Prefecture!

"Have you heard? The reason Jiang Che can cultivate so fast isn’t because his Talent is so good, but because he has a special constitution!"

"What kind of special constitution?"

"Apparently, he can ignore the foundational damage from Dissipating Skill, and can even convert the dissipated Power into his own! He built up his current Cultivation by constantly practicing Low-Tier Cultivation Techniques, then dissipating them. He used that crooked, unorthodox method to get where he is!"

The moment this news broke, public opinion throughout the entire Jianghu exploded!

One must understand that in the orthodox Martial World, the term "Dissipating Skill" had always been a rather taboo topic.

Although not exclusive to the Demon Sect, this kind of Dharma Gate—exchanging the ruin of one’s own foundation for a short-term surge in strength—was ultimately regarded as an unorthodox path, disdained by the righteous.

In an instant, those who already harbored jealousy and dissatisfaction toward Jiang Che, as if clutching at a life-saving straw, immediately leaped out and began to attack him relentlessly!

"I knew it! How could a guy with an ordinary Root Bone cultivate so fast! So he took a crooked path!"

"Hmph! Strength gained through such opportunistic tricks is bound to have an unstable foundation—it’s nothing but a castle in the sky! It can’t even compare to a true expert like Senior Brother Qin Wuya, who built his strength through arduous cultivation, one step at a time!"

"That’s right! How is this behavior any different from the Demon Sect?! It’s a disgrace to our righteous path! I propose we immediately strip him of his title as number one on the Hidden Dragon List!"

However, to everyone’s surprise, these voices of doubt and condemnation received little response.

Instead, a much more powerful wave of support for Jiang Che surged from all directions, instantly drowning out those discordant voices!

"Bullshit! What do you people know?!" a seemingly prestigious Independent Cultivator expert slammed his hand on the table in a tavern and stood up, glaring at the critics. "So what if he uses Dissipating Skill? The path of the Martial Dao has always been about individual opportunities! He had a fortuitous encounter that lets him use Dissipating Skill without harm—that’s his skill! You lot are just talentless hacks who can only sit here making sour remarks. What kind of heroes does that make you?!"

"Exactly!" someone next to him immediately chimed in. "Besides, Dissipating Skill isn’t some Evil Technique exclusive to the Demon Sect! Who made the rule that righteous disciples can’t use it? As long as you’re not harming innocents or defying heaven and reason, if it can increase your strength and allow you to protect your home and country, then it’s a good Cultivation Technique!"

"Well said! Don’t you all forget, Chief Jiang single-handedly killed a Half-Step True Master who was a Demon Sect Hall Master! He’s killed more Demons from the Demon Sect than you’ve ever seen! Based on that achievement alone, he’s a model for our generation! Anyone who dares say a bad word about him is making an enemy of us!"

"That’s right! We support Chief Jiang! Anyone who dares to wag their tongues here again, don’t blame us for being impolite!"

For a moment, the tide of public opinion throughout Cangzhou Prefecture became completely one-sided!

Jiang Che’s "fans" had, without him even realizing it, already spread to every corner of Cangzhou Prefecture!

Perhaps they admired Jiang Che’s unparalleled, domineering strength, perhaps they were grateful for his achievements in exorcising demons and defending the righteous path, or perhaps...

They simply wanted to see the legendary story of a commoner from a humble background making a comeback to reach the very top.

In any case, the Jiang Che of this moment was no longer the nameless nobody from before that anyone could push around.

He had already, in a subtle way, become the spiritual leader of the younger generation in Cangzhou Prefecture, an idol in the hearts of countless ordinary Martial Artists!

His prestige was already deeply rooted in the hearts of the people!

This level of criticism was, to him, no longer something to be bothered about.

...

Jiang Che paid no mind to the flattery and debates of the outside world.

He once again plunged headfirst into the Level A Cultivation Room and began a new round of secluded cultivation.

He was about to break through to the True Master Realm soon; he could not afford to waste time.

Inside the Level A Cultivation Room, the Spiritual Mist was as thick as paste, and all was silent.

Jiang Che sat cross-legged on the cattail mat in the center, motionless as a boulder, having long since entered a deep state of cultivation where he was one with the world and had forgotten himself.

This session of secluded cultivation was more intense and even more frantic than any before!

Besides continuing to assail the remaining five acupoints,

He took the more than 140 new Qi Blood Realm Martial Arts Secret Manuals he had borrowed and began a cycle of practice, Perfection, and Dissipating Skill, one by one!

Manual after manual was rapidly cultivated to Perfection, bolstered by his terrifying Comprehension and Top-Grade Root Bone.

[Stone-Shattering Fist has been cultivated to Perfection!]

[New Talent Activated: Shattering Strength!]

[Phantom Step has been cultivated to Perfection!]

[New Talent Activated: Residual Image!]

...