Scripture of Days Past

On the training ground of Earth Gate Fort, Lei Yushu was practicing the Heavenly Spirit Body Refinement Fist Techniques taught to her by Chu Qiguang. Each of her punches produced an audible boom, indicating that she had consolidated her first-state cultivation base.

I want to join Master and change the way all the fiends in this world live!

Her conviction fueled her punches, and she felt more inspired and purposeful than ever.

On the other side of the training ground stood a total of thirty-two soldiers arranged in two files.

Chu Qiguang had personally selected these thirty-two men from among the soldiers of Earth Gate Fort. They were all between thirty and forty years old and were the most capable warriors in the fort.

Everyone else, including the two former platoon commanders and ten former captains, had been sent to continue tending the fields outside the fort.

Chu Qiguang had performed the Heavenly Fiend Foundation Establishment Technique on all thirty-two men the previous night. Of course, he hadn't revealed their fiendish forms and had only told them that he was using his martial arts to strengthen their bodies. Furthermore, Chu Qiguang had promised to compensate them with silver and proper meals, so they were all training diligently under his orders.

That morning, Chu Qiguang had chosen two of the thirty-two men to serve as the new platoon commanders, with each of them overseeing fifteen soldiers. The two new platoon commanders appeared before Chu Qiguang's Dao pursuer eyes as "the honest Zhang San" and "the obedient Li Si." He wasn't expecting them to become particularly capable in battle. He simply needed people to help him manage the hundred-man commander office.

Zhang Jitian's coffers aren't limitless, so I'm going to have to find a way to make money.

Chu Qiguang swept his gaze over the assembled soldiers, then turned his attention to the document containing the information Chen Gang had compiled.

As he looked over the statistics concerning the population, farmland, money, and food, Chu Qiguang thought to himself, Ning Chigong has virtually emptied the entire fort. It seems the imperial court's limited influence in Shu Province is benefiting many people in positions of power.

Right at this moment, Chen Gang approached him and whispered into his ear, "Brother Chu, I've looked into Ning Chigong as you asked. From what I've heard, he was a renowned prodigy of the Hunter Hand Faction back in his younger days. He made some notable contributions and was even granted the Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts as a reward. However, he apparently failed to master the Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts, and over time, the Hunter Hand Faction gradually lost interest in him."

Chu Qiguang's eyes lit up at this revelation. Thinking back to the five tentacles extending from Ning Chigong's shadow, he wasn't convinced that Ning Chigong had actually failed to master the Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts. Instead, it was very likely that Ning Chigong was hiding his power and aptitude.

Chu Qiguang's main objective in coming to Shu Province was to pave a path for himself to the Dao Comprehension state. In order to accomplish that objective, he had to get his hands on the Hunter Hand Faction's Vajra Laws, Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts, and bodily refinement medicine.

If Ning Chigong is in possession of the Steel Tendon Iron Bone Arts, then that certainly makes my job easier.

All of a sudden, a commotion erupted outside, and Zhang Jitian quickly approached Chu Qiguang to report, "The two former platoon commanders are leading a riot."

Chu Qiguang made his way outside and was greeted by the sight of the two disgruntled platoon commanders. They were backed by the ten former captains, all of whom immediately swarmed toward Chu Qiguang as soon as he came into view.

"Get him!"

"He doesn't even have the master seal! What gives him the right to remove us from our positions?"

"All of us have been working here for years! What right does he have to make us tend the fields?"

Chu Qiguang directed a cold gaze toward them and raised a hand, prompting Zhang Jitian to immediately step forward from behind him. A burst of blazing heat erupted from Zhang Jitian's body, instantly stunning the squabbling former platoon commanders and captains into silence.

This man is a fifth-state martial artist! Isn't Chu Qiguang only supposed to be a fourth-state martial artist? Why does he have a fifth-state underling?

Zhang Jitian made short work of the two former platoon commanders, quickly knocking them to the ground.

"For defying their superior, each of them is to be flogged thirty times!" Chu Qiguang declared coldly. "Zhang San, Li Si, you two carry out the flogging."

The two new platoon commanders were just about to step forward when the former brainless platoon commander yelled, "Don't you dare! Hundred-Man Commander Ning has our backs!"

Hesitant looks appeared on Zhang San's and Li Si's faces upon hearing this.

To sweeten the deal, Chu Qiguang added, "The first one to carry out the flogging with be rewarded with ten taels of silver."

The obedient Li Si immediately pounced forward upon hearing this, followed closely by the honest Zhang San.

Before long, the two former platoon commanders were howling in agony. Meanwhile, Chu Qiguang turned to the remaining thirty soldiers with a faint smile and said, "Each of you will come forward and flog them once as well. I'll give you one tael of silver each. If you don't want to do it, you can go tend the fields, and you won't receive any of the compensation I previously promised you, either."

That was all it took for the soldiers to turn on their former platoon commanders.

***

That night, the two former platoon commanders were carried to Ning Chigong's home, having been flogged to within an inch of their lives.

"It seems that little bastard really needs to be taught his place," Ning Chigong remarked with a cold expression.

"He has a fifth-state subordinate, Master," a servant said.

So what? Ning Chigong harrumphed inwardly. I could easily crush both of them if I wanted to!

However, after some consideration, Ning Chigong ultimately decided that it wasn't worth revealing his true power just to deal with Chu Qiguang.

"Let him do as he pleases. Once everyone begins to starve in a few days, no one will listen to him anymore. In the meantime, keep searching for those fiends."

***

Meanwhile, Hao Xiangtong was exploring Ba Manor City, feeling as free as a bird now that she was away from home.

Right at this moment, a tall and imposing figure suddenly emerged from a nearby alley and blocked her path.

Hao Xiangtong's expression instantly stiffened when she caught a clear glimpse of the figure.

"Liu... Liu Yao?"

Liu Yao wasted no time and immediately asked in a cold voice, "Have you done it with Chu Qiguang?"

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