Martial Saint with Passives

Jiang Che did as he was told and no longer deliberately suppressed his power.

Instantly, an aura far more powerful and condensed than that of an ordinary Late-stage Bone Forging Realm cultivator erupted from within him!

This surging aura was faintly touching the threshold of the Peak!

The courtyard fell silent in an instant!

Every disciple stared wide-eyed, their gazes fixed on Jiang Che, filled with shock!

How long had it been since he broke through to the Bone Forging Realm?

Just over a year, at most! And he was already approaching the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm?

This cultivation speed was simply unheard of!

Could it be that the rumors of his poor Root Bone and his foundation being damaged by Dissipating Skill were all false?

Was this person actually a genius who had been hiding his true talent?

The gloom on Xu Qingshan’s face was largely swept away in that moment, and a stunning brilliance suddenly erupted in his eyes!

He stared intently at Jiang Che, as if getting to know this disciple all over again.

’He’s just a hair’s breadth away from the Peak of the Bone Forging Realm!’ Xu Qingshan’s heart surged with excitement. ’It’s only been two years! From Force Integration to this Realm! Not even Bihe was this fast back then!’

He had previously thought Jiang Che’s potential was limited, but now it was clear he had completely misjudged him!

How could this boy possibly have a poor Root Bone?

He clearly had an extremely high compatibility with the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique!

And his Comprehension was top-tier!

Furthermore, Xu Qingshan guessed that Jiang Che must have also obtained considerable resources to support his cultivation.

No matter how he got them, it at least showed that he had some impressive methods of his own!

He wasn’t the kind of fool who only knew how to cultivate blindly!

That was enough!

’The heavens have not abandoned my Yunhai Courtyard!’ Xu Qingshan cried out in his heart. ’Bihe is gone, but now a Jiang Che has been sent to me! Although he’s not as good as Bihe for now, his potential is enormous! As long as I nurture him well, he will surely become a pillar of our courtyard in the future!’

"Good! Very good!" Xu Qingshan said "good" twice in a row, a long-lost, genuine smile finally appearing on his face.

"Jiang Che, your rapid progress is truly remarkable! You must guard against arrogance and impatience, and solidify your foundation!"

"This disciple understands," Jiang Che replied respectfully.

The disciples below finally snapped out of their shock and burst into discussion.

"My heavens, Junior Brother Jiang’s speed... is too terrifying!"

"Who was it that said he had no future after Dissipating Energy? You call this having no future?"

"Looks like our courtyard is about to produce another genius!"

Chen Shi, Li Rui, and Zhang Ping looked at each other, seeing the same shock and disbelief in one another’s eyes.

They were still celebrating their breakthrough to the Early Stage of Bone Forging, and here he was, already near the Peak!

The gap was...

Chief Disciple Xiao Mingqian stood at the front of the crowd, his back seeming to stiffen for a moment.

Listening to the gasps and discussions behind him, he had mixed feelings.

He vividly remembered personally guiding Jiang Che’s training when he had just joined the courtyard.

Back then, he was the senior brother Jiang Che had to look up to.

But now, the distance between them had been closed so rapidly!

It was even possible that Jiang Che would be the first to step into the Refining Organ Realm!

A strange sense of pressure quietly emerged.

After everyone’s cultivation had been assessed, Xu Qingshan gave a brief summary and dismissed the gathering.

"Jiang Che, you stay behind. Come to my private study; I have something to say to you," he said, then suddenly added another sentence.

Jiang Che, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks upon hearing this. "Yes, Master."

Under the envious and curious gazes of the other disciples, Jiang Che followed Xu Qingshan into the familiar private study.

Afterward, the disciples dispersed, still excitedly discussing the shock Jiang Che had caused in groups of twos and threes.

"I never would have guessed! Junior Brother Jiang was so quiet about it, but he’s become so strong!"

"Still, he’s not as good as Senior Sister Lin. You know, Senior Sister Lin is one of the best even in the Refining Organ Realm. It’s hard to say when Junior Brother Jiang will even break through to the Refining Organ Realm!"

"You can’t say that. How long has Junior Brother Jiang been cultivating? I’m optimistic about him!"

"Speaking of which, the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference is in a few days. Our courtyard needs a Chief Disciple to take the lead. It used to be Senior Sister Lin, but now that Senior Sister Lin is gone, who do you think it will be this year?"

"Based on seniority and cultivation, it should be the Chief Disciple, right?"

"I don’t think so. Junior Brother Jiang has so much momentum, maybe..."

"His foundation is still shallow, and he doesn’t have as much experience as the Chief Disciple. I think the Chief Disciple is still the safer bet!"

