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Character: Chu Xisheng
Reputation: Ninth Grade Lower (Exceed)
Martial Arts: Chasing Wind Saber Technique (First Level)
Primordial Skill: Nourishing Essence Skill (First Level/Unranked)
Martial Arts Points: 25
Talent: Eagle Eye, Chasing Wind and Lightning Hand (First Tier)
Status: Six Yin Soul Revival Spell
Lifespan: 19 days
Chu Xisheng's pupils dilated, showing a hint of surprise.
The system had changed again. The reputation column had shifted from Ninth Grade Lower (Fixed) to Ninth Grade Lower (Exceed).
The Martial Arts Points had also changed to 25.
Previously, Chu Xisheng had exchanged one 'Divine Power Pill' and used up one Martial Arts Point, dropping the count to 15, but now it had suddenly increased by 10 points.
What was the reason for this?
Chu Xisheng looked thoughtfully out of the fourth-floor window.
He speculated that the changes in reputation and Martial Arts Points were likely related to the new responsibilities he had taken on, though he had no evidence.
Chu Xisheng sat on the ground to rest for a moment, waiting until the soft tremors in his limbs had largely subsided before he stood up.
He looked around and saw that everyone nearby, including many Martial Arts Instructors and the Police Pool of Blood, was watching him with a degree of admiration.
Suddenly, a hand heavily clapped his shoulder, and a robust voice rang out beside him,
"Not bad, kid. I didn't expect you to actually be able to kill that Eighth Rank sorcerer and live to tell the tale. But I saw your use of the saber; you have great talent but no technique. You still need to practice a lot."
Chu Xisheng glanced sideways and saw that it was North Courtyard Instructor Qiu Feng, who was smiling at him, "You've made a great contribution this time. Thanks to you, over eighteen thousand volumes in the Library, including thousands of True Intent drawings and books, have been preserved. Master Lei is fair in his dealings; you will be handsomely rewarded afterward."
Chu Xisheng was a man of integrity and thought that he should not mistakenly take credit for others' work. He bowed and explained, "Instructor Qiu, you are mistaken. The sorcerer was not killed by me today—"
He was interrupted mid-sentence when he noticed the Martial Arts Points column flickering. The number 25 briefly seemed to change to 23.
Chu Xisheng's face twitched, and he quickly changed his tone, "Actually, it was in collaboration with a female disciple surnamed Lu. Together, we killed the sorcerer."
It was like the historic NBA game at Staples Center when Brian Cook and Kobe Bryant combined for 83 points.
Kobe had 81 points, Brian two, but you can't say Brian didn't contribute to Kobe's 81 points—he did contribute an assist, after all.
Chu Xisheng had also made his contributions; he had provided a saber and a talisman paper that could be used for internal and external contact.
"A female disciple surnamed Lu?"
Instructor Qiu Feng pondered over the newly admitted Inner Sect disciples. Was there a female disciple surnamed Lu?
Qiu Feng was not certain, but since he had not heard of her, she was probably not a notable figure, likely just an assistant to Chu Xisheng.
"Yes, the sister is about the same age as me and claims her surname is Lu,"
Chu Xisheng explained, "This woman was the main force in killing the sorcerer—"
He could not finish his words, as suddenly a loud explosion came from above the rooftop. A cyan figure burst through from the twelfth floor of the Library.
The figure, wielding a Blood Sword and merging with the sword, flew away like a ray of light. Master Lei Yuan and several others immediately followed closely, gliding through the sky like swift eagles.
Chu Xisheng looked up just in time to see the cyan figure also glancing down at him, the eyes cold and venomous, brimming with murderous intent.
At that moment, a large group of villains burst out from the Library, with one angrily bellowing, "A mere whelp without any rank in Primordial Skill dares to sabotage our Blood Wind Gang's big plans. You must be tired of living. The bastard who killed my brother, listen well. Within a month, I swear the Blood Wind Gang will take your life!"
Chu Xisheng was stunned.
He hadn't intended to take all the credit, nor could he bear all the blame alone.
Seeing his troubled expression, Qiu Feng comforted him by patting his shoulder, "Don't worry. This time, Households Commander Cao has laid a Heaven and Earth Net trap; not a single one of the Blood Wind Thieves will escape. Even Li Daogui, who was deeply involved in today's events, will not escape."
"Master Lei took action with deep resentment today, and the Library Chief Ye Jingyuan is also a deeply hidden master. Likewise, Commander Cao's cultivation is almost at the Fourth Grade. He will certainly capture this man."
"No," Chu Xisheng tried to explain, "That sister who practices both magic and martial arts, skilled in the sword technique, was the one who took action to kill the sorcerer. I was merely assisting—"
Instructor Qiu dismissed his words, believing he was only saying this out of fear of retaliation from the Blood Wind Thieves.
The core members of the Blood Wind Thieves were categorical in their statements, and the truth of the matter had become very clear.
And among the Inner Sect Disciples, where could one find a disciple who was adept at Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts with outstanding sword skills? This guy clearly wasn't thinking before he spoke.
