"Young master, you will be my last customer before I left the Li Jiang Town, go ahead and take your time to choose one thing as my gift to you." the merchant said as he waved across the merchandise on the portable stall.

"So, the book has been taken away by that little tigress." he shakes his head in disappointment because the item he wanted the most is the book. Since it was bought away, he can only choose another item.

After selecting for a short moment, he decides to choose the piece of jade carved with a Wu on both surface, and also a ring with an embedded gemstone. Since this two item is most probably better off than the others, he finishes his purchase by paying 1,000 gold coins for the ring and taking away the jade for free.

Afraid that he will collapse once again like when he upgraded the Iron Ruler, he returned to the Manor together with his two servants. As it was dinner time when they returned, Zhang Wu Ji joins his father for a dinner as a respect, while the two servants went back to their own quarters for their own meal.

Being a follower of the young master have a special perk. At any time of their meal, their portion was prepared and placed aside, removing the need to fight for more rice and dishes each time.

But this matter was unknown to the young master, as he was still enjoying his meal with Zhang Qing Feng. After everything was finished, Zhang Wu Ji excused himself back to the Pill Making Room and took the few items out in the open.

White Zircon - Silver Ring

Usage 1: Women attention + 0.1

Usage 2: Men attention - 0.1

Durability: 12/12 (30/30)

Wu's Jade (Unknown)

Usage: Blood (Unknown)

Durability: 30/30

Iron Ruler (Unnamed) +1

Attack: 7 + 1

Defense: 6

Durability: 39/40

Special: When the ruler was in the creator's arms, remove the burden of weight at all. Applicable on other item placed on the ruler.

Although the Iron Ruler did have a +1 increase from his previous upgrade, this time, unless he has sufficient preparation, he will not dangerously risk himself to upgrade the Iron Ruler.

As for the other two items, it was a new discovery for him to see the special usage brought by the ring, increase of women attention but reduced in men attention, and also the fact the gemstone possesses its own durability as well. But the Wu's Jade is still unknown to him because this was the first time he has seen an unknown status written on an item.

After looking around, he sat steadily on his bed, before he proceeds with the upgrade on the Iron Ruler.

"Upgrade!"

Iron Ruler (Unnamed) +2

Attack: 9 + 1

Defense: 7

Durability: 41/42

Special: When the ruler was in the creator's arms, remove the burden of weight at all. Applicable on other item placed on the ruler.

"Its a success. I see what is wrong now. It was because I'm trying to upgrade the Iron Ruler when I only have 11 Strands of Inner Qi. Because I have 25 strands of Inner Qi now, the upgrade no longer put a toll on my body any longer." he checked his condition after inspecting the Iron Ruler. He did have less 10 Strands of Inner Qi now after the upgrade.

"I will try the White Zircon - Silver Ring this time. Upgrade!"

White Zircon - Silver Ring +1

Usage 1: Women attention + 0.2

Usage 2: Men attention - 0.2

Durability: 13/13 (32/32)

"Success, it only takes me 1 Strand of Inner Qi. I will continue with the Wu's Jade now. Upgrade!"

Nothing happened.

"It did say Blood. Would it activate only after I drip a drop of blood on the jade?" Zhang Wu Ji makes a small cut on his finger and drips a drop of blood at the jade before he touched the jade and tried to upgrade it once more.

Still, nothing happened.

"Impossible..." he took the jade up in his to inspect the jade's appearance, but soon noticed that the drop of blood already gone from the jade!

"Where is the drop of blood just now?" It was a surprise to see that the drop of blood had vanished from the surface of the jade.

"Does it need more blood to activates?" Zhang Wu Ji hesitates, but for the sake of knowing the unknown, he risks it all.

One drop after another is dripped onto the piece of jade, where it was devouring the blood faster than Lenox Zhang can supply it. After providing over a 100 ml worth of blood to the jade, it finally changed. A hint of red colored hue begins to mix together with the white jade, turning the jade into half red, half white.

White Blood Jade (Unknown)

Usage: Absorb Blood to activates (Unknown)

Durability: 30/30

"It changed... The description of the jade changed into a different name as if the previous identity is to protect itself from any harm. But after receiving so much blood from him, it finally begins to trust this owner and revealed a portion of its identity.

"Do you want more? I will give you more." Zhang Wu Ji continued after he rested for a while. Once again, he provides another 100 ml worth of blood into the jade, but this time, it wasn't enough for him to reveal its next secret the jade has been hiding.

"A normal human can only provide 350 ml of fresh blood every three months, but it wasn't enough for me to activate it after 200 ml of my blood... Fine, let's risk it!" he steel his mind and continue to provide another 100 ml worth of blood to the Jade, and finally received a reaction he was waiting for so long.

