Chapter 32: Roping In
Li Pin looked at the "proficiency level" for Core Force.
Data can at most provide me with some reference.
Although he hadn't cultivated the Xuan Pin Gate in the fifteen days he had spent recuperating, his understanding of Core Force had grown deeper. He was planning to spend some time to get accustomed to things before things naturally flowed to him, consolidating his qi to form a Core.
His Innate Qi-Nurturing Technique, on the other hand, had improved a lot in comparison. Before he cultivated the Innate Qi-Nurturing Technique, he measured his primordial qi level to be at 10. Now that he had spent some time nurturing his body recently, the value had risen to 17, which was almost double the previous result.
The worsening of his body condition after the injury could be seen as a lowering of his "qi and blood level." Under certain circumstances, the effect of using primordial qi in recovery can be likened to converting "primordial qi level" into "qi and blood level" to nurse the body back to health.
It was similar to how a martial artist might use medicinal items to nourish their body back to shape and recover their "qi and blood level" after getting injured.
However, he had converted the medicinal herbs' medicinal effects into "primordial qi" which he then stored in his body. This allowed his recovery to be even faster, as it was more effective than him purely using the nourishment of medicinal herbs to heal himself.
It was at this moment that a series of greetings from the students and coaches rang out from outside. Fang Lingjue was then seen entering the training area slowly with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked at Li Pin and sized him up. "Not bad."
He was quite surprised, too, as he said in wonder, "Nurturing techniques have such apparent effects in recovering qi and blood depletion?"
"It could be that my mastery of the technique is better than most," replied Li Pin.
"Alright, alright. Martial arts geniuses like you are really unreasonable," said Fang Lingjue.
Li Pin didn't continue on this topic but said, "I happen to have something I want to ask you, Hall Master."
Fang Lingjue nodded. "Follow me to my office."
Li Pin followed Fang Lingjue to his office and closed the door after him.
His action made Fang Lingjue stunned for a moment before he quickly withdrew his causal expression. "What is it?"
"Is there anyone in Zanglong City who can forge astral equipment?" asked Li Pin.
"Forge astral equipment?" Fang Lingjue was astonished. "You have an Astral Crystal?"
"When I killed the Demonic Cat, I obtained an inferior Astral Crystal."
He had initially planned on selling the Astral Crystal for money so that he could purchase a house in the provincial city. However, now that he had received thirty million from the Five Elements Sect, there was no need to do that. He had more than enough money.
Even though astral equipment forged from inferior Astral Crystals only had a slight chance to cause a malfunction in technological weapons, it was still a reassurance that was better than nothing.
"You can even get an Astral Crystal from killing a Demonic Cat...." Fang Lingjue was stunned for a moment, but then said helplessly, "Are you heaven's illegitimate son? It's one thing for you to have good martial arts aptitude, but you have such great luck as well?"
When Li Pin heard Fang Lingjue say this, he was a little surprised. He thought about it briefly and realized that he had indeed been a little luckier since he came to this world.
Of course, it was because he had the ability to claim this good luck that he had it. After all, if it was just anyone else in his shoes, that person might've turned into a corpse before they got the chance to get their hands on the astral crystal from the demonic cat.
"If you want to forge a piece of astral equipment, you can only get help from an Astral Cultivator," Fang Lingjue said. "If you trust me, you can pass me the astral crystal and I'll get someone to help you with this. Of course, you'll have to pay the processing fee. Usually, Astral Cultivators who forge astral equipment from inferior Astral Crystals will charge a processing fee of around 300 to 500 thousand."
Li Pin took out the Astral Crystal and tossed it to Fang Lingjue.
Fang Lingjue caught it and checked it out. "It's really an Astral Crystal. Its quality is quite okay amongst inferior Astral Crystals."
"I'll transfer you the money. If it comes short later, help me pay the rest first," Li Pin said.
"You've just earned thirty million. I won't hold back with a rich guy like you."
"Thirty million is nothing to you, Hall Master Fang," replied Li Pin.
