"Who are you?" Xu Yang was on guard.

This person’s Lightweight Skill was superb. If he hadn’t been hiding his true strength all this time, he might not have even noticed he was being followed.

"I am Xue Hong, a disciple of the Blood Lotus Sect. I have come to invite Brother Xu to join our sect. If you agree, the Blood Lotus Sect will cover all the resources you need for your cultivation. Within half a year, we guarantee you will break through to Marrow Cleansing. You will also be able to cultivate the sect’s Divine Skills.

"In at most five years, we guarantee you will reach Marrow Cleansing Perfection and get a glimpse of the Celestial Spirit Realm."

’Blood Lotus Sect... the name alone sounds shady. It’s definitely one of the demonic sects and heretical paths.’

Xu Yang felt a bit helpless. He had tried his best to keep a low profile during the Martial Arts Examination, but his reputation had spread nonetheless.

And with fame, the demonic sects and heretical paths came knocking.

"You have the wrong person, sir. I’m about to become a disciple of the Purple Sun Sect and have no intention of joining the Blood Lotus Sect."

Faced with the other party’s offer, Xu Yang didn’t feel the slightest bit tempted.

’Marrow Cleansing Perfection in five years? He couldn’t care less even if it only took a year.’

’If this were an upright and respectable faction, they wouldn’t have come looking for me in the middle of the night, acting all furtive.’

’If I make a move... I wonder if I can kill him...’

The thought of killing Xue Hong had already risen in his heart. ’When these sorts of demonic characters come knocking, it’s best to kill them on the spot to avoid a mountain of trouble.’

But he held back. If the man had accomplices who knew he was coming here, killing him would only lead to endless trouble. As long as the other party didn’t attack first, it was best to let him leave. There was no need to stir up unnecessary conflict.

"The Purple Sun Sect?"

Xue Hong sneered. "Brother Xu, perhaps you are unaware, but the power of my Blood Lotus Sect far surpasses that of the Purple Sun Sect. Besides, if you join the Blood Lotus Sect, we would still want you to proceed to the Purple Sun Sect..."

"My apologies, but please allow me to refuse," Xu Yang said, cupping his hands.

’They haven’t shown me any real benefits, just made empty promises, and they already want me to be a spy in the Purple Sun Sect.’

’Not only are they incredibly calculating, but they’re also treating me like an idiot.’ 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

’Their promises are a joke. If I actually agreed, they’d give me whatever they felt like, and I might even end up losing out.’

’With the identity of an undercover agent, if they wanted you dead, you wouldn’t even be able to refuse.’

"Brother Xu, you are turning down a great opportunity."

Seeing Xu Yang interrupt him before he could even finish, Xue Hong understood that Xu Yang would not agree.

He immediately said in a somewhat helpless tone, "Brother Xu, now that you know my identity, and you won’t agree... you’ve put me in a difficult position."

Xu Yang’s heart sank. ’Recruitment has failed, so now he’s resorting to threats of silencing me by death.’

He could only say, "Brother Xue, we never met tonight. How about that? You sought me out, so you should know that I’m not one to meddle in others’ affairs."

’He couldn’t afford to provoke these demonic sects right now. If he could avoid a fight, he would.’

’As long as it didn’t affect him, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to tell others that the Blood Lotus Sect had sought him out, which would only invite suspicion.’

"I hope Brother Xu can keep his promise!"

Xue Hong said after a moment of silence.

He probably didn’t act because he was worried that killing Xu Yang to silence him would alert the Purple Sun Sect.

Although they hadn’t reached an agreement, both sides had their reservations.

"Farewell!"

Xue Hong leaped up and disappeared from sight after a few bounds.

’He came looking for me... does that mean he’ll also look for others?’ A sense of vigilance rose in Xu Yang’s heart.

’I have my panel, so Xue Hong’s offer wasn’t the least bit tempting, but that might not be true for others.’

’So, once our group enters the Purple Sun Sect, it’s possible that many among us will have already become spies and undercover agents for the Blood Lotus Sect.’

When he returned home, Xu Qing was still practicing her writing. She told him something that surprised him.

Yang Jun had been beaten into a cripple and was paralyzed in bed. Yet, Xu the Second had actually gone back to play the role of Dorgon, helping Zhang Cuiting take care of the paralyzed Yang Jun.

"A leopard truly can’t change its spots."

Xu Yang sneered and returned to his room to cultivate the Vajra Skill.

Time passed slowly.

「Three days later, at dawn.」

Xu Yang was still practicing when someone started pounding on his door.

"Brother Ah Yang, open up, quick!"

"Ah Lan, what’s the rush?"

Xu Yang pushed the door open to find his cousin from his eldest uncle’s family, Xu Lan.

Xu Lan’s face was pale. "Yang Jun is dead!" she said.

Hearing that Yang Jun was dead, his first reaction was that Xu the Second had done it.

After Yang Jun achieved Qi Gathering, he had held his head high. Although he hadn’t completely obliterated Xu the Second, he had driven him out of the house.

’Now that Yang Jun was crippled, he must have thought Xu the Second had gone back to get revenge.’

But he had clearly overestimated Xu the Second. According to Xu Lan, the state of Yang Jun’s body was horrifying, and he hadn’t died at home.

It seemed he had been taken from his home in the middle of the night and had died in a small grove a few hundred meters away.

