"Shopkeeper?"
Han Yuan called out a few more tis, but when he saw the fatso was still sound asleep, he smacked him across the face.
SLAP~
"Who’s there?!"
The portly shopkeeper was startled awake, looking around in a daze.
"Shopkeeper, I’d like to do so business."
Han Yuan said calmly.
"Oh my."
"My apologies, sir."
"I didn’t sleep well last night, so I was in a deep slumber."
"Are you looking for a room?"
Shopkeeper Pang wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and spoke in a hurry.
"Yes."
"A room."
"Give one of your best."
Now that he had money, Han Yuan had no intention of roughing it.
"You got it."
"I have just one fine room left."
"Two taels of silver a day."
"How does that sound?"
The portly shopkeeper asked with a wide grin.
Han Yuan imdiately placed a ten-tael piece of silver on the counter. "I also have a horse. Make sure you feed it so quality fodder."
"Rest assured, I’ll have soone lead it to the stables right away. I guarantee I’ll keep your horse strong and healthy, sir."
Having taken the silver, Shopkeeper Pang was naturally even more enthusiastic.
He called over an attendant to lead away the horse Han Yuan had left outside the inn.
After registering Han Yuan’s information, he gave him a wooden plaque and a key.
The plaque was engraved with the characters Jia-6.
Holding the plaque, Han Yuan found the corresponding room, unlocked it, and pushed the door open.
He had been sleeping rough for days and had developed a strange odor. He first took a long wash, and after freshening up a bit, it was ti for the afternoon al.
By the ti Han Yuan arrived in the inn’s main hall, it was already bustling with noise and nearly full.
He found an empty corner, ordered so at dishes, and glanced around. He noticed that most of the people in the inn were Martial World Wanderers and all sorts of questionable characters.
"I heard Chen Zhen, the Wind-cutting Saber, has co to the city to seek a duel with Ling Beihai, the Rain Flower Sword."
"Both of them are Inner Breath Experts who made a na for themselves long ago. It’s bound to be a spectacular fight."
"Oh, and the Blood Tiger Gang. I heard they had a huge brawl with the Ghost Face Gang last night over territory. Dozens died. Chief Constable Zhao Junshan summoned both gangs to the County Governnt Office today, and they still haven’t co out."
"It’s rumored the Cyan Cloud Sect has obtained the Six Yang Divine Palm technique that was circulating in Cangshui County Town."
"There are also whispers that the Bai Family is arranging a marriage with the Li Family, but who knows if it’s true."
In the main hall, these Martial World Wanderers were all discussing various bits of news and intelligence.
"So?"
"Getting used to Cangshui City?"
A figure with a slightly weary expression quietly entered the inn and sat down across from Han Yuan.
"This County Town is certainly different from our little county seat."
"Things are too isolated back ho. Coming here... I feel like I’ve finally stepped into the true Martial World," Han Yuan said with a smile, looking at Duan Xu opposite him.
This inn was the pre-arranged eting spot Duan Xu had told him about.
As long as he checked in, Duan Xu would be notified.
"That’s right."
"This is the real Martial World."
Duan Xu also smiled. "Let tell you, this inn is more than it seems. You can gather a lot of information about the Martial World here."
"You can even find work here... like hiring assassins."
Han Yuan nodded. "No wonder you told to stay here."
"Let’s get back to business."
Duan Xu’s expression turned serious. "I’ve already recomnded you, and the Supervisor has approved it."
"So you’ve officially earned a spot to participate in the test for the Observatory’s Demon Extermination Tribe."
"But getting into the Demon Extermination Tribe isn’t that simple."
Han Yuan’s voice was low. "Brother Duan, please speak freely."
"The thod for the Demon Extermination Tribe’s test is simple."
"This ti, sixty-four people are participating. Every single one is a Martial Artist in the Body Tempering Realm and under the age of thirty."
"You will all go through three rounds of combat. Those who are not eliminated will be able to enter the Demon Extermination Tribe."
After he finished speaking, Duan Xu ordered two jars of wine from the attendant and started drinking with Han Yuan.
"So, in the end, only eight people can join the Demon Extermination Tribe."
Han Yuan said softly, taking a sip of wine.
"That’s right... so the competition will be fierce."
"In Qingshui County, you might be a genius, perhaps without an equal."
"But in Cangshui County, none of that matters. There are too many geniuses here, too many talented and extraordinary individuals."
"You need to be ntally prepared."
Duan Xu cautioned him.
Han Yuan took these words to heart.
He knew Duan Xu was right.
Qingshui County was just a remote county seat with a population of a little over a hundred thousand; it was no match for Cangshui County, with its millions of people.
This place had the best legacies of Martial Arts, the best cultivation resources, and the best masters to provide guidance.
Even their weapons were of the highest tier.
"But the fact that you could kill Luo Zhang ans you’re still competitive."
"As long as you don’t run into anyone from the Five Great Noble Families, you should be able to pass," Duan Xu added.
"People from the Five Great Noble Families will be participating?" Han Yuan was taken aback.
"Of course... The Martial Arts and cultivation resources of the Observatory are things the Noble Families covet."
"And the Observatory needs the talent from the Noble Families to supplent its own strength... so when the test cos, the mbers of these Five Great Noble Families won’t face each other."
"Typically, they take five of the eight spots."
"This is the Martial World... Even an organization like the Observatory has to play by the rules of connections and social etiquette," Duan Xu said.
"Are the disciples from the Noble Families really that strong?" Han Yuan was a little skeptical.
"Of course... From birth, they use all sorts of precious dicinal herbs to temper their bones and flesh. They even have True Qi Martial Artists to guide their cultivation, and they practice First-Class Techniques."
"Generally speaking... an ordinary Martial Artist stands almost no chance against a disciple from a Noble Family."
Duan Xu sighed and took a sowhat helpless sip of wine.
"It’s fine."
Han Yuan didn’t complain.
"From what you’re saying, Brother Duan... I understand now."
"In the end... it all cos down to fighting."
"As long as I’m strong enough, what does it matter if I run into a disciple from a Noble Family?"
"If I beat him, I get into the Observatory."
Han Yuan stated calmly.
Duan Xu paused for a mont, then laughed. "That’s certainly true."
"A young man is a young man! That’s the kind of sharp edge you need!"
After that, the two drank and chatted.
Duan Xu was worldly and knowledgeable, and by talking with him, Han Yuan gained a deeper understanding of Cangshui County Town.
After they had their fill of food and drink, Duan Xu bid farewell and left.
Han Yuan, of course, didn’t go to bed so early. He went to the empty yard behind the inn and began to practice the Seven Stars Step.
His feet flashed in rapid succession, leaving a series of afterimages that were dazzling to the eye.
After he had practiced it several tis, he suddenly felt a sharp, tearing pain in his Achilles tendons.
The pain only began to fade after several dozen seconds.
’My Achilles tendons feel a bit longer.’
’And the muscles in my legs are more developed.’
Han Yuan summoned his Skill Proficiency Panel.
Host: Han Yuan
Seven Stars Step: Proficient (0/800)
Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt: Perfection (Copper Skin and Iron Bones)
Thousand Falcons Blade Technique: Perfection (Breaking the Sky)
Mountain-Breaking Fist: Perfection (Divine Power)
Though he had been traveling these past days, he had used what little free ti he had to practice the Seven Stars Step.
Now, he had finally broken through to the Proficient realm.
His understanding of the Seven Stars Step had beco much more thorough.
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