The White Blood Jade shine in a red color before the engraving "Wu" on its surface changed into a word Zhang. If this is how it works, perhaps the previous owner was a family of Wu, but he was sacrificed in some battle and only this piece of jade was remaining through the passage of time.

White Blood Jade (Zhang's)

Usage: Convert any blood with high Inner Qi potential into strands of Inner Qi usable by the Zhang's only

Durability: 70/70

"Seriously? That's what it says after absorbing so much of my blood? Thank god! But where could I look for blood with high potential of Inner Qi... Wild Beast... I will have to hunt wild beast to complete such a task!" Zhang Wu Ji confirmed the primary fact of the White Blood Jade, but before he can proceed with his hypothesis, he will still need to conduct a few experiments to make sure.

"I will try to purchase some wild beast from the market first, if it is successful, then I will make a trip into the bigger forest." Zhang Wu Ji convinced himself, but before going for a rest, he continued with another attempt to upgrade the jade.

No response again.

"Maybe I am too weak." he throws away the thinking and went to sleep without fully utilizing the 14 more strands of his Inner Qi.

In the next morning, loud drums and cheers were coming from the outside of the manor, disturbing his beautiful sleep due to the blood lost last night.

With both eyes barely opened, Zhang Wu Ji wakes up and dressed properly before he went to the Main Hall to greet his father. But his father who usually stays in the Main Hall is missing today.

"Where's father?" he asked a servant that was busy cleaning the floor, and it seems that the noise outside was the reason his father was missing in the early morning.

When he went outside, it was completely crowded with residents and visitors along the whole street, with a stage was built in the middle of the square.

"Greetings to all residents of the Li Jiang Town. Thank you for the four main families, the Zhang's, Tie's, Li's, and Chen's to warmly receive me during my humble arrival in the town. I am much honored with your appearance here during our sect's talent search."

"As you may already know, my arrival to this town this time is to find a few talented individuals to follow me back to the Seven Stars Sect to receive personal tutelage from our distinguish elders. My quota this time is to select five talented individuals from this town before I went to another."

"Thus, I welcome everyone that confident with your strength to come up and presents your martial talents to everyone, and grab one of the five chances presented to all of you here. The restriction is to those below 18 years old. If you're ready, you may start now." the speaker for the Seven Star Sect finished his words before he went to the sit alongside with the four head of the family.

Without waiting too long, three youngsters went up on the stage to compete against one another. With each of them in their early 1st Stage Inner Qi Fighter strength, their performance was not too bad, but it was quite boring to look at. After one of the three was kicked from the stage, another three went up and started their own battle.

The boring battle continues for a while until a younger generation from the Li's came up to the stage.

"This youth is Li Jian Cheng, I am the youngest child of the Li's Family. Please anticipates my performance!" he greets the four family heads and the representative before participating in the battle, but the moment he went into their center, a three consecutive punch sent the three opponents out from the stage before they can react.

"This youth is Chen Long, second son of Chen's Family, please advise!"

"I am Tie Chui, many advise."

"Guan Qing Han from the Guans. Please guide me."

In a short while, four younger generations from the eight most well-established family went up to the stage. Among the five slots, only three families will be kicked out from the match, but they were all confirmed about one thing.

The Zhang must fail in this test, it won't be a battle of eight families, but seven instead!

It was a normal thing for the Zhang's to fail this test, because of no matter what, the youngest of the family are well known to be a trash Martial Body that cannot cultivates at all!

Even if he wanted to participates, what can he do when he has to fight against a 1st Stage Inner Qi Fighter?

Soon, the Qing's, Tian's, and Wang's younger generation also entered the stage, and kicked away the other weaker participants from the test, before the seven fights until only five remains.

But on that instant, a figure walk up to the stage in slow steps, ignoring the fact that the seven strongest youth is standing on the stage now.

When Guan Qing Han saw this person, a hint of happy and angry came out in her face at the same time.

"Zhang Wu Ji!" the crowd called his name.

"Wu JI, what are you doing on the stage, get down from there now!" Zhang Qing Feng scolds him in front of everybody, asking him to leave the stage.

"Senior from the Seven Star Sect, are we allowed to use a weapon in the fight?" Zhang Wu Ji steps onto the stage along with the Iron Ruler on his hand. This was the first time Zhang Qing Feng saw the Iron Ruler he made.

"That brat, it is quite long for a youth of his size." he was surprised the youth can easily hold the ruler up on hand without any difficulties.

"Seven Star Sect focused in weapon and none weapon martial arts, using a weapon, of course, won't be an issue in the fight." the representative replied, but in his eyes, it was a surprise to see a youth using an Iron Ruler as a weapon.

