Chapter Fifteen: Northern City

The crowd in the training grounds quickly dispersed, leaving behind only a few guards who continued their practice. Yang Ze followed Yang Yuanzhen away, and the two finally arrived at the Yang family’s council hall. In the vast hall, only father and son remained.

Neither of them sat down; they stood facing each other. Yang Yuanzhen gazed at Yang Ze quietly, then suddenly spoke. “Not bad, very good. Your performance today did not disappoint me. It seems that from this day forth, the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Yang family should be you.”

“Thank you for your praise, Father. Today was merely a stroke of luck,” Yang Ze replied calmly.

“Luck? Luck is a form of strength as well. Don’t worry. Yang Hai lost, and so he lost. I will not let him trouble you again. However, as for you—do you remember what I told you three months ago?” Yang Yuanzhen looked at his son.

Yang Ze sighed inwardly. No matter what he did, the outcome would not change; what was meant to come had come at last.

“Three months ago, Father told me to go to the North City to manage a family property that has long been idle. Of course, I remember.”

“Good, as long as you remember. But judging by your recent progress in martial arts, I want to make a new arrangement for you. Are you interested?” Yang Yuanzhen’s words stirred something in Yang Ze. Although he knew full well his father would never give him the family’s only slot in the Martial College examination, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of interest.

“I was busy some time ago and did not return to handle family affairs until a month past. Only then did this new idea take shape.

Here it is: in the North City, we control a gambling house in a fine location. After discussing with the four elders, we decided to use this establishment as a stronghold to expand our family’s influence in the North City.

You do not need to worry about the gambling house’s operation. I will assign specialists for that. What I want from you is to serve as the family’s chief steward in the North City, to strengthen our family’s power there as much as possible!

In all matters in the North City, you will take the lead. The family will fully support your efforts to establish yourself there. The territory you expand will also be under your jurisdiction. All you need do is ensure regular profits flow back to the family. What do you think?”

Yang Yuanzhen had carefully considered this. The Yang family supported many people, and though they had businesses in the South City and dealings with other powers, their development had reached its ceiling. The population was too great, and the family could barely sustain itself. If he wished to improve his martial arts further, it would require substantial resources. Thus, he set his sights on expanding into the North City.

The circumstances there differed from the South City; there was still an opening for the Yang family to intervene, but sending experts would draw too much attention from the established powers. Instead, sending a promising youth like Yang Ze—whose current abilities would not attract notice—would allow for future growth and expansion.

Yang Ze was being offered a substantial position—chief steward—far more significant than the virtually invisible role of the second young master. Weighing the pros and cons, he soon agreed to his father’s proposal. Given he would not receive the slot for the Martial College test, this was the best arrangement he could secure.

After his agreement, Yang Yuanzhen began instructing the servants to prepare for the transfer, and he set the departure for three days later.

Yang Ze returned to his residence. While his father would mobilize others to assist him, he himself needed information, and so sought out Old Xie.

Back at his courtyard, Yang Ze summoned Old Xie, and the two sat together for tea.

Yang Ze trusted his old servant deeply; without Old Xie, he might not have survived at all. Old Xie’s experience far surpassed his own, so whenever he faced difficulties, he consulted him. This time, however, before Yang Ze could ask a question, Old Xie spoke first.

“Second Young Master, may I ask you something? In your opinion, in the path of cultivation, should one focus more on external or internal training?”

Yang Ze was slightly taken aback by the question, but he answered, “Internal techniques emphasize nurturing one’s vital energy; external techniques focus on refining muscles, bones, and skin. They take different paths, but most, like my father, prioritize internal techniques. Thus, I value internal cultivation more.”

“You are right, Second Young Master. But to cultivate internal strength, one must have the necessary cultivation method. Many, lacking such methods, turn to external training, tempering the body to forcefully advance their level.

Yet this path is much harder than internal cultivation, and it is easy to go astray. Though it can result in strength comparable to proper cultivation, it is not the orthodox way. Still, you must not think those who focus on external training are weak,” Old Xie explained.

