Chapter 424: Above the Center

Both Wangchuan’s and Cui Mingjue’s power were comparatively gentle. Once the two streams merged, they displayed even greater tenacity, slowly pressing forward and forcing the tyrannical internal force within Cui Mingjue’s meridians to retreat bit by bit.

Cui Mingjue’s inner cultivation realm was only average, and the support he could provide was limited. But with the two sides locked in a deadlock, his assistance still proved decisive.

The Greater Heavenly Cycle of 《Xuanwu Art》 began to move once more, slowly.

Its circulation advanced very slowly and with great difficulty, yet it was incomparably resolute.

As that tyrannical internal force continued to retreat...

Wangchuan could feel that with Cui Mingjue joining in, the rate at which his own internal energy was being consumed had eased somewhat.

“Very good!”

“Focus on circulating your internal energy.”

“In one push, dissolve the internal force inside your body.”

“Yes!”

Cui Mingjue also saw hope and was overjoyed.

“This subordinate obeys!”

“You have my thanks for your trouble, Hall Master Wangchuan.”

The two men then fell silent and continued concentrating on dissolving the tyrannical internal force lodged within Cui Mingjue’s meridians.

Both of their internal energies were being consumed rapidly.

Even so.

Wangchuan was confident.

After roughly fifteen minutes of circulating their power, Wangchuan helped Cui Mingjue complete an entire Greater Heavenly Cycle.

By then, more than seventy percent of Cui Mingjue’s internal energy had been exhausted.

His body swayed on the verge of collapse, and his face was deathly pale, clear signs of extreme weakness.

Wangchuan suddenly felt all the pressure return to himself.

Fortunately, the tyrannical internal force inside Cui Mingjue’s body had also been worn down by more than half and was now little more than a spent arrow.

Seeing that more than half of his own internal energy had also been consumed, Wangchuan silently withdrew his power, opened his eyes, and said,

“That’s enough.”

“Although the internal force hasn’t been completely dissolved yet, more than half the work is already done. Once your body recovers and your internal energy returns, I’ll come back and help you circulate it one more time. That should be enough to completely dissolve the internal force inside you. Lie down first and get some proper rest.”

Wangchuan rose to his feet.

Cui Mingjue was beside himself with emotion.

“Many thanks, Hall Master! This subordinate is willing to die for you!”

He had never imagined that Wangchuan’s inner cultivation realm would surpass even Old Seven’s. Yet Wangchuan had truly solved his problem and let him see the dawn of rebirth. At that moment, he declared his allegiance without the slightest hesitation.

“Haha, good! I’ll be waiting for you to recover and take up the post of Main Helm Leader for me.”

After promising him the position of Main Helm Leader, Wangchuan turned to the two Caobang disciples inside the room and said,

“You two, take good care of Helm Leader Cui.”

“Yes!”

“We obey!”

The two men answered respectfully.

When Wangchuan left the courtyard with Chen Ergou, Cui Mingjue could no longer hold himself together. Tears rolled from his eyes in an endless torrent.

Back then—

When Luo Laoqi had come to challenge him at his door and shattered his knees, turning him into a cripple, he had not cried.

When he had followed Old Seven to Heitu Commandery, been ambushed, and taken a blade for Old Seven, nearly getting cut down in a single stroke, he had not cried.

When he learned that he had been abandoned and sent back to his native Sanhe Commandery, he had not cried.

But now...

The tyrannical internal force inside his body had been more than half dissolved by Hall Master Wangchuan, and before leaving, the Hall Master had promised to place the Main Helm under his charge...

Cui Mingjue could no longer endure it. Tears poured down uncontrollably, and he wept like a child.

Both Caobang disciples reddened around the eyes as well, silently turning their heads aside.

...

“Ding!”

System prompt:

“Officially assumes the post of Hall Master of the Caobang Sanhe Commandery Hall! Caobang Reputation has risen to ‘Somewhat Notable’! Jianghu Reputation +100. Current ranking: [omitted].”

...

The news of Wangchuan’s official confirmation did not cause much of a stir within Sanhe Commandery.

The entire Caobang had long known, ever since Lin Cunxin died and the thirteen people in charge were stripped of office, that no one in Sanhe Commandery could any longer shake Hall Master Wangchuan’s position. Everyone simply continued performing their duties as before, though they now appeared even steadier and more composed.

