Cultivation: Starting from a Fighting Cock

Chapter 84 Returning to Wuzhen

In the path of martial arts, apart from exceptional talent, most people rely on years of hard training and accumulation.

Those who can master internal strength and complete blood transfusion before the age of twenty mostly started practicing martial arts from a young age, laying a solid foundation early on.

Ji Cheng compared Zhao Qian.

Zhao Qian is about to turn twenty and has only reached the initial stage of internal strength cultivation, and he has failed twice in a row in blood transfusion.

The threshold for the Demon Forging Sect is indeed quite high. The martial arts disciples it recruits basically all have the potential to cultivate to the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm, clear the blockages in their bodies, and become an acquired spiritual body.

Its combat strength is not weaker than that of cultivators of the same realm, and it is even stronger in close combat and physical strength.

Ji Cheng blinked and asked, "Master, what is the atmosphere like among the disciples of the Demon Forging Sect?"

"Among the disciples in the sect, there are both cultivators and martial artists, so there are bound to be many conflicts. Moreover, the treatment of the lower-level disciples and the genius disciples is extremely polarized, so the atmosphere is naturally not very harmonious. What, are you afraid?"

Situ Ying's few words were enough to give people a vivid picture of what the Forging Demon Sect was like.

Ji Cheng shook his head. "Then this Demon Forging Sect is really great. I was just afraid that the disciples would be too harmonious."

Then he asked, "Master, are there any powerful demonic beasts within the Demon Forging Sect?"

Situ Ying didn't know why he asked this question, but still answered, "Of course, there are quite a few powerful demonic beasts kept in the sect, including a fourth-order pig demon that can be considered the sect's ancestor."

Fourth-tier boar demon!

A fourth-tier demonic beast with a fully formed demonic core can partially transform into human form, corresponding to a human Golden Core cultivator!
Ji Cheng was slightly tempted.

This Demon Forging Sect is great! I have to go to the Demon Forging Sect.

Of course, that's all in hindsight.

At this moment, Ji Cheng and his group arrived at the Zishui County government office by flying boat and received the reward money for capturing the demon.

Situ Ying first left the tiger demon at the county government office, as it was too much trouble to carry around. He would bring it back to the sect after capturing the demon beast in Wuzhen.

Afterwards, the group boarded a flying boat and flew towards Wuzhen.

"Stop! We need to verify your identities. Who are you people?"

Just as they were about to reach Wuzhen, a town familiar to Ji Cheng, the group was stopped by several constables from the county government.

These constables were all martial artists who had mastered internal strength. The leader was burly and had a steady gait, seemingly much stronger than Situ Ying.

The flying boat descended from the sky. Situ Ying and his companions, not wanting to offend the officials, stepped forward to introduce themselves.

"I am Situ Ying from the Demon Forging Sect. These are my companions. We are all demon hunters. May I ask how you are addressed?"

"Wei Long, Chief Constable of Zishui City."

"So it's Chief Constable Wei. May I ask what brings you here?"

"From this day forward, all those entering or leaving Wuzhen will be subject to inspection. You need not concern yourselves with any further questions."

"This is."

"Who is he?"

Chief Constable Wei pointed at Ji Cheng and asked, his piercing gaze like a sharp weapon, as if he wanted to pierce through Ji Cheng.

"He's my apprentice, his name is Tu Ergou..."

With the cover of his identity as Situ Ying's apprentice, Ji Cheng passed the test smoothly.

After being allowed to pass, Chief Constable Wei warned, "You will need to come back here for inspection before you leave."

Although Situ Ying and the others were dissatisfied, they had no choice but to agree.

Wei Long was likely a powerful expert at the peak of the Meridian Opening Realm, and with the Zishui City Lord's Mansion as his backing, Situ Ying, a mere low-level disciple of the Demon Forging Sect, dared not offend him easily.

Ji Cheng remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was relieved that it had been a close call.

If he hadn't adopted a false identity and become Situ Ying's disciple, it would be impossible to know who he was or where he came from.

At the same time, he was surprised that these constables were suddenly checking people entering and leaving Wuzhen.

