I Only Stomp on Weaklings

Jiangzhou City, Jiang Family House.

Inside a quiet courtyard, Chen Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, gently stroking a black turtle shell in his hands.

He was nurturing this treasure using the "Artifact Nurturing Technique."

Last time he used the prophecy function, it consumed quite a bit of its essence, and if he relied on it to recover naturally, it would take an unknown length of time.

At this time, the "Artifact Nurturing Technique" from the "Nine Nether Great Technique" came in handy.

The "Artifact Nurturing Technique" could accelerate the recovery speed of this treasure.

For this, he pushed the "Artifact Nurturing Technique" up to the seventh layer in one go, almost using up the remaining two million experience points.

The effect was remarkable too. After three days of nurturing, the turtle shell finally regained its warm gloss.

"It should be usable again!"

Chen Ming thought to himself.

He currently faced two major crises: one was Du Rusong lurking in the shadows, and the other was Pan Zhiyuan wanting to drive away Yu Haitang.

He pondered repeatedly but truly couldn’t think of any way to resolve these two matters.

Therefore, he could only rely on the mysterious power of the turtle shell.

Although the essence of the turtle shell hadn’t completely recovered, he couldn’t afford to care about that now.

"Oh turtle shell, turtle shell, what should I do to resolve these two crises? Guide me to a clear path!"

Chen Ming clasped his hands together, holding the turtle shell in his palms, murmuring softly.

Then, he applied the ninth layer of the "Artifact Control Technique," mobilizing the power of the turtle shell.

Suddenly, the turtle shell emitted a beam of luminescent white light, transforming into a light stream and entering his brow.

Instantly, several images appeared in his mind.

A signboard.

An old man soaking in spring water, resembling a dry corpse.

And a sword embedded in the spring water.

"What is this?"

Chen Ming closed his eyes, making every effort to analyze the information revealed by those images.

The signboard was Golden Jade Hall, one of the four major factions in Jiangzhou City.

And that sword looked like an unparalleled divine weapon.

His heart stirred, "Could it be that the key lies in that unparalleled divine weapon?"

If he could obtain a complete version of an unparalleled divine weapon, he indeed had the confidence to confront a First Grade, and even if he couldn’t kill the opponent, he wouldn’t be as powerless as when he faced Du Rusong last time.

After all, he had the ninth level of "Artifact Control Technique," which could unleash the essence power of an unparalleled divine weapon.

If he could find another First Grade expert, working together would give him a strong chance to retain Du Rusong.

"Golden Jade Hall, huh..."

Chen Ming pondered, inadvertently glancing at the turtle shell to find it had a new crack, causing him heartache as this crack originally did not exist.

It must have been caused by him forcefully activating the turtle shell’s power just now, resulting in damage.

He said, "Brother Jia, I promise to nurture you day by day, and before you are fully restored, I will not use you again."

Then, he placed the turtle shell into his bosom, nurturing it with Gang Yuan.

"Come here."

Chen Ming called for someone to come in, directing a maid to find Jiang Yingxue and asking her to gather information about any recent events at Golden Jade Hall.

...

Jiang Family House, study room in the back courtyard.

Jiang Ji’nan was looking at a secret report, his expression somewhat solemn, when he suddenly received a notice that Jiang Yingxue requested to see him. He put away the paper slip in his hand and said, "Let her in."

"Uncle Ancestor."

Jiang Yingxue entered and paid her respects.

"You little girl, what brings you to see me?"

Jiang Ji’nan looked at his niece, who seemed to have overcome the shadow of being kidnapped, feeling somewhat sympathetic, and chose not to tell her the news he just received.

The secret report earlier stated that both his nephew Mingtong and grand-nephew Shihua had met mishap while trying to save his niece.

This news, perhaps, should not be told to her for now.

Growing old softens the heart.

Jiang Yingxue said, "Uncle Ancestor, I’d like to ask you about something."

