Lin'an County.
Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
[Name]: Jiang Yuan
[Realm]: Body Forging Stage Four (Bone Training)
Innate Destiny: Outstanding Comprehension (Green), Strong and Sturdy (White)
[Destiny Power]: 0 Threads
[Outstanding Comprehension]: Your grasp of concepts far exceeds the norm, making it easier for you to unravel the enigma of any technique.
[Strong and Sturdy]: You possess inherent strength and show promising talents in the art of body forging.
Taking a break from his strenuous martial arts training, Jiang Yuan stood on the stage, allowing his sweat to freely trail down his body. He looked at the data displayed on his panel, his face involuntarily masking a helpless expression.
A month had passed since he was transported to this world. Despite his relentless efforts, he remained clueless about accumulating Destiny Power. However, the mysterious panel that had suddenly appeared had proven to be rather beneficial. It guided him, helping him comprehend his innate strengths. He realized his extraordinary talent and unparalleled comprehension skills in the realm of Body Forging.
With rigorous cultivation over a month, he had successfully transitioned from the third level to the fourth level of the Body Forging stage. Moreover, he was closing in on the threshold of the fifth stage of Body Forging. His bones had strengthened, his tendons mirroring the might of dragons.
The significant progress he had made in such a short time was largely owed to the panel guiding him toward his strengths. In the entire Lin'an County, Jiang Yuan was considered a prodigious youth.
In his time here, he had observed several individuals in Lin'an City, noticing that most of their panels displayed no innate destiny - they were simply tabula rasas. Only those with considerable cultivation had the occasional white-level innate destiny visible on their panels. As for the green-level Innate Destiny, he had observed fewer than five individuals with it.
Contrary to others, Jiang Yuan was not an original inhabitant of this world. An unexpected event had transported him into this world a month ago, where he found himself occupying a body with the same name and appearance.
Retrieving memories from his current body, he learned that the Zhenyuan Escort Agency was the fruit of his father Jiang Zhenyuan's lifelong efforts. His father was a respected figure in Lin'an County. Possessing the power of the eighth level of the Body Forging stage, he ranked among the elites in Lin'an County. His famed Wind and Thunder Sword Technique had earned him a name, aiding in the growth and expansion of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.
As Jiang Yuan, the only son, had led a carefree life until a few days ago when everything changed.
Word got out that Jiang Zhenyuan had failed his escort mission, losing both the goods he was transporting and the brothers who were accompanying him. This news resulted in several unfamiliar faces lingering around the entrance of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency with clear intentions - to monitor the unfolding events.
Jiang Yuan pondered deeply, considering the situation. He couldn't help but worry about Uncle Ma, whom he had dispatched three days ago to investigate the rumor. If the news held any truth, he was akin to a lamb in a wolf's den, with danger looming around him.
While Jiang Yuan was deep in thought, there was a sudden uproar outside the agency.
Boom!
A loud noise echoed as the securely closed gate of the escort agency burst open. The door bolt shattered, resulting in an outpour of broken wood pieces. There was a sense of surprise in the voices outside the courtyard.
"That's Lei Zhan, the second master of Black Wind Stockade. How dare he enter Lin'an County? Isn't he afraid of death?"
Upon hearing the noise, Jiang Yuan turned towards the agency gate.
The previously closed gate was now ajar, and a fist imprint was evident on the iron-cast gate. A towering figure, almost eight feet tall, stepped over the threshold with his muscular physique. The aura he radiated was akin to that of a wild beast surveying its prey. His face was marked with a six-inch scar, resembling a dormant centipede.
"What kind of iron gate is this? Can't even withstand a single punch from me," Lei Zhan boasted, followed by hearty laughter.
Jiang Yuan squinted at him, recalling memories of Lei Zhan.
He then glanced at his panel.
[Title]: Lei Zhan
[Realm]: Body Forging Stage Seven (Blood Transformation)
[Ox-Strength]: Naturally stronger than ordinary people.
Jiang Yuan's heart sank.
Lei Zhan, the infamous second master of the Black Wind Stockade, was as formidable as rumors suggested. With his seventh-stage Body Forging and supernatural strength, he stood unmatched among his contemporaries. He was rumored to have battled an eighth-stage Body Forging master for an extended period without a clear winner.