"Thank you, elder from Seven Star Sect." he stood up straight at a side of the stage and prepared to fight for another spot to enter sect. But before that, he added another sentence to start everything up again.

"What are you guys waiting? Either jump off stage yourself or I will send you out." he blurted. The sentence brings everyone into fury, except Guan Qing Han.

"Hahaha! Those guys are going to get their ass kicked!" she laughed and sat on the stage.

"You're too proud, let us teach you a lesson! I'm sure Senior Zhang will not have anything to say if we teach his son on his behalf!" the others charged at him altogether.

But in a split second, the Iron Ruler was swung like a whip, slapping at each of the six participants from other families until they were thrown out from the stage.

And especially for the young master of Li's, he was slapped by the ruler on the face and buttock and left the stage while moaning in pain...

"What just happened? It was a heavy Iron Ruler for god sake but he used it like a whip?" all five notable figures sitting on the side was shocked by what they have seen. If a person that cannot cultivate as Zhang Wu Ji is trash, then what are those that were defeated by him in a split second? Unrecyclable trash?

The sudden changes took everyone by surprise, and at the same time, the representative turns his attention at Zhang Qing Feng.

"Brother Qing Feng, it seems that the Zhang's family produced another strong figure again. Previously, the Eldest Zhang Wu Yuan was recruited personally by his honorable Teacher of the State as his personal disciple, and later, it was the second child Zhang Wu Chou was chosen to become the direct disciple to the Heavenly Sword Sect."

"Now, even the third son was an amazing talent that can defeat other cultivators without possessing a cultivation himself. How strong will he be, if he were to be given a chance to cultivate successfully?" the representative praised Zhang Qing Feng for his greatness in producing three talents in the family.

"Senior, it was too much of a praise. Too much!" Zhang Qing Feng was shocked, but at least he still maintains his calmness when replying to the elder.

"Good, Good. It seems that my mission will be completed earlier. I don't need to visit another city anymore. You, youth, will follow me back to the Seven Star Sect to be accepted as the direct disciple of the headmaster!" the representative was so happy to see such a talent, and can't wait to go back as soon as possible.

"Sir, how about my daughter, Guan Qing Han?" as a father, the head of Guan Family stand out to request for his kindness as well.

"Elder, I hope she will be selected as well. One has said before, no matter how strong is a man, he will be gentler than a rabbit when facing the only lady that can control him." he looked at the lady before he finished his sentence.

"Hahaha, great, great. Both of you will follow me then. Go back and prepare, our ride will come soon enough!" in fact, they were not given any chances to slowly pack. With a rush, Zhang Qing Feng took his son back to their home and ordered the servants to pack him essential clothing, medicines, and some money before allowing him to go on a journey.

"You're a grown-up man now. But still, always remember to do everything with a limit in your mind. Do not worry about your father. With your brother as a student of the State's Teacher and Direct Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, your father's safety is well protected."

"All you need to remember is, learn as much you could at the sect, and do not overconfident in yourself because you're still not a cultivator... Always..." before he finishes his word of farewell, the main door already receive few strong knocks.

"Disciple Zhang, please come out now! We're going to be on our way back to the Seven Star Sect!" a disciple of the sect came to receive him.

"Father, do not worry, I will take care of myself!" he waved his hand at everyone in the manor and left the town soon after joining the convoy.

The efficiency of the people from the sect was so great, most of their task on this trip was completed before they returned to the sect.

Riding in a carriage pulled by two horses, and followed by ten more cultivators on a horse with a cart behind them, the convoy returned to the Seven Star Sect, which is about 6 days journey from the Li Jiang Town if they were to travel without stopping.

Since the sect has a smaller establishment scattered along their route when they were going back, the convoy changed their horse twice, before they reach the entrance to the sect.

Although it was not located high up of a mountain, the Seven Star Sect is still a very established sect with 50,000 disciples. Their sect was located not too far away from the Wen Wu City, and up to the north of the sect, is the well-known mountain path called Orchid Mountain, which housed the Lan Shan Clan. [1][2]

the Li Jiang Town was located east of the sect, six-day journey by the horse, and between their journey, they will enter two small towns before reaching. And most importantly, the southern part of the Seven Star Sect is the main attraction that brought Zhang Wu Ji here.

"A well-known forest with high figures of Wild Beast Infestation, the Southern Bamboo Forest!"

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[1]. Lan Hua / means orchid in Chinese words. The pinyin "Lan" can also bring the meaning of Blue, Lazy, and Broken.

[2]. Wen Wu / means Civil & Warfare. It was quite a Chinese philosophy in describing a government.