"What is it, speak."

"Has something happened to Golden Jade Hall?"

Jiang Ji’nan said, somewhat surprised, "Who told you that something happened at Golden Jade Hall?"

Jiang Yingxue smiled without answering, merely continued questioning, "So what exactly has happened?"

There was no need to hide this matter from her, and Jiang Ji’nan replied with some emotion, "The old ghost at Golden Jade Hall is nearing his lifespan limit. Once he dies, Golden Jade Hall may collapse."

"Ah?"

Jiang Yingxue was startled. The "old ghost" her uncle ancestor referred to was surely the strongman in the Divine Treasure Realm behind Golden Jade Hall.

She heard from her grandfather that this person is the oldest among the four factions, over two hundred years old.

Generally, the maximum lifespan of those in the Divine Treasure Realm is two hundred years. Surpassing two hundred is already considered very long-lived.

She asked in surprise, "Doesn’t he have a successor?"

Jiang Ji’nan shook his head and said, "This old ghost has accepted over ten disciples, and all have died. He used to have two successors, but both died eight and three years ago, respectively, failing their attempts to reach the Divine Treasure Realm. The old ghost’s cultivation must have some flaws, which is why his disciples faced such peril when breaking through to the Divine Treasure Realm."

Jiang Yingxue said in confusion, "Even if he dies, doesn’t Golden Jade Hall still have several First Grades? How could it collapse so easily?"

Jiang Ji’nan gave an example, "Have you seen a child carrying gold through a crowded market? What do you think would be the result?"

Jiang Yingxue seemed to understand, "Uncle Ancestor, are you referring to the Secret Realm controlled by Golden Jade Hall?"

"There are two places," Jiang Ji’nan corrected her, "If Golden Jade Hall’s inheritor has enough wisdom and is willing to forgo one of the Secret Realms, they could naturally secure decades of stability. Unfortunately, in the current Golden Jade Hall, no one dares to make such a decision. This is the flaw of a sect. Once a big tree falls, the monkeys scatter. How could it compare to the cohesion of a family?"

Jiang Yingxue said, "That Divine Treasure Realm senior from the Golden Jade Hall must understand this principle, right? Will he make arrangements in advance?"

"Those two Secret Realms, he risked his life to seize them. If he could abandon them, he would have done so long ago. Now he’s still dreaming of finding a successor, someone under thirty, with Third Grade Cultivation or higher, willing to be his apprentice, can give it a try."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yingxue suddenly realized why Chen Ming had sent her to ask the great-uncle in the first place. It was for this reason.

She exclaimed excitedly, "Doesn’t this mean that if someone can obtain the inheritance from this senior, they can take over the entire Golden Jade Hall?"

Jiang Jinan smiled bitterly, "You make it sound easy, but where in the Jiang Family can we find someone under thirty with Third Grade?"

The Jiang Family isn’t lacking talent, but coincidentally, this period is a gap. The most gifted ones are either already over thirty or too young, not yet at Third Grade.

There’s a saying, what the Jiang Family can’t obtain, other families shouldn’t dream of getting either.

If an outsider gets the Golden Jade Hall’s inheritance, it’s fine, but if it’s taken by one of the other two families, or one of the three factions, it will disrupt the current balance and turn one power dominant.

This is something the Jiang Family cannot tolerate.

It is believed that the other families think the same way.

Ultimately, regardless of which of the six families gets the inheritance, the other five will rise to attack. So, after some agreement, they decided not to send their disciples to seize the Golden Jade Hall’s inheritance.

However, if someone else gets the inheritance, they won’t stop them.

Comparatively, they’d prefer for the Golden Jade Hall to maintain its status quo; it doesn’t matter who obtains it, as long as it’s not swallowed up by the other five families.

In fact, everyone has the same idea, which is to support young experts not from their own forces to seize that senior’s inheritance.

As for who can get it, that depends on their own skills.