What the small group failed to notice was that Xiao Mingqian was walking right behind them.

Hearing the discussion ahead, his steps faltered slightly, and his gaze flickered with uncertainty.

...

Inside the private study, Xu Qingshan looked at Jiang Che, his gaze burning.

"Jiang Che, I have seen your progress with my own eyes!" he said, getting straight to the point. "My Yunhai Courtyard is in dire need of capable people right now, especially with the upcoming Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference. It is critically important, as it determines our resource allocation for the next year!"

He paused, then took out a Jade Bottle and a palm-sized white Jade Token engraved with a cloud pattern from his robes, handing them to Jiang Che.

"These are Top Grade ’Primordial Marrow Pills’. Take them to aid your cultivation. Also, this is the Jade Token for an A-level Cultivation Room. It grants ten days of free use per month. From this day forward, it is yours."

Jiang Che’s heart pounded violently!

An A-level Cultivation Room! The breakthrough opportunity he had been dreaming of had just fallen into his lap!

And a whole bottle of Primordial Marrow Pills!

Ye Lianzhen had given him three pills before, so he knew just how precious this elixir was.

It could be called the strongest Elixir Pill below the Refining Organ Realm!

The pills his master had rewarded him with before were merely Essence Stabilizing Pills, which were known as lesser Primordial Marrow Pills.

He never expected to be given Primordial Marrow Pills directly this time, and a whole bottle at that! There had to be at least ten pills inside!

He accepted the Jade Bottle and Jade Token with both hands, saying excitedly, "Thank you, Master! This disciple will not fail to live up to your high hopes!"

Xu Qingshan nodded, his tone grave. "If you encounter any difficulties in your cultivation, you can come ask me at any time. At the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference, you must give it your all—for the sake of our Yunhai Courtyard, and for your own future!"

Jiang Che took a deep breath. He decided it was time to show his hand.

’If I don’t latch onto this powerful backer now, when will I?’

He bowed deeply and said in a solemn voice, "Master, this disciple has a favor to ask!"

Xu Qingshan was a little surprised. "What is it?"

Jiang Che then recounted how the Vice Sect Leader had grown suspicious of him, and how he had subsequently been hunted by members of the Demon Sect.

He only omitted certain details that would have revealed his trump cards.

"...This disciple is worried that the Vice Sect Leader will move against me when he returns. I beg you to save me, Master!" Jiang Che’s voice even held a hint of a sob.

Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Xu Qingshan’s eyes. He wasn’t surprised at all; instead, a cold smirk appeared, as if to say, ’I knew it’.

In an instant, the faint aura of a True Master Realm expert began to radiate from him, and the very air in the private study seemed to thicken and stagnate.

"Xie Songnian..." Xu Qingshan’s voice was ice-cold, laced with a bone-deep hatred. "He was responsible for Bihe’s death, and now he wants to make a move on you... Does he really think I, Xu Qingshan, am a pushover!"

His gaze was as sharp as a blade as he looked at Jiang Che and said, word by word, "Jiang Che, you just focus on your cultivation and prepare for the Inquiry Conference. I will handle everything else! As long as I, Xu Qingshan, still have breath in my body, I will never let him harm a single hair on your head!"

At that moment, he seemed to have reverted to the sharp-edged, brilliant Cangyun Sect disciple of the past: Xu Qingshan!

After all, he had once been the undisputed number one prodigy of his generation.

Looking at his master’s sharp, determined eyes, Jiang Che felt a sense of certainty settle in his heart. He bowed deeply once more. "Disciple... thanks you, Master!"

After leaving Yunhai Courtyard, Jiang Che headed straight for the Cultivation Room area.

When he arrived at the Cultivation Rooms, the old Taoist in charge saw him and greeted him with a nod.

"The usual, is it? One B-level Cultivation Room?"

He then moved to get the key for a B-level Cultivation Room.

"Master Shen," Jiang Che said with a smile, "this time, could you please... open an A-level Cultivation Room for me!"

Master Shen’s hand froze in mid-air, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He looked at Jiang Che, puzzled. "A-level? Jiang the Kid, you shouldn’t have enough Sect points, right? The Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference hasn’t even started. Where did you get the points?"

Jiang Che didn’t explain much. He took out the white Jade Token his master Xu Qingshan had given him and handed it over. "Can this be used?"

Master Shen took it, his fingertips tracing the unique cloud pattern of the Cangyun Sect on the Jade Token. His expression changed slightly, and he looked up to study Jiang Che carefully, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"You... How do you have this?"