Combining the arrival of the blind Taoist priest in Wuzhen with Zhao Kun's possession, Ji Cheng had a vague feeling that things in Wuzhen were not so simple. Soon, Ji Cheng entered Wuzhen with four demon hunters.

"Whoo~"

Returning to a familiar place, but with a different identity and a different perspective, Ji Cheng felt a unique mix of emotions.

He saw several familiar faces: Young Master Xu, Horseshoe Craftsman, and Wu Hong, all regulars at the cockfighting arena.

As he walked, he passed by the Zhao family's pharmacy and saw several of the Zhao family's servants and apprentices.

After walking another ten meters or so, two figures came towards us.

It was Zhao Yan and Zhao Qian, and it seemed that the two were about to go to the Zhao family's pharmacy to take care of some business.

Ji Cheng and his group were unfamiliar faces, so Zhao Yan and Zhao Qian couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.

When Zhao Yan looked at him, Ji Cheng couldn't help but look at her too. The moment their eyes met, it seemed as if everything around them slowed down.

At that moment, there was an atmosphere of love at first sight, but Situ Ying, inappropriately, joked, "Er Gou, this little girl is really pretty. She'd be perfect to marry you!"

It's such a shame.

Zhao Yan glared angrily at the man who had teased her like that.

Situ Ying, however, was completely unconcerned. He saw through the strength of the man and woman in front of him at a glance, and they were nothing more than ants.

"Please don't be offended, young lady. That's just how my master is; he speaks without thinking. I apologize on his behalf."

Ji Cheng forced an awkward smile and bowed slightly to Zhao Yan.

This was the first time Ji Cheng had spoken to Zhao Yan as a human, and he felt strange.

Zhao Qian also whispered in Zhao Yan's ear that they couldn't afford to offend these people, which prevented Zhao Yan from retaliating.

Ji Cheng quickly pulled Situ Ying away. Situ Ying, giving him face, waited until they were far away before tapping Ji Cheng's head with the knuckles of his index and middle fingers, laughing and scolding:
"You little rascal, Er Gou! You've disgraced your master to please me. You really know how to play the game!"

"Who says this kid is stupid? This kid is incredibly smart!"

Uncle Ma and Uncle Gou, both burly men, burst into laughter.

Ji Cheng chuckled and changed the subject: "Master, why bother arguing with a young girl? Have you forgotten that we came here to capture demons?"

At this moment, Ji Cheng's mind was racing. He was thinking about what reason he could come up with to stay in Wuzhen.
Also, when you're catching demons, you might accidentally capture Big Yellow, the Bull Demon, and the Flower-faced Fox, right?
"I haven't forgotten, let's go!"

Situ Ying patted Ji Cheng on the shoulder, causing Ji Cheng to stumble and almost fall flat on his face.

Unlike the tiger demon subdued in Tujia Village, Situ Ying and his group searched around Wuzhen but didn't see any monsters.

They found Guo Laosi, who had reported to the authorities, and asked him where the monsters were causing trouble.
Guo Laosi claimed that the monsters in Wuzhen only appear at night, and they especially like to visit his house. To date, countless livestock have been stolen from his house by these monsters.

He suggested that a few people lie in wait at his house at night, hoping to catch them in the act.

"Looks like a little demon."

Huang Cuicui said that they dared not come out during the day, and guessed that they must be minor demons in the Demon Transformation Realm.

Situ Ying was getting impatient, but since she was already there, she figured she might as well make the best of it and there was no reason for her to turn around and leave.

“We can stay up all night, but we have to find a place for this kid to stay.”

Situ Ying patted Ji Cheng on the shoulder again, preparing to find a family to stay with in Wuzhen.

After searching around, we finally arrived at the Cui family's old house.

The Cui family's old house has many rooms, and only Cui Sheng lives there. It would be more than enough room for all five of them, let alone Ji Cheng.

Cui Sheng, being an internal energy martial artist and a man of the world, felt honored to be facing Huang Cuicui and Situ Ying, several powerful demon hunters, and warmly received them.

"Young man, how about you sleep in this room tonight?"

After chatting for a while, Cui Sheng led Ji Cheng to a side room.

Ji Cheng felt that this feeling was a bit strange. In terms of seniority, Cui Sheng should be his father-in-law.

(End of this chapter)