The Red Sands Palace Master quickly departed, but the Ardent Earth Palace Master hesitated: “Shall we go, too?”
Huang Ji lifted his foot, and naturally stood next to the palace master: “Master, if you would.”
The Ardent Earth Palace Master rubbed his nose again.
He felt that this master and apprentice relationship wasn’t going to last long, but it wouldn’t be good to dampen the enthusiasm of new disciples…
After that, the Ardent Earth Palace Master hoisted Huang Ji onto his shoulder. His entire body transformed into something like a ferocious beast, and flashed out at great speeds. In an instant, not a trace of them could be seen.
At this point, the three seedlings found the palace halls where they belonged. It was only natural that Gongyi Tianheng felt relieved.
The Blood Transformation Palace Master revealed a smiling expression: “Apprentice, do you share close friendships with them?”
Tianheng smiled and said: “Xi Shuangyun’s elder brother and this disciple have somewhat of a friendship. In the future, Ling Ziwei may walk through my Gongyi Clan’s doors, and become the wife of my biological younger brother. Huang Ji is the teacher of my biological younger sister. He’s also my senior brother from the previous Qingyun Sect.”
If one thought about it, all of them had involvements.
Hearing what was said, the Blood Transformation Palace Master faintly nodded: “Their aptitudes are pretty good, and their relationships with each of those palace halls are also relatively simple. One day, they’ll be of great assistance to you, especially Huang Ji. He definitely isn’t a fish in a small pond. Right now, that Ardent Earth Palace Master is conflicted, but in the future, he probably won’t want to let go of him.”
Tianheng couldn’t restrain his laughter: “That’s right. Although this disciple doesn’t know how arduous the cultivation method practiced by the Ardent Earth Palace Hall is, Senior Sect Brother Huang will presumably have no problems.”
Nothing else had to be said. Indeed, Huang Ji’s adaptability was incredibly strong. Sooner or later, a powerhouse with the Heavenly Beast Body would appear in the Ardent Earth Palace Hall.
After chatting with his own master, Tianheng asked the Blood Transformation Palace Master complicated questions about several martial disciplines. This palace master was deeply immersed in the Endless Blood of the Divine Body, so he could talk about the subtleties of all the relevant derivative martial skills. In addition to these related martial disciplines, he was able to draw inferences about other martial disciples. The palace master pointed straight to the core of these matters, and gave Tianheng a lot of help.
Afterwards, Tianheng bade farewell and left.
On his face, he wore a smiling expression. He was also very pleased with the palace halls that the three seedlings entered.
For these three people, Tianheng didn’t plan on having them join the Blood Transformation Palace Hall from the beginning. Not to mention anything else, the body cultivation method of the Blood Transformation Palace Hall was special, and the attributes and temperaments of the three weren’t too suitable either. Therefore, was there any need to force it?
Moreover, after the three of them entered their palace halls as exceptional geniuses and prodigies, they would certainly have the opportunities to learn each palace hall’s ultimate knowledge. While he didn’t have the intention of making them teach him each ultimate knowledge, so long as they practiced and trained with him present, he could derive the best features and integrate them into his self-created six paths &#k2014; This was better than thoroughly learning the Endless Blood of the Divine Body to an adequate level and asking his own master to negotiate with the other palace masters to learn a few more pieces of ultimate knowledge.
In order to let the Gongyi Clan gain a foothold as soon as possible and to make his subordinates even more loyal, after discussing things with Gu Zuo, Gongyi Tianheng decided to allocate some resources to focus on nurturing talents.
Hence, they sent down an order.
In the manor, Tianheng funded the construction of a martial arts dojo, which was controlled by the Gongyi Clan. Numerous Gongyi Clan children went inside to learn martial arts. At the same time, other subordinates, including the various servile races that pledged their allegiances, selected outstanding children within their races to accompany them as practice partners.
All of the adherents within the manor grounds knew that their young master had brought a batch of younger generations from his clan to train them. The common practices these juniors usually received were no different from their own. This greatly reassured them, but it also allowed them to accept this arrangement willingly.
After all, it was natural to be preferential towards one’s own clan members. There would certainly be distinctions between relatives and adherents. However, only by being impartial in terms of overt resources could it be ensured that the subordinates weren’t disillusioned or disappointed — When all was said and done, they were Tianheng’s adherents. They weren’t adherents of the Gongyi Clan.
Of course, many subordinates wouldn’t go so far as to require treatment equivalent to what their master’s clan members received. Just like this martial arts dojo, for example. It was completely fine that it belonged to the Gongyi Clan. Allowing them to act as practice partners and to enjoy this exceptional nurturing was the benevolence of their master.
In actuality, Tianheng only established the martial arts dojo to better train his clan members so that they could smoothly gain a foothold. Apart from this, whatever the clan members wanted, they had to fight for it like the other adherents. Otherwise, would Tianheng end up raising a nest of rice weevils or a group of helpers? What he needed was a rich and powerful clan, not a crowd of powerless and incompetent swine.
After the martial arts dojo was set up, Tianheng called together all of his clan members. With a cold and solemn complexion, he said: “I funneled resources and provided this martial arts dojo so that all of you can swiftly advance at the initial stages. However, the dojo has its own competition. If you don’t work hard enough, and you aren’t as good as your many practice partners, it can only mean that your aptitudes are poor and that you aren’t worth nurturing. The resources you get will be reduced. If you want to improve in the future, you can only fight for it once more on your own.”
The numerous clan members also had solemn and respectful expressions: “Yes, young lord!”
The opportunity to be nurtured didn’t come easily. They absolutely couldn’t disappoint the clan!