"Oh, right. The village chief asked me to come and get you to take a look," Xu Lan said.

She hadn’t come here just to tell Xu Yang that Yang Jun was dead; the village chief of Bai Shi Workshop had sent her to ask Xu Yang to come and help.

Although Yang Jun was dead, he was still a Martial Artist from Gale Hall. His death was no small matter in Bai Shi Workshop.

Xu Yang didn’t want to get involved, but when he thought about how Zhang Cuiting had mistreated him and Xu Qing in the past, he felt he should go take a look at her miserable state, just to vent some of his pent-up frustration.

"Xiaqing, let’s go!"

Calling out to Xu Qing, the three of them immediately rushed towards the place where Yang Jun’s body was found.

While still several hundred meters away, they could already hear Zhang Cuiting’s heart-wrenching sobs.

When they arrived, many of the villagers from Bai Shi Workshop were already there. Zhang Cuiting, hair disheveled, was being supported by several people as she sat on a large rock, her voice hoarse from crying.

Xu the Second, his face ashen, leaned against a tree, looking utterly shaken.

When he saw Xu Yang appear, a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes. He instinctively wanted to approach, but seeing Xu Yang’s cold expression, he could only remain rooted to the spot.

"Ah Yang is here!"

"Quick, make way! Let Ah Yang see what kind of creature is causing trouble in Bai Shi Workshop."

Xu Yang had originally come to see Zhang Cuiting’s miserable state, but after seeing Yang Jun’s corpse, his expression changed instantly.

He saw that Yang Jun’s flesh and blood were completely withered, as if some terrifying entity had sucked away all his vital essence, leaving only a skeleton.

’Is this the work of a demon, or someone who cultivates a Demon Technique?’

He had never heard of actual demons, so it was most likely the work of someone who cultivated a Demon Technique.

"I can’t tell what it is. You should send someone to notify Gale Hall."

Whatever it was, Xu Yang didn’t want to get involved. After giving the village chief his suggestion, he immediately took Xu Qing and left quickly.

He couldn’t even muster any curiosity, worried he would provoke something he couldn’t afford to offend.

Back home, he didn’t go to the Martial Arts Hall. Today was the day the Martial Arts Examination results were announced, and the Government Office would be sending his official documents and Dragon Ascending Order. He had to be there to receive them personally.

Around noon, the sound of gongs echoed from outside Bai Shi Workshop, followed by the sound of firecrackers.

"Good news! Congratulations to Master Xu Yang of Bai Shi Workshop for achieving the rank of Martial Scholar in the Martial Arts Examination..."

"Good news! Congratulations to Master Xu Yang of Bai Shi Workshop for achieving the rank of Martial Scholar in the Martial Arts Examination..."

The criers announcing the good news shouted all the way, and the entire Bai Shi Workshop instantly burst into a lively commotion. Everyone knew that Xu Yang had become a Martial Scholar.

The doors of every household opened, and people young and old poured out of their homes, heading towards Xu Yang’s house.

"So impressive! If only I could have a day like this in my life."

Zhang Daniu watched the long procession and listened to the deafening gongs, filled with envy.

Beside him, He the Third had a complicated expression, filled with regret.

’They could have been friends with the great Martial Scholar, but they had intentionally distanced themselves out of fear he would borrow money. Now, they were kicking themselves, but it was too late.’

"Brother, you really became a Martial Scholar!" Xu Qing was overjoyed.

Although she had long known Xu Yang would become a Martial Scholar, hearing the official announcement from the Government Office still made her unable to contain her excitement.

Just a year ago, she and Xu Yang were still worrying about their next meal, suffering daily bullying and exploitation from the Sanhe Gang. Who would have thought that after only a year, Xu Yang would become a Martial Scholar.

The change was so immense that even she felt like she hadn’t quite adjusted.

A ten-person procession appeared in view. Xu Qing took out a string of firecrackers she had prepared behind Xu Yang’s back, hung it by the door, and lit it. Amidst a cacophony of CRACKLES and POPS, the procession announcing the good news arrived at their doorstep.

"We are the procession from the Government Office, here to announce good news. May I ask which of you is Master Xu Yang?"

The leading official held a tray, covered with a red cloth and adorned with a large red flower.

"I am Xu Yang!" Xu Yang stepped forward and said.

The official was all smiles. "Master Xu has a truly dignified bearing; you have the makings of a Martial Champion Scholar! These are your documents and the Dragon Ascending Order. Please check them, Master Xu."

The moment the words "Dragon Ascension" were spoken, the crowd of onlookers, who had come to watch the excitement, erupted as if a giant boulder had been thrown into a calm lake.

Xu Yang was not an ordinary Martial Scholar, but a Dragon Ascension Martial Scholar.

A Dragon Ascension Martial Scholar—even in a rural place like Bai Shi Workshop, everyone knew what "Dragon Ascension" meant.

It meant that in the future, Xu Yang could establish a Noble Family, live in the Inner City, and be on equal footing with the great and powerful households currently residing there.

This was because all the great and powerful households in the Inner City had only become what they were after producing a Dragon Ascension Martial Scholar in their family.

Everyone’s faces were filled with shock as they stared in astonishment at the man who was as calm as still water. To think that a place like Bai Shi Workshop could produce such a figure.