Chapter 1: Backbone
Guiyuan Sect, Outer Disciple living quarters.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
A rapid series of knocks rang out.
"Zhang Su, your old family servant is here. He’s waiting outside the Mountain Gate."
The door opened, and Zhang Su walked out.
His eyes held a hint of confusion, as if he were trying to recall something.
’Right, it’s the beginning of the month. Elder Guan must be here to deliver silver again...’
Zhang Su immediately headed for the Mountain Gate.
Soon, he spotted a familiar figure.
It was an old servant.
His body was stooped as he peered into the Mountain Gate.
"Elder Guan."
Zhang Su quickly walked over.
Upon seeing Zhang Su, a smile spread across Elder Guan’s face. He hurried over and said with a grin, "Second Young Master, the five hundred silver the First Young Master sends you each month has already been deposited into your Guiyuan Sect Identity Token."
"Also, these are the Blood Replenishing Pills the First Young Master had someone specially purchase for you. They are beneficial for practicing martial arts. And also..."
Elder Guan had brought many things.
Zhang Su knew these were all things his ’older brother’ from his memories had sent him.
His relationship with his older brother was complicated.
He had unilaterally declared that he was cutting ties with his older brother.
Yet his older brother still had Elder Guan bring silver and supplements up the mountain for him every month.
Seeing Zhang Su’s silence, Elder Guan let out a long sigh.
But he said nothing.
He was an old servant of the Zhang Family.
He knew the family’s affairs well.
But regarding the matter between the First and Second Young Masters, he could only sigh inwardly.
"Is Older Brother... doing okay?"
After a long moment, Zhang Su slowly spoke.
"Hm?"
Elder Guan’s head snapped up.
How long had it been since he’d heard Zhang Su use the title "Older Brother"?
"Second Young Master, you..."
Elder Guan was overcome with emotion.
’Could it be that the Second Young Master has forgiven the First Young Master?’
Zhang Su took a deep breath and then said, "Elder Guan, please thank Older Brother for me when you return."
"Yes, I will be sure to pass on the message! The First Young Master will be overjoyed..."
Elder Guan wiped away his tears.
He was so moved.
All that was left of the Zhang Family now were the First Young Master, the Second Young Master, and the Young Miss.
He had seen the discord between the First and Second Young Masters, and it had weighed heavily on his heart.
For a whole year, Zhang Su hadn’t gone down the mountain to see his older brother even once.
’Who would have thought that Zhang Su would have such a change of heart today?’
Elder Guan left with several strong servants.
Zhang Su, meanwhile, returned to the Outer Sect living quarters with all the items.
Outer Disciples were mostly crammed together in one room.
Of course, those who could afford it were able to live in a private room.
Logically, Zhang Su should have been able to afford it.
After all, Elder Guan unfailingly brought five hundred silver up the mountain every month.
But because of his strained relationship with his older brother, Zhang Su had stubbornly refused to use any of the silver his brother sent.
And so, he was squeezed into a room with many other Outer Disciples.
Only Zhang Su was in the room.
His three other Outer Disciple roommates were currently out.
Zhang Su put the things down and began to sort through the memories in his mind.
He had woken up and inexplicably taken Zhang Su’s place.
Many of Zhang Su’s memories were still unclear to him.
He only knew that the relationship with his older brother was poor, seemingly because his brother had married into his wife’s family.
But Zhang Su didn’t know the specific details.
As he sorted through the memories, details about his older brother gradually surfaced in his mind.
It turned out that the Zhang Family had once been a family of scholars.
Father Zhang had been an official in the Capital City.
Because he had offended Marquis Wuqing, he was framed by the Marquis and put to death.
Their mother had taken Zhang Su and his two siblings back to their ancestral home in Qingquan Prefecture.
However, she also fell ill and died not long after.
His older brother was left to support the Zhang Family alone. But when a man is down, everyone will kick him. Not only did their own relatives refuse to help, but they also took advantage of their misfortune, making things difficult for the Zhang Family at every turn.
Later, his older brother, Zhang Chen, married into the Su Family, taking their only daughter, Su Zhenzhen, as his wife.
A fierce argument erupted between Zhang Su and his older brother.
He felt that his older brother marrying into a merchant family had brought shame upon the entire Zhang Family.
From then on, he cut ties with his older brother and went to the Guiyuan Sect alone, becoming an Outer Disciple.
He didn’t even attend his older brother’s wedding.
His predecessor even had a great deal of "backbone."
For a whole year, he didn’t spend a single bit of the silver his older brother had Elder Guan deliver.
It was all just sitting in his Identity Token.
According to the Guiyuan Sect’s rules, contribution points could be exchanged for silver at a one-to-one ratio.
Therefore, he now had at least six thousand contribution points in his Identity Token.
After sorting through his memories, Zhang Su remained silent for a long time.
’Backbone?’
In his opinion, it was nothing more than youthful arrogance.
’Why did Older Brother marry into the Su Family?’
’He did it for the entire Zhang Family.’
