The first rays of sunlight shone on the observatory, illuminating the destruction caused by the battle. Xiao Wuchen, enduring the throbbing pain in his meridians — a lingering effect of his newly generated true energy — began methodically cleaning up the scene.
Lu Qingfeng's body lay quietly in the centre. He was a grandmaster who had ultimately fallen in a life-or-death struggle to achieve a breakthrough.
Xiao Wuchen first collected all of Lu Qingfeng's tokens and martial arts manuals — proof of his mission to report to the chief steward. Then, he turned his gaze to the ruins of the observatory. The collapse of the Earth Fire Chamber had made the mountain's internal structure extremely unstable.
He channelled his new true energy, which he could barely condense, but which was far more powerful and destructive than before. He spent an hour bombarding the observatory's supporting structure repeatedly with the Thunderclap True Energy Palm, ultimately creating the illusion of a landslide.
As the rocks tumbled down, the observatory was reduced to rubble. Lu Qingfeng's body, the traces of the battle and the collapsed entrance to the Earth Fire Chamber were buried deep underground.
'Lu Qingfeng died in a landslide. As for why he went into seclusion here, it's impossible to verify,' Xiao Wuchen murmured to the empty valley. This was the Evil-Repelling Division's most effective method of 'cleaning up' — leaving no survivors and no evidence.
Only after confirming that no clues pointing to the Evil-Repelling Division remained at the scene did Xiao Wuchen drag his weary but powerful body back to Chang'an.
That night, Xiao Wuchen entered the Chief Steward of the Evil-Repelling Bureau's meditation room once more.
His nightclothes were stained with blood and mud, but his eyes were brighter and more determined than ever.
'Your subordinate, Xiao Wuchen, has completed the trial. Grandmaster 'Iron Hand' Lu Qingfeng is dead.' He presented the documents he had brought back, along with the Grandmaster's sword.
The Chief Steward did not examine the evidence, but simply gazed at Xiao Wuchen silently. His piercing gaze seemed to look directly into Xiao Wuchen's dantian.
After a long while, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the Chief Steward's lips.
'Not bad. Your true qi is very pure.'
The Chief Steward gently raised his hand and an aura ten times stronger than at their last meeting instantly filled the meditation room. This true qi pressed down on Xiao Wuchen like a tangible tide.
Xiao Wuchen instinctively channelled his newly stabilised true qi to resist. Although his true qi was still immature, the will forged in the face of life-or-death trials made it unyielding. Early stage of Meridian Establishment, stable!
The steward withdrew his power, satisfied, and the oppressive aura instantly dissipated.
'Good, you haven't disappointed me. Forcefully breaking through to the Meridian Establishment realm in a life-or-death struggle by utilising the external core and the array plate while combining your own potential is a testament not only to martial arts but also to mental fortitude."
He waved his hand and a new dossier flew to Xiao Wuchen's side.
'From this day forward, you are a Bane of the Meridian Establishment realm. Your salary and authority will be tripled. Go and consolidate your realm. Next, I have an even more important task for you.Xiao Wuchen knew that he had not only completed the task, but also passed the steward's ultimate test of his potential and loyalty. In the Bane of the Meridian Establishment Division, power is equal to realm.
'Thank you for your guidance, Steward!' He bowed and left the meditation room.Back in his room, Xiao Wuchen was finally able to fully appreciate the leap in his level of cultivation. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and turned his focus inward. Whereas internal energy was like a river of air currents, the true qi now filling his meridians was like a deep sea of liquid energy. [Consolidation and Comparison of Insights] Attributes: Qi Refining Perfection (Internal Energy), Initial Meridian Building (True Qi).
Strength: Coarse and tangible, easily neutralised. Pure and resilient, condensed like a substance. Durability: Rapid consumption, requiring frequent breathing adjustments. Circulation: Smooth and efficient for faster recovery. Perception: Only able to sense air currents and temperature. You can sense surrounding true qi fluctuations as if you possess an additional layer of spiritual touch. Martial Skill Drive: Driving martial skills is like burning firewood: an instantaneous burst. Driving martial skills is like igniting gunpowder: continuous and with multiplied power. Xiao Wuchen tried to circulate the 'Flowing Wind True Qi Step'. With just a thought, true qi filled his legs. He felt his body become incredibly light, as if he could ride the wind at any moment. He raised his hand and a wisp of pale blue true energy condensed at his fingertips. With a gentle flick of his wrist, the energy shot forth like an arrow and easily left a deep hole in the hard wooden table. His previous internal energy would at most have left a white mark. 'This is true martial arts...' Xiao Wuchen took a deep breath and began to circulate his cultivation technique, guiding the newly generated true energy through his eight extraordinary meridians and consolidating his hard-won early-stage Meridian Building realm. He knew he had obtained his ticket to the martial world. However, the Meridian Building realm was only the beginning. Countless masters and the unfathomable conspiracy of the Chief Steward lay ahead. He had to master this power as soon as possible in preparation for his next mission.