Chapter 78: Sharpening the Sword, Waiting for the Storm

In the hall, everyone couldn’t help but suppress their laughter.

Zhang Yan showed no signs of concern, still complimenting and handing over a thousand silver tickets.

“Don’t worry, Sword Immortal Su, our Fire Sword Sect will lead by example. This is my compensation, and from now on, I will strictly require our disciples to behave well and prioritize virtue before martial skills. It will be the first rule in our sect’s regulations.”

One must admit that Zhang Yan is truly astute. Su Yang specifically called him out, and if he mishandled the situation, he would become a laughingstock. But not only did he handle it well, he did it splendidly.

He understood the situation and knew that Su Yang needed much more than just this little compensation. It was about the attitude and setting future rules.

Zhang Yan’s performance surprised even Su Yang.

“Yes, Sect Leader Zhang set a great example,” Su Yang nodded in approval. Seeing this, the others wasted no time and asked if their disciples had made any mistakes and if they needed compensation.

Those who needed it were promptly paid, while those who didn’t also expressed their commitment to restrain their disciples.

At the same time, many other martial cultivators were not present in the hall. Those who attended the banquet in the outer courtyard were directly approached by the sect leaders for money.

No one could have imagined that these sect masters, one day, would personally come forward for just a few hundred or a few dozen silver.

Soon, most of the silver would be returned.

There were still some cases involving martial cultivators who were not in attendance. Their identities were not sufficient to be included in the banquet. They could only wait for the matter to be dealt with later.

But Zhang Yan stepped forward again, expressing that he would advance the silver for them. He would personally approach these individuals and instruct them on how to be qualified martial cultivators and demand compensation.

Su Yang could only admire Zhang Yan more and more.

A truly talented person, undoubtedly a talented person.

Su Yang made a mental note of this person. If he needed someone in the future, he would definitely consider him.

At that moment, Su Yang showered continuous praises upon Zhang Yan.

Just a few words of praise from Su Yang made many sect masters present envy him.

They understood that Su Yang had taken notice of Zhang Yan.

However, they couldn’t do anything about it; they just couldn’t flatter others like Zhang Yan did.

After a delightful banquet, the event concluded on a successful note.

With the silver they received, Su Yang gave the surplus to the martial soldiers who had organized the event. The remaining amount was returned to the affected commoners, as the compensation was doubled.

Yet, later on, one tavern owner felt puzzled. He had suffered a loss of fifty silver, but the compensation he received was a hundred silver.

The actions of Su Yang during this banquet would quickly spread throughout Tianfeng Prefecture.

At the same time, Yi Tianba had already reported Su Yang’s achievements to the higher authorities. However, it would take some time before the emperor could review the report. Messages sent up the ranks were not read immediately unless the matter was extremely urgent.

Su Yang’s contributions were significant, but they were not at a level that required urgent attention. They would be passed through the various levels of administration before reaching the emperor’s eyes.

After the victory celebration, Su Yang returned to his courtyard with a slight tipsiness.

Gu Xiu had already obtained the Five Poison Body Tempering Medicinal Bath recipe. All Su Yang needed to do was pour it into the water and soak in it. “Old Gu, help me prepare the medicinal bath, please.”

In the courtyard, Su Yang lay comfortably on a recliner, looking at the night sky, feeling content.

These medicinal baths had restrictions on their usage. The Five Poison Body Tempering Medicinal Bath required an eighth-grade physique, so Su Yang began collecting the materials and refining it after reaching that level.

“Of course, Sword Master,” Gu Xiu respectfully responded and then went to prepare it.

Soon, a bathtub filled with greenish bubbles of medicinal bath was prepared. Su Yang couldn’t help but inwardly complain, “Is this thing really safe?”

To be on the safe side, Su Yang prepared various healing and detoxifying pills. All of them were at least first-grade, and some were even at the level of sect masters. Only then did he feel more at ease.

Entering the bathtub, he began the painful yet enjoyable time of the medicinal bath. He could clearly feel his body getting stronger during the process. This feeling was even more potent than the enhancement brought by “Body Tempering Astral Wind.” The combination of the two resulted in his physique rapidly improving.

Normally, the first immersion in such a medicinal bath yielded the best results.

After about half an hour, the medicinal effects in the bathtub were absorbed by Su Yang completely. The greenish water became much clearer.

At the same time, Su Yang could clearly sense that his physique had strengthened once again! He was now just a step away from reaching the seventh grade. With the help of “Body Tempering.Astral Wind,” he might be able to break through in another day or two.