Tianheng’s expression eased somewhat: “Now that many servile races have submitted themselves to me, it has nothing to do with you. If you want the Gongyi Clan to obtain their recognition, you must spare no effort to surpass your peers in the dojo. Among you all, each person will have several practice partners. If you’re hardworking, they can become your helpers. If you’re sincere, they can become your friends. And if you’re no good…they can also only be mediocre.”
Upon hearing this, the breaths of the clan members hitched.
Now, they understood clearly. The young lord was giving them a chance to strive for the help of the servile races. If they were powerful enough, they could also obtain the recognition of the servile races! At that time, perhaps the young lord could bestow those practice partners to them… In this manor, not only could they organize certain teams and groups, they could also get the support of the servile races from their own practice partners.
Even though everyone was a member of the Gongyi Clan, they all came from different branches. There were competitions within the clan, too! Whoever took the lead in developing their own forces could gain the young lord’s respect and favor. They would constantly strengthen until they became leaders of the clan!
They couldn’t help but give it their all for such future prospects.
The young lord wasn’t more than a few years older than them. And he was even younger than some clan members among them. On the Central Continent, this kind of young lord could have such foundations in Ten Ultimates Sect, so why couldn’t they also become regional powerhouses with the help of the young lord’s strength?
Under the words of Tianheng, which were brimming with hints and suggestions, the great ambitions of the Gongyi Clan’s three hundred children were stoked into raging flames, and their gazes became increasingly resolute.
Though they were newcomers, at this moment, the apprehension and hesitation brought about by witnessing the formidable martial strength of those within the manor grounds disappeared without a trace…
While Tianheng was busy, Gu Zuo wasn’t idle either.
He gathered all of the pharmacists, and conducted certain evaluations on their current levels of medicine refinement. Among them, he selected a portion of young pharmacists who showed potential, rewarded them with several rare pill prescriptions, and allowed them to pick one or two types to master.
At the same time, Gu Zuo required these young pharmacists who obtained these pill prescriptions to form small teams. In sequential batches, they would oversee the martial arts dojo. Occasionally, they would have to refine medicinal pills according to the needs of the dojo students. If the pharmacists could satisfactorily complete their tasks, after going through Gu Zuo’s verification, they would get the chance to obtain new pill prescriptions and strengthen themselves.
This approach was also for Gu Zuo to allow the young pharmacists and martial artists to make reliable friends or develop other relationships — Although the pharmacists still had certain assignments to refine medicine, in order to gain stronger subordinates, it was best that each martial artist had the chance to find their own personal pharmacist.
Originally, Gu Zuo was the personal pharmacist of his family’s big brother. As a result, he understood how important a personal pharmacist was to martial artists. In addition, pharmacists couldn’t shut themselves away and work on projects in isolation. If they wanted to become even more powerful and accumulate even more good things, they had to go out and experience the outside world. However, not every pharmacist would be strong enough to have many martial artists accompanying them. Reliable followers also weren’t that easy to find.
With the existence of the martial arts dojo, the young martial artists and pharmacists would have the opportunity to interact with one another. This would let them find more suitable companions.
This was a two-way choice.
With regards to Gu Zuo’s requirements, the young pharmacists and their clans and families had no objections. After all, it was the relatively mature pharmacists who really supported the medicine stores of their respective clans and families. Thus, the young pharmacists only needed to hand over a portion of their tasks every month. For the rest of the time, it was more important to interact with the martial artists in the dojo, hone their own skill levels, and strive for better pill prescription rewards.
Just like this, many things stepped onto the right track.
The martial arts dojo had an upright system of rewards and punishments. Each time someone made a breakthrough, they could receive something. Every time they placed in the top ten of the dojo’s leaderboard, they could also receive something… The rewards included martial skills and medicinal pills. While the martial skills were versions that were improved by Tianheng, the pills came from Gu Zuo’s inventory that he accrued whenever he had free time to practice his techniques.
Gradually, the martial arts dojo was smoothly established. Not to mention the Gongyi Clan children had a goal to strive towards, after the children of those subsidiary organizations and servile races entered the dojo, they also slowly revealed their skills. This stimulated all of the young martial artists. Strongly determined to succeed, they dauntlessly improved.
One day, in some corner of the manor grounds, there came the sound of a violent explosion.
Gongyi Tianheng, who was originally sitting in meditation at the mountain peak, suddenly opened his eyes. His expression moved slightly.
At once, Gu Zuo rapidly performed many hand seals to collect a cauldron’s worth of medicinal pills. Shortly thereafter, he hurriedly asked: “Big brother, what happened?”
Tianheng’s gaze fell toward that place.
Gu Zuo followed along, and looked over —
Immediately following the first rumbling explosion were the sounds of the second and third blasts. Then, there were the sounds of dozens of violent explosions that transmitted over in quick succession.
Above that place, the sky burst forth with qi clouds that spanned at least ten meters across. Like a group of beautiful and fragrant flowers that vied for attention, the neatly-arranged qi clouds floated in the sky and attracted everyone’s stares.
When a martial artist broke through from the Xiantian Realm to the Immortal Realm, a qi cloud would appear overhead. Moreover, the wider the qi cloud, the sturdier the foundations of that martial artist.
Back during Tianheng’s breakthrough, because his body was inside the hidden chamber, the qi cloud was intentionally blocked and wasn’t seen by outsiders. At this moment, that place didn’t have any form of coverage, so each and every qi cloud represented that a martial artist had successfully reached the Immortal Realm.
Gu Zuo blinked his eyes: “That place is…the residence of the Tianlong Guards.”
In other words, within this short period, dozens of Tianlong Guards were breaking through at nearly the exact same time!
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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