“And why is that?” Yang Ze asked.

“Most who pursue external skills do so because they lack cultivation methods. Tempering the body is painful and time-consuming, which makes them more determined in their practice and more eager for power. When opportunities to enhance their strength arise, they will seize them with all their might. You must be wary of such people, and avoid becoming their target,” Old Xie cautioned.

“Are martial arts and cultivation methods so scarce in the outside world?” Yang Ze voiced a long-held doubt.

Within the Yang family, the only cultivation method available was the Ocean Heart Technique, and as for martial arts, he knew only of the Black Tiger Blade and the Single Breath Finger. Other methods he’d never heard of, and the martial arts they’d recently seized from the Ten Thousand Sharks and Sea Shock gangs added only two more to their repertoire. Beyond that, he knew nothing.

Old Xie regarded him deeply. “Second Young Master, you have long trained within the family and don’t realize how hard it is for ordinary folk to obtain even a complete cultivation method.

The Yang family is prominent in Yuyang City precisely because of the Ocean Heart Technique, which can produce warriors at the peak of Qi Induction.

Outside, acquiring a trainable method costs a hefty sum, and those available at market may allow advancement only to mid-stage Qi Induction. Anything higher is tightly guarded by the major powers.

Most who join families like ours do so in hopes of obtaining higher-level methods. If we had to rely on ourselves outside, we might never find a complete method capable of reaching the peak of Qi Induction in our lifetimes.

As for martial arts, they are slightly less rare than cultivation methods, but still exceedingly difficult to come by.”

Yang Ze now understood better: all methods were tightly monopolized, and any that trickled down were incomplete or fragmented.

Yet another question lingered in his mind. “Old Xie, I’ve often heard that the peak of Qi Induction is the limit in Yuyang City. What level lies above that? Does anyone in Yuyang possess such strength?”

“Above Qi Induction is the Acquired Realm. It is said that there are no Acquired Realm warriors in Yuyang City, for none have ever been seen. But who’s to say for certain?

If any power were likely to have such a figure, it would be the authorities. But if the officials had an Acquired Realm expert, they would have already crushed the rest of us and monopolized the city’s interests. Clearly, they have not,” Old Xie analyzed.

Yang Ze found this convincing. The government’s control over Yuyang City was weak; the families and gangs fought openly, even killing, and the authorities struggled to intervene.

“One reason Acquired Realm experts are so rare is the scarcity of cultivation methods. If it’s so hard here to find a method capable of reaching the peak of Qi Induction, those for the Acquired Realm are virtually unheard of.

Another reason is resources. Even in this small city, resources are split among many factions. There’s simply not enough to foster the rise of an Acquired Realm warrior.

If you ever have the opportunity, you should visit Yue Manor, three hundred miles west of Yuyang City. Within a five-hundred-mile radius, it is the most renowned place, home to profound methods and an Acquired Realm master. Compared to the powers here, the Yue family is incomparably stronger.”

Yang Ze listened intently, firmly remembering the names—the Acquired Realm and Yue Manor. Having come to this world, with the Black Stone in his hand, how could he settle for being just a Qi Induction warrior? He must see the greater world and higher peaks.

The two continued their conversation over tea for another two hours before Old Xie departed, tasked with gathering intelligence on the North City so Yang Ze would be prepared.

Three days passed swiftly. At last, Yang Ze was to set off for the North City.

Outside the Yang family manor, Yang Yuanzhen, Elder Hong, and Yang Hongyi were present. Before them, Yang Ze stood at the head of a party of twenty-one, all ready to depart.

Initially, Yang Yuanzhen assigned him eight capable warriors at the early stage of Qi Induction. Yang Ze himself selected twelve more from among the family guards—men he trusted and who were not lacking in skill. Good warriors were rare; to have men of ability was already fortunate.

Yang Yuanzhen did not quibble over such minor matters and let Yang Ze have his way.

No further words were exchanged. With Old Xie in tow, Yang Ze mounted his horse. Twenty-two horses set forth, leaving Tai Rong Street behind as they made for the North City.