After Jiang Jinan finished speaking, he asked her, "Why are you asking about this?"

Jiang Yingxue said excitedly, "Let Sister Yuan go! With her strength, she can definitely seize that inheritance!"

"Oh?" Jiang Jinan was taken aback, "She isn’t even thirty?"

A woman’s age cannot be judged by her appearance.

Furthermore, he, being part of the upper echelons of the Jiang Family, knew more secrets than others. Though the Star-Moon Sect is mysterious, he knew about it; this sect is skilled in Dual Cultivation. Naturally, its members are adept at maintaining their youthful looks, unsurprising.

He thought this woman with Second Grade Cultivation was probably thirty or forty, just looked young.

Unexpectedly, she wasn’t even thirty?

The unknown Star-Moon Sect produced such an unparalleled talent?

Jiang Yingxue nodded heavily, "Of course."

Jiang Jinan jumped up, stroking his beard, his expression gradually turning excited, "If this is true, then it’s truly wonderful."

Throughout Jiangzhou, outside the six major forces (excluding Golden Jade Hall), there aren’t many Third Grade individuals under thirty, and Second Grade ones are even rarer, definitely outstanding existences.

There’s a large chance of seizing the inheritance.

This deal will do!

"Xiaoxue, you’ve indeed made a great friend!"

"So, can Sister Yuan go?"

"Yes, of course she can!"

...

Jiang Yingxue came out from the great-uncle’s place and immediately ran to report to Chen Ming.

After hearing the whole story, Chen Ming frowned instead.

To him, this inheritance seemed like a hot potato.

The Golden Jade Hall has a few First Grade individuals; even if one gets the Divine Treasure Realm expert’s inheritance, it’s hard to control, just a bare commander with liabilities to shoulder, and easy to be blamed.

Unless that Divine Treasure Realm expert kills those First Grade individuals.

But in that case, only he, a Second Grade, would be left in the Golden Jade Hall. How could he hold such vast interests? Most likely, he’d die suddenly the next day, followed by the Golden Jade Hall being divided...

It’s clear this inheritance has more trouble than benefits.

Jiang Yingxue saw his serious expression and curiously asked, "Why aren’t you happy?"

He shook his head, "This matter is probably dangerous."

After speaking, he paused, "However, we have no choice."

Only by obtaining that Unparalleled Divine Weapon can he confidently handle the current critical situation. So, he must strive for this inheritance.

As for the subsequent troubles, deal with them later.

Chen Ming asked, "When does it start?"

"The grand-uncle said, in five days."

"Alright."

...

Five days passed quickly.

That morning, Chen Ming didn’t bring his two swords, leaving them with Jiang Yingxue for safekeeping, and went with a Jiang Family manager to the Golden Jade Hall.

On the way, he pondered the founder of Golden Jade Hall’s background; this person was born a businessman, with the Golden Jade Hall passed down as a family business dealing in jewelry and jade.

And yet, such a naturally gifted individual emerged, cultivating to the Divine Treasure Realm, and with exceptional skills. In just two hundred years, he developed Golden Jade Hall into one of the seven major powers in Jiangzhou.

Unfortunately, this senior was too unlucky, as all his dozen disciples died before him.

Most of them died of old age under his tutelage, as they couldn’t outlive their Divine Treasure Realm master.

A few others died from accidents.

The most tragic were the two youngest disciples, who perished attempting the Divine Treasure Realm breakthrough.

In the end, in his twilight years, he had no choice but to hastily seek a successor in this manner, a desperate move.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the Golden Jade Hall’s main base.

The Golden Jade Hall sent a high-level manager to personally greet them, "Miss, please follow me."

Chen Ming followed him inside, entering the most luxurious shop in Jiangzhou City. They proceeded to the backyard and met a few others there.

No surprise, these people would be his competitors on this journey.

PS: Three Chapters, ten thousand words; voting requests.