Chapter Forty-Four: The Jianghu of the Past (Second Update)

"Come on, hit me," Wang Shoucheng said.

"What?" Qin Tian was taken aback. Wang Shoucheng wanted him to hit him?

"Yes, let me see your strength." Wang Shoucheng nodded.

"This... isn't it a bit inappropriate?" Qin Tian hesitated.

"Don't worry, your strength won't hurt me." Wang Shoucheng smiled.

"Well, forgive me then."

Qin Tian put down his chopsticks, took a deep breath, and slowly clenched his right hand into a fist, aiming at Wang Shoucheng's left chest and threw a punch.

He had carefully chosen the spot—he couldn't very well aim for the right chest where the heart was.

Bang!

A loud noise drew the attention of everyone eating nearby. When they saw Qin Tian's fist pressed against Wang Shoucheng's chest, quite a few frowned—was there a fight breaking out?

But nowadays, few people meddle in others’ affairs. Living their own lives is enough; most remained silent.

"Wang, are you... alright?" Qin Tian noticed Wang Shoucheng's face had turned a liver-like shade.

Wang Shoucheng’s expression was pained. He waved his hand slightly, then turned his head away, his expression changing dramatically.

In his heart, Wang Shoucheng thought: I underestimated this kid. Damn, he seems to have already surpassed the ordinary ranks!

Qin Tian looked only seventeen or eighteen, yet he was already beyond the standard levels? What kind of genius was this?

If his claim was true—that he’d reached this stage entirely by himself—he was a prodigy among prodigies!

"Let me ask you, how old are you this year?" Wang Shoucheng took a deep breath, adjusted himself, and asked.

"Eighteen," Qin Tian replied.

Hissing through his teeth, Wang Shoucheng drew in a sharp breath. Just as he suspected! A super genius!

"Are you sure you figured all this out on your own?" Wang Shoucheng pressed.

"Yes." Qin Tian nodded. Of course, he couldn't reveal anything about Old Kong.

"As martial artists, outsiders often call us cultivators, but that's neither here nor there. The realm of martial artists consists of nine ranks and four stages," Wang Shoucheng explained.

"Nine ranks and four stages?" Qin Tian was puzzled; it was the first time he'd heard such terms.

"Yes, those who just touch upon the martial path are called ranked experts, divided into nine ranks, from one to nine."

"After the nine ranks, there are the transcendents, split into four stages: Foundation, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Ascension."

"Your level should already be beyond the ranks. My guess is you've just entered the Foundation stage." Wang Shoucheng said.

Qin Tian's eyes widened. Nine ranks and four stages? He knew nothing about the nine ranks, and somehow, he'd already become a Foundation-stage transcendent?

"Wang, does that mean you’re at the Golden Core stage? And that Snake, what stage is he?" Qin Tian asked.

"That venomous snake? Just trash, still stuck in the nine ranks, hasn’t transcended yet." Wang Shoucheng said with disdain.

"What? Then how did I lose to him?" Qin Tian was shocked, finding it hard to accept.

"Your actual combat experience is inferior to his, so it’s normal. Don’t underestimate that venomous snake—though he’s only at the ninth rank, many who just step into the Foundation stage can’t beat him. His combat experience is extremely rich."

"You could say he crawled out from a pile of corpses."

"He has a wealth of history—he was once a mercenary, survived countless life-and-death crises."

"Later, he put down his blade and entered a monastery, then betrayed Buddhism and joined the Bodhi Association, becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings in the Wu City branch."

Wang Shoucheng looked at the young man before him, suddenly feeling stirred. He was excited at the prospect of taking Qin Tian as his disciple.

But on second thought, though his own skills counted as impressive among most, he wasn’t one of the very best. Qin Tian wouldn’t learn much from him and might even be led astray.

After all, not everyone is qualified to shape a genius.

"Qin, would you like to find a master?" Wang Shoucheng suddenly asked, thinking of someone—perhaps only that person was qualified to take Qin Tian as a disciple.

"Me? A master?" Qin Tian paused. If he had to mention a master, he already had one, but Old Kong had vanished now.

To accept another master was hard for him to accept.

Though Old Kong wasn’t much, Qin Tian never called him ‘master’ in daily life, but to call someone else that—he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"It’s alright, I’m just asking. If you’re interested, I can take you to meet him."

"No, I’ll bring him to meet you," Wang Shoucheng said with a smile.

A genius like Qin Tian deserved that person to come in person.

"I’ll think it over," Qin Tian replied, politely declining Wang Shoucheng’s offer.

"No problem," Wang Shoucheng smiled.

"By the way, Wang, what’s the story with your Chongming Society?" Qin Tian asked.

"Chongming Society..." Wang Shoucheng hesitated, falling into thought, as if reluctant to speak.

"Sorry for being presumptuous. If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to say," Qin Tian said.

"It’s not that. You’ll likely encounter that level in the future, so there’s no harm in telling you." Wang Shoucheng considered.

"Chongming Society used to be comparable to the Bodhi Association."

"‘Southern Ming, Northern Bodhi’ refers to our Chongming Society and the Bodhi Association. Chongming’s power was centered in the south, Bodhi in the north."

"Back then, it wasn’t just Southern Ming and Northern Bodhi—there were many other factions. The nickname was just a courtesy from fellow martial artists; there were plenty stronger than Chongming or Bodhi."

"Later, a mysterious force emerged—without warning, it just appeared out of nowhere."

"But as soon as it surfaced, it wiped out more than a dozen major factions, its power was overwhelming!"

"It could be said that this mysterious force debuted at the peak!"

"It became a nightmare for all factions. Those who opposed it met terrible ends."

"Later, someone in the martial world suggested banding together to eliminate this disruptive force."

"Chongming Society was foolish enough to take the lead. The outcome was predictable—when the battle broke out, our society bore the brunt and was toppled overnight!"

"This battle wasn’t just a simple fight; it involved many aspects, including economics. Economic blockade, military suppression—every tactic imaginable."

"Afterwards, the mysterious force vanished, though statistics showed it suffered heavy losses too. Perhaps it’s been recuperating these years, waiting to rise again!"

Qin Tian listened, his blood boiling—a storm of chaos and intrigue unfurled before his eyes.

Suddenly, he yearned for this kind of life. Who doesn’t dream of the martial world?