After finishing the medicinal bath, Su Yang returned to the courtyard and started wielding his sword. It was still early, and he couldn’t sleep, so he might as well practice his swordsmanship.

In the process of his strength becoming more evident, he might face some problems. His improvement was too rapid, too fast to escape attention. Like a man carrying a priceless jade, he would undoubtedly attract the attention of those who had sinister intentions.

Once his information spread, people from all over the world would be watching him closely. They would want to know his secrets, why his strength had increased so quickly.

Therefore… he needed invincible strength to protect himself!

Currently being at level 32 is not enough, and his level doesn’t show his true strength.

The Heaven Transforming Realm is indeed at the top of the world, but it’s not the absolute peak.

Above the Heaven Transforming Realm is the Martial Saint level, and that’s what he needs to consider.

Although he is currently thriving at level 30 in Tianfeng Prefecture, it’s only in Tianfeng Prefecture.

If he goes to the capital city, the core of Daxia, he will encounter even stronger opponents. His strength needs to be improved.

Regardless of whether he enters the capital or not, he must elevate his strength to an invincible level in the world.

As for the higher realms… let’s see later. It is unlikely that he will be targeted in a short time. If necessary, he can resort to low-key cultivation.

Su Yang silently pondered this, while his sword continued to move rapidly.

Listening to the continuous prompts of “Proficiency +1,” he felt a strong sense of security.action

Gu Xiu was used to such scenes; he even tried this method of cultivation himself. But unfortunately, he couldn’t sense anything. This was the gap between a prodigy and an ordinary person.

Gu Xiu thought silently.

Jiang Xiaoyu, however, was confused. “Senior Gu, can Brother Yang really obtain such great power just by wielding the sword like this?” “Does that mean the cultivation method you taught me was wrong?”

“Ouch!”

Gu Xiu knocked on Jiang Xiaoyu’s head with a burst of energy. “Focus on your own cultivation; why compare yourself to the Sword Master?”

In the courtyard, Su Yang calculated that his current sword speed was about 3,500 swords per hour. In one day, under regular circumstances, he could reach 40,000 swords, and under high intensity, he could surpass 50,000 swords.

The most crucial thing was that with the strengthening of his body, wielding the sword would no longer harm him.

When the moon was high in the sky, Su Yang stopped his sword practice. The sound of the whistling wind of the sword ceased in the courtyard.

[Sword Intent Level +1, Lv33….]

In his mind, the Sword Intent suddenly expanded exponentially.

Time passed, and another day passed.

In the capital city of Daxia…

Inside the imperial palace, the current emperor, Xia Xuan, was handling memorials.

However, after a moment, a eunuch came to report, “Your Majesty, people from the Heavenly Immortal Sect have arrived.”

Xia Xuan couldn’t help but feel a headache at the news.

The Heavenly Immortal Sect was like a massive mountain pressing down on Daxia, an insurmountable force that they dared not disobey.

“Hmm.”

Xia Xuan had to put down his work and choose to receive the visitors.

In the main hall, a person was sitting unceremoniously on the main seat, looking natural and as if it was expected.

“Great Immortal, may I ask the purpose of your visit to the mortal realm?” Xia Xuan restrained his displeasure.

He was the current emperor, above countless people, but he had to bow his head before them.

“In the Heaven realm, arrange for 100,000 people to gather at Tai Xuan Mountain. The sect has use for them,” said Zhan Yangzi slowly.

“Great Immortal… won’t 100,000 people be too many?” Xia Xuan’s expression remained calm, but anger was building up inside him.

Previously, they asked for hundreds or thousands, and he reluctantly complied. But this time, they wanted 100,000 people!

The key issue was that those who went there practically vanished, and their fate was unknown.

How could he bear to send 100,000 innocent lives?

“You need to understand that I’m only informing you. You have no right to refuse,” Zhan Yangzi said calmly, “The consequences of refusal are something you probably don’t want to know.”

Zhan Yangzi stood up and walked to Xia Xuan’s side, patting his shoulder.

From the corner of Xia Xuan’s eye, he could see Zhan Yangzi smiling lightly.

Zhan Yangzi didn’t wait for Xia Xuan to respond. He disappeared from the palace in a flash.

In the main hall, Xia Xuan’s aura fluctuated, and anger burned within his chest. After a while, the anger subsided, replaced by frustration and helplessness…

“I’m not willing….”