"It's not easy for me either." Fang Lingjue sighed. "With this martial hall, I often have to spend long hours outside to sustain connections. The time I have for training in martial arts has been affected."
It was impossible to have the best of both worlds—to be able to focus on training in martial arts while concurrently being able to maintain a martial hall. Even though he had left most of the matters regarding the martial hall to Yang Danqing, he was still required to attend to many things. It wasn't a simple thing to just leave things to others.
At this moment, someone knocked on the door and Manager Su's voice sounded, "Hall Master, the Five Elements Sect's Master Qi and Master Zhao wish to pay a visit. They are checking if you have time."
"The Five Elements Sect?" Fang Lingjue glanced at Li Pin and said, "They should be here for you."
Li Pin nodded.
During this time, he had tried to find out about how the Five Elements Sect does things.
Naturally, for them to have become the number one martial arts influence in Zanglong City, it was clear that they hadn't exactly operated honestly in their early days. Similarly, it was also impossible for them to take the unorthodox path for it to be possible for them to become Zanglong City's landmark.
This was also clear in how the matter with Wang Daoyi was handled. Wang Daoyi was the one who had harbored ill intentions. He thought that because he had gained merit for the Five Elements Sect, Cao Tianyou was obligated to treat him as his successor.
Overall, the Five Elements Sect enjoyed quite a good reputation in Zanglong City.
"Let's meet them then," replied Li Pin.
Fang Lingjue replied to Manager Su, "They are welcome to visit."
After Manager Su left, Fang Lingjue smiled and said, "If my guess is correct, they are probably here to headhunt you to join them."
"I'm not interested."
"That remains to be seen. The Five Elements Sect is Zanglong City's number one martial arts influence. They have six branches in Zanglong City alone. Other than that, they are also involved in real estate, property management, and logistics. Cao Tianyou himself has a good relationship with the Guardians. It's said that one of the Guardians had even asked for Cao Tianyou's guidance on cultivating Core Force in the past," said Fang Lingjue.
He added, "In terms of wealth, connections, and influence, the Five Elements Sect beats even the entire Fang Family, let alone our Changfeng Martial Hall."
Fang Lingjue glanced at Li Pin. "People strive for higher grounds and water flows to lower areas. You're someone whose future isn't meant to be restricted by a small Changfeng Martial Hall. If the Five Elements Sect are really willing to spend a large amount of money to headhunt you, I don't mind you joining them."
"My goal is the Jiang Province Martial Competition. I may not choose to stay in Zanglong City after that. Therefore, the promises that the Five Elements Sect can offer me might not be that meaningful. I might as well help you set up a branch hall in the Jiang Province City," said Li Pin.
"You're really a loyal brother!" Fang Lingjue smiled and slammed the table. "Why don't you invest ten million and we split the ownership of the Jiang Province City's branch hall?"
"Thirty million won't be able to last long. I'm better off saving the money to purchase medicinal herbs and nourish my qi and blood," replied Li Pin.
Upon hearing that, Fang Lingjue expressed his regret over Li Pin's decision.
***
Half an hour later, Qi Dongyuan, Zhao Yuan, and a few disciples from the Five Elements Sect came to visit. They were led to the reception room.
Zhao Yuan first presented Fang Lingjue with a gift. He had heard that Fang Lingjue planned on expanding the Changfeng Martial Hall and was willing to transfer the ownership of one of their branch locations to Changfeng Martial Hall.
This was a form of apology to Fang Lingjue.
After that was done, Zhao Yuan turned to Li Pin to share the reason for their visit.
And it was as Fang Lingjue had guessed, they wanted to invite Li Pin to join the Five Elements Sect.
"Given your aptitude, Master Li, you'll definitely make your way out of Zanglong City and soar to great heights. The Five Elements Sect is willing to become a supporting pillar for you on this path, lending our help."
Zhao Yuan was Cao Tianyou's eldest disciple. The Core Formation expert who represented the Five Elements Sect politely took out a box. "This is our Five Elements Sect's core legacy—the Five Qi's to Primordiality Art—it tempers the internal organs. There's also a summary of my master's experience in Core Formation and Aura condensation."
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