The alarming reputation he carried was only second to the master of Black Wind Stockade, who was even more formidable. With hundreds of bandits under their command, the Black Wind Stockade was a force to reckon with.
Jiang Yuan understood why his father complied with the Stockade's demand for an annual tribute. The strength of the Black Wind Stockade was sufficient to subdue an entire county. Other escort agencies in neighboring towns were only allowed to operate by paying timely tributes.
Suddenly, Jiang Yuan's gaze was drawn toward Lei Zhan's right hand. An elderly man was clutched in his grip - it was Uncle Ma. Jiang Yuan's gaze narrowed.
Sensing Jiang Yuan's gaze, Lei Zhan lifted his right hand, grinning. "Don't worry, he's not dead! Our boss believes in harmony for business."
With these words, he swung his right hand, flinging Uncle Ma towards Jiang Yuan.
Reacting swiftly, Jiang Yuan moved to catch Uncle Ma. Using his built-up strength, he counterbalanced the force and placed Uncle Ma gently on the ground. His fingers detected a pulse on Uncle Ma's neck, resulting in a sigh of relief from Jiang Yuan.
Lei Zhan, however, seemed surprised. He was aware of his own strength, having reached the seventh stage of Body Forging and possessing natural superhuman strength. His casual toss was not meant to be caught by someone like Jiang Yuan, who was assumed to be at the third stage of Body Forging.
Lei Zhan realized the intelligence he had gathered about Jiang Yuan had been misleading. Jiang Yuan was not as powerless as reports suggested, but had hidden some of his strength. Regardless, the current state of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency made Jiang Yuan's strength seem insignificant, like a tiny leaf against a gust of wind.
"If you're wise, you might be spared," Lei Zhan thought. He then addressed Jiang Yuan, "Nice catch, you're Jiang Yuan, son of Jiang Zhenyuan?"
"I am. May I know the reason for the second master of Black Wind Stockade's visit today?" Jiang Yuan asked, feeding a pill to Uncle Ma.
"Indeed, there is," Lei Zhan responded with a hearty laugh. He positioned himself casually, his right arm resting on his thigh. "I'm here to collect a debt. Your father hasn't paid our tribute this year. With added interest, the amount comes to three thousand taels of silver."
Uncle Ma, slowly regaining consciousness, heard Lei Zhan's claim and his eyes widened in outrage. "You're lying! I personally delivered one hundred taels of silver to your Stockade's master at the start of the year with our boss."
Lei Zhan chuckled, digging his ear. "A hundred taels? Do I look like a beggar to you? Now, hand over three thousand taels of silver, or the Zhenyuan Escort Agency will be filled with corpses."
Lei Zhan stomped his right foot for emphasis, shattering the rock beneath it. His powerful aura surged toward Jiang Yuan and Uncle Ma.
Jiang Yuan lightly pressed his right hand on Uncle Ma's shoulder, calming him down. "Fine. But I need a month to gather the three thousand taels of silver. In a month, I can assemble the money."
Lei Zhan seemed surprised. This was unexpected. The total assets of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency were estimated to be no more than ten thousand taels of silver. Demanding three thousand taels was a substantial blow to the agency. He hadn't expected Jiang Zhenyuan's son to acquiesce so readily.
After considering the situation, Lei Zhan relaxed his intimidating stance. "Three days, I'll give you three days."
Knowing that it was impossible to gather the amount in such a short period, Jiang Yuan replied, "You know as well as I do that three thousand tael is not a small amount. Who keeps such an amount at home? I need at least seven days to assemble it."
Lei Zhan nodded, seemingly satisfied with the reply. "Fine, seven days it is. I'll come to collect it myself. And don't try any tricks. If you fail to deliver, you know the consequences."
Lei Zhan stomped his right foot, shattering the stone beneath it. He then jumped up, landed on the wall, and hopped toward the outskirts of the city. Simultaneously, people who had been loitering near the Zhenyuan Escort Agency scattered and left.
Seeing Lei Zhan brazenly appearing in Lin'an City and demanding three thousand taels of silver from the Zhenyuan Escort Agency caused a ripple of shock and intrigue among the spectators.