The congratulatory gifts, however, arrived in an endless stream.

Constable Captain He and Constable Captain Yu of the Six Gates, acting under orders, sent over a sheathed Thousand-Forged Longsaber. Its value was only average, but its significance was extraordinary.

Medicine King Valley sent a gift as well—three Lesser Rejuvenation Pills. That gift was exceedingly precious.

At that moment, Wangchuan already had nine Lesser Rejuvenation Pills and two Three-Flavors Pure Yang Pills in hand. He was more than well supplied.

On top of that—

The major families of Sanhe Commandery, the various branch gangs, and even major merchant houses such as Master Artificer Tower all sent gifts in succession.

In a single day, Wangchuan accepted more than six thousand taels of gold in gifts alone.

The position of Hall Master of Sanhe Commandery truly was dripping with hidden profits.

He ordered Chen Ergou to record every gift properly. Then, after finding some time, he circulated one more Greater Heavenly Cycle for Cui Mingjue, helping him completely dissolve the tyrannical internal force in his body.

Once that tyrannical internal force was fully dissolved, the medicinal effect of Divine Physician Shen’s pills could finally display its full healing power. By the very next day, Cui Mingjue could already get out of bed and walk, circulate his own internal energy, and accelerate his recovery. He improved at a visible pace.

Wangchuan also found time to learn and master 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》 and 《Golden Bell Shield》, converting them into data before handing the four fourth-rank cultivation methods over to Chen Ergou and the others.

Using that as a pretext, and before the New Year arrived, he allowed all the hall’s disciples to celebrate together.

The Armory Manual Vault distributed one martial arts manual to every disciple.

Then he logged off.

Seventh floor.

Ye Baiyi had already had people stock more than two thousand venomous snakes over here.

Wangchuan took one look and did not begin immediately.

He had to wait.

Recently, he had been training his cultivation methods rather fiercely, but his fourth-rank and fifth-rank martial arts were no longer keeping pace.

He still had not cultivated a fourth-rank strength-type martial art.

There was also a gap in his fourth-rank stamina-type martial arts.

At a time like this, it was not suitable for him to begin cultivating the fifth-rank 《Mountain-Splitting Staff Art》 right away.

He did not want a break in progression.

He had to fill the gaps in his fourth-rank martial arts first.

After thinking it over again and again, he called Li Na over to help him weigh the matter.

“The Center still hasn’t gotten back to us lately? They still don’t want the niche cultivation methods I’m holding?”

Wangchuan asked Li Na.

She answered,

“The Center absolutely does want this batch of niche cultivation methods, but it truly does not have the authority to grant higher clearance.”

Li Na said helplessly,

“To be honest, we count as the fourth batch of game players. Ahead of us, groups like the Warring States Game Studio belong to the third batch... their clearance is somewhat higher, but they are almost all at fifth-rank cultivation or above, and they are either wealthy or highly placed. The Center does not yet have the qualifications in that regard.”

“Above the Center, are there even higher-level institutions?”

Wangchuan had guessed something.

Li Na hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes.”

“Above the 《spirit realm》 Online Guidance Center, there is actually also the 《spirit realm》 Oversight Center and the 《spirit realm》 Command Center. They are respectively responsible for the second and first batches of game players. Some players are even directly inside the Oversight Center and the Command Center.”

Li Na’s explanation left Wangchuan silent.

At last, he understood.

He had chosen the wrong partner.

He had been asking the 《spirit realm》 Online Guidance Center to help him obtain the Oversight Center’s clearance and gain access to higher-level intelligence...

But the Online Guidance Center was only a service institution.

No wonder Wang Song had gone completely silent after that.

“Li Na.”

“Right now, I need one fourth-rank strength-type martial arts manual and one fourth-rank stamina-type martial arts manual. A body-protection technique would be best.”

Wangchuan stated his requirements.

Li Na hesitated before replying,

“The Online Guidance Center does have the resources, but the price is not low. One manual costs at least five thousand taels of gold.”

“I’ll buy them!”

Wangchuan agreed without the slightest hesitation.

“When can they be delivered?”