He chuckled and shook his head, his figure soaring into the air, leaping to mid-air to scatter a burst of saber light, intercepting a scar-faced thug from the Blood Wind Thieves above him.
Chu Xisheng watched with mixed emotions, his expression a blend of sadness and joy.
After the thug shouted a phrase, his Martial Arts Points actually increased by two, changing from 25 to 27.
In that moment, a sudden intuition came to him; looking up, he saw a familiar figure standing on a camphor tree about several dozen feet away.
It was Chu Yunyun, who should have gone to the Daoist Temple to gather the Spirit Seed.
The girl, carrying a War Halberd, surveyed him from head to toe.
Seemingly reassured that Chu Xisheng was unharmed, Chu Yunyun smiled at him in relief, her figure swiftly vanishing behind the shadows of the treetop.
Chu Xisheng's lips curled upwards, a warmth welling up inside his chest.
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The members of the Blood Wind Thieves scattered in all directions, resorting to extreme measures by setting fires while fleeing, injuring the people in the Martial Arts Academy in an attempt to fish in troubled waters amidst the chaos.
The Police Pool of Blood and the instructors of the Martial Arts Academy also spread out in all directions, fully mobilizing to pursue and block them.
A group of powerful martial cultivators fiercely clashed, causing fires to erupt within the academy and everywhere stones and sand splattered, leaving a trail of devastation and large patches of ruins wherever they passed.
The battlefield soon spread beyond the academy, affecting a good portion of Xiushui County.
The City Guard Army also joined in, thousands of men spreading out to pursue and extinguish the fires.
Even so, thirty-something members of the Blood Wind Thieves still managed to escape seven of them.
Chu Xisheng was greatly disappointed, as this meant that the threat of the Blood Wind Thieves might possibly come to fruition.
His 'Black Cloud Flying Goose Saber' had also been taken away.
This was originally a sidearm of a Jinyi Hundred Household Commander. Households Commander Cao had lent it to him temporarily, and naturally, it had to be returned afterwards.
Just after the pursuit came to a conclusion, the expression of Master Lei Yuan and the head of the Library, Ye Jingyuan, were as dark as iron, and the faces of the four instructors looked incredibly grim.
Police Pool of Blood Thousand Households, Cao Xuan, used the excuse of searching for the stolen goods and investigating the Blast Flame Talismans to rummage through the Library, turning over cartons and flipping through books.
Even Chu Xisheng's many fellow disciples were exploited.
Although the culprits of the Blood Wind Thieves had fled, Cao Xuan forced them to search through Qin Muge's notes and annotations under the pretext of rooting out spies.
It wasn't until late at night that the entire Library had been searched thoroughly, and the men of the Police Pool of Blood withdrew from the Martial Arts Academy.
It was only when they were about to leave that Households Commander Cao showed interest in meeting Chu Xisheng.
It was just a meeting—this green-haired and green-browed Household Commander, standing a distance of twenty paces away, casually glanced at Chu Xisheng and then laughed, "That's quite the look you have; truly a young hero."
He brushed his hand, signaling a General Flag of the Police Pool of Blood to bring over a dish.
On the dish was an Essence Building Pill elixir bottle with fifty taels of Demon Silver.
Chu Xisheng's expression stiffened a bit, as what he truly wanted was not on that dish.
This Household Commander held a significant post yet his dealings left so much to be desired.
"Is this all you're giving? Is this what you Household Commanders call a generous reward?"
Ye Zhiqiu, carrying her Heavy Sword, stood by Chu Xisheng's side. She had no regard for the presence of the Police Pool of Blood, glancing disdainfully at the dish, "How stingy."
The General Flag Officer smiled without responding, bowed to Chu Xisheng, and then returned to Cao Xuan's side.
Ye Zhiqiu, frustrated like she was admonishing a wayward child, looked at Chu Xisheng sharply, "See? To them, your life is only worth a hundred taels of Demon Silver. Don't be so foolish in the future, rushing headlong into danger just because of someone's provoking words.
Do you realize that if I had been just a little slower in coming to your aid, you'd be dead by now? You should focus on practicing Martial Arts well in the academy, learn the true teachings, graduate, and naturally, wealth and honors will await you. There's no need to be overly ambitious."
Chu Xisheng looked skyward with his eyes, unsure of how to explain himself.
If he hadn't been misled by that lily maiden, he would have been insane to take on this deadly job.
No matter how much money or how many promises that Cao surname offered, Chu Xisheng was not interested.
Their household registration and travel permits indeed had issues, but at most, he would just abandon this identity and flee afar with Chu Yunyun to seek another way out.
Although this meant that their three months of effort would be in vain, it was still better than losing their lives.
However, today's gains had been quite substantial.
Chu Xisheng looked at the 27 Martial Arts Points on the illusory screen and rubbed the Essence Building Pill bottle in his hand, considering that today's risk had not been taken in vain.
Even though the Police Pool of Blood was stingier than he had imagined, Chu Xisheng consoled himself by thinking about how he had followed the lily maiden and effortlessly earned these rewards; these things suddenly felt valuable again.