The Su Family was known as Su Half-City; though a family of merchants, they had an endless supply of silver.
His predecessor’s actions might have seemed to have backbone.
But in reality, his status as a Guiyuan Sect Outer Disciple was also bought by the Su Family, who had paid a hefty price and spent an unknown amount of silver to secure it for him.
Otherwise, when he joined the Guiyuan Sect a year ago, he was already fifteen years old.
The maximum age for recruiting Outer Disciples into the Guiyuan Sect was fourteen.
He was already over the age limit.
But the Su Family had enough money to make ghosts turn millstones.
They had forcibly bought him a spot as an Outer Disciple, which was the only reason he was able to become one in the Guiyuan Sect.
’Youthful arrogance, and... sheer inflexibility!’
’A whole year in the Guiyuan Sect, and he couldn’t even cultivate Qi Blood. All he had left was his so-called backbone...’
Zhang Su shook his head.
He immediately tried to circulate the Cultivation Technique and begin his Cultivation.
The result... nothing happened.
’Wait, after a whole year, he hasn’t even mastered the most basic Qi Blood Realm Martial Arts?’
Zhang Su was dumbfounded.
’No matter how bad his talent was, it couldn’t possibly be this bad, right?’
’Or is there some hidden reason?’
Zhang Su searched his memories carefully.
And sure enough, he found the reason.
When he first became an Outer Disciple, he was allowed to choose one Cultivation Technique and one Martial Technique for free.
As it turned out, his predecessor’s ambitions were loftier than the heavens, and he had chosen an incredibly difficult and obscure Martial Art for the Qi Blood Realm.
It was called the "Great River Divine Technique."
Once successfully cultivated, one’s Qi Blood would be like a surging great river, several times greater than that of others, allowing one to forge a Supreme Foundation.
But it had one flaw: it was difficult!
Extremely difficult!
Countless disciples who attempted this Martial Art ultimately met with failure and had no choice but to switch to a different one.
His predecessor was no different.
Moreover, his predecessor was completely single-minded. Despite being unable to cultivate the Great River Divine Technique, he had stubbornly persisted for a full year without switching Cultivation Techniques.
’Not just inflexible, but stupid too...’
Zhang Su had already made a decision.
’I have to change my Cultivation Technique.’
’Otherwise, if I can’t even cultivate Qi Blood, what’s the point of practicing martial arts?’
Without Qi Blood, one couldn’t even be considered a Martial Artist.
Because of this, Zhang Su had actually become a laughingstock among the Guiyuan Sect’s Outer Disciples.
’Great River Divine Technique...’
Although Zhang Su had decided to change his Cultivation Technique, he was still curious.
’Just how difficult is this Martial Art?’
And so, the incantations for the Great River Divine Technique appeared in his mind.
Zhang Su read through it carefully.
The result... utter confusion.
He was completely baffled.
This Martial Art was truly obscure and abstruse. Even understanding it was difficult, let alone practicing its Cultivation.
’Great River Divine Technique, Compatibility 11%...’
Suddenly, Zhang Su saw a flash of golden light before his eyes.
Immediately after, a panel appeared in his vision.
Host: Zhang Su
Great River Divine Technique: Compatibility 11% (Not at entry-level)
Spiritual Snake Fist: Compatibility 81% (Minor Achievement)
Compatibility Value: 0
Note: One point of Compatibility Value can increase the Compatibility of any Cultivation Technique by 10%.
Note: Mastering any Cultivation Technique to Perfection grants one point of Compatibility Value.
Note: A Cultivation Technique with 100% Compatibility is guaranteed to reach Perfection.
A thought stirred in Zhang Su’s mind.
’Could this be my cheat ability?’
Zhang Su studied it carefully.
The higher the Compatibility with a Cultivation Technique, the faster the Cultivation speed.
One point of Compatibility Value could increase the Compatibility of any Cultivation Technique by 10%.
It might not seem like much.
But in reality, this Compatibility Value was incredibly useful.
It could forcibly raise a Cultivation Technique’s Compatibility to 100%, even if it wasn’t there naturally. And once a technique reached 100% Compatibility, it was guaranteed to reach Perfection!
If used properly, the help it could provide to a Martial Artist was immense!
Its potential was immeasurable!
’The Great River Divine Technique only has 11% Compatibility. With a rate this low, I probably couldn’t even reach the entry-level in ten years...’
Zhang Su shook his head.
He compared the Great River Divine Technique with the Spiritual Snake Fist.
With 81% Compatibility, he had reached the Minor Achievement stage in the Spiritual Snake Fist in just one year.
That was quite good.
Meanwhile, reaching even the entry-level of the Great River Divine Technique was a distant prospect.
This was the difference between high and low Compatibility.
This strengthened his resolve; he absolutely had to switch out the Great River Divine Technique.
’And I have to make good use of my advantage.’
’When I choose a Martial Art, I must choose one with very high Compatibility.’
Thinking of this, Zhang Su delayed no further. He immediately got up and headed straight for the Instructor Pavilion.