Volume One: Menial Worker in Changshui County Chapter Twenty-Five: Cultivating Martial Arts

Even martial arts cultivation methods could be offered—this truly was a generous reward, and Lu Jiuzhang was nearly tempted. Fortunately, that afternoon, Zhou Cheng had already given him a cultivation manual. The one presented by this so-called Steward Zhao was unlikely to be of higher value; it might not even compare to what Zhou Cheng had provided.

Thus, Lu Jiuzhang did not agree immediately, but instead looked toward Steward Zhao. “The terms are good, but they still fall short of my expectations,” he said. “First, I want to investigate the origin of this corpse pearl. Second, I require a martial artist of the eighth rank to protect me for a period of time.”

He spoke after a moment’s reflection.

“To investigate the origin of the corpse pearl? You overestimate me. Though corpse pearls are rare, they are not world-shattering treasures—no one would track the whereabouts of a single pearl,” replied Steward Zhao. “As for sending an eighth-rank martial artist to protect you, that can be arranged. But the time cannot be too long—one month.”

Hiring an eighth-rank martial artist as a bodyguard for a month was roughly the going rate; any longer, and it would not be cost-effective.

“Two months,” Lu Jiuzhang insisted.

Chen Xuanfeng would not make his next move too soon, but nor would he wait long. One month seemed too brief to Lu Jiuzhang; within two months, there should be no issue.

“Perhaps I won’t even need the full two months. Once I’ve dealt with my troubles, the bodyguard can leave,” Lu Jiuzhang added.

“No problem,” Steward Zhao nodded in agreement. “But I am curious—you're merely a menial servant. What sort of danger have you encountered that requires protection from an eighth-rank martial artist?”

“That’s not your concern,” Lu Jiuzhang waved her off. “Some matters are best left unknown. Perhaps your background protects you, but for me, too much knowledge is a death sentence.”

The Blood Corpse Case in the capital was no trivial matter. The more one knew, the more dangerous it became.

Steward Zhao did not press further, only saying, “I’ll be at the Thousand Mechanisms House for the next few days. You can come by anytime to sign the contract for the sale of the corpse pearl.”

With that, she departed.

Yet she found herself somewhat intrigued by Lu Jiuzhang—not in any emotional sense, but rather by the man himself. Why would an ordinary person, a menial servant, require the protection of an eighth-rank martial artist? In the capital or even Beilu County, perhaps an eighth-rank martial artist was no great thing. But in a place like Changshui County, such a figure was already at the peak of power.

“Manager Chen, has anything major happened at the Demon Slayers’ Office in Changshui County recently?” Upon her return, Steward Zhao immediately inquired about recent events.

“Nothing major, Steward Zhao,” Manager Chen replied, shaking his head. “Except, within this past month, about a dozen menial workers from the Demon Slayers’ Office have died, one after another.”

“As you know, the status of menials in the Demon Slayers’ Office is very low—they’re not even ranked. They’re practically expendable, used to fill any need. So, depending on how you look at it, this matter could be significant or trivial.”

“Interesting,” Steward Zhao murmured to herself.

A place like Changshui County was generally peaceful; for so many menials to die in a single month suggested something was brewing beneath the surface. And that menial named Lu Jiuzhang was clearly no ordinary man—aware of his predicament, he’d come seeking help from the Thousand Mechanisms House.

He had made a clever move. The Thousand Mechanisms House would never openly oppose the Demon Slayers’ Office, but with her present, things might be different. The local Demon Slayers’ Office held no sway over her.

...

Upon returning to his courtyard, the first thing Lu Jiuzhang did was retrieve the Ninefold Chaos Manual from his chest.

According to Zhou Cheng, this manual seemed impressive, but it was actually a fairly standard martial arts cultivation method. The name sounded grand, but its power was limited. Still, for Lu Jiuzhang’s current situation, it was more than sufficient.

His status in Confucian cultivation was still low and offered little protection. If he could advance in martial arts, his chances of survival would improve.

With this in mind, Lu Jiuzhang opened the Ninefold Chaos Manual. The very first page described how to absorb the ambient spiritual energy between heaven and earth to temper one’s body. Using external objects for training was a lesser path; true strength came from bathing the body in this free-flowing energy, gradually strengthening oneself. Once a certain threshold was reached, one would break through and enter the ranks of martial artists.

The threshold was roughly when one’s strength reached a thousand kilograms—a single punch carrying nearly a ton of force. An ordinary person’s punch might have a force of just over a hundred kilograms, perhaps two or three hundred for the particularly robust. To enter the ranks of martial artists was to possess the strength of at least ten average men combined.

Of course, a thousand kilograms was merely a benchmark, the easiest standard to measure. Continuous tempering with spiritual energy would not only increase strength, but also speed, reflexes, and all bodily attributes.

The moment one stepped into the ninth rank of martial arts, every aspect of the body would be roughly ten times that of an ordinary person. At the ninth rank, one was no longer someone a common man could contend with.

Seated cross-legged on his bed, Lu Jiuzhang silently recited the incantation, focusing on sensing the ambient energy between heaven and earth. As his consciousness gradually sank into this meditative state, he found himself surrounded by darkness. Gradually, countless points of light appeared, like fireflies in the night. These, he presumed, were the spiritual energies.

He urged himself to absorb them. With each breath, more spiritual energy drew near, entering his body. Then, as prescribed, the energy began to circulate along a set path.

Clang—

Just as Lu Jiuzhang was about to complete a full cycle, the Tower of the Chief Star trembled within his mind. The cycle, so close to completion, was instantly shattered.

Then, within his body, a new circulation pathway emerged. It bore some resemblance to the one described in the Ninefold Chaos Manual, but was far more subtle and intricate.

Was the Tower of the Chief Star correcting his path? Was this the true way forward?

Lu Jiuzhang decided to try—the risk was negligible.

He calmed his mind once more, regulating his breath, and began to circulate the absorbed spiritual energy along this new path.

This, he surmised, was called a “heavenly circuit”—each complete cycle was one circuit.

At first, it was arduous; a single circuit took nearly an hour to complete. But the effect was remarkable—he felt refreshed and invigorated, and his strength seemed to have increased slightly.

On his second circuit, the process was a bit faster—nearly the time of a cup of tea less than the first.