Ultimate True Lord

Inner courtyard.

Fourth Senior Brother Liu Mao also looked at Jiang Ming, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

He had occasionally sparred with Jiang Ming in the past and vaguely knew that this junior brother had good practical skills and a solid foundation in his techniques. However, in Liu Mao's impression, Jiang Ming had always been the kind of person who could make up for his lack of talent through hard work and who was a slow learner who started early.

He admired Jiang Ming's steadiness and composure, but also knew that the other party's talent was average.

However, this time, this usually unremarkable junior brother Jiang surprisingly made a name for himself, successfully breaking through to the level of soft strength in a short period of time.

Liu Mao was surprised. He stepped forward and first congratulated Jiang Ming on breaking through to the level of Soft Force. Then he said with emotion.

"Junior Brother Jiang, I didn't expect you to improve so quickly. You broke through to the Soft Strength level in less than eight months. Even Master Liu's requirements for Fang Heng were no more than this."

"That's really impressive! It took me more than a year to break through the barrier of softness. I almost failed in my attempt."

Jiang Ming smiled faintly, just about to speak.

Not far away, the fifth senior brother's figure actually walked through the crowd and came straight over. When he saw Jiang Ming, he laughed heartily and cupped his hands in congratulations.

"Junior Brother Jiang, congratulations on breaking through to the Soft Force realm and reaching a new level!"

Fifth Senior Brother Xia Hui paused for a moment, then spoke with unusual amiability, seemingly intending to ease the previous subtle antagonism.

"We usually cultivate separately, each with our own circles, and rarely interact with each other. I was quite naive. I never expected that Junior Brother Jiang's cultivation progress would be so rapid, breaking through the barrier in one fell swoop. It's truly admirable!"

"Now that you've joined the ranks of those who excel in Soft Power, our Red Sand Martial Arts School has gained another master of Soft Power. We hope you'll continue to guide me in my future training..."

He seemed to suddenly remember something and slapped his forehead.

"No, according to the rules of other martial arts schools, I should call him Senior Brother Jiang."

At Hongsha Martial Arts School, the masters of Soft Strength who broke through to the next level did so in exactly the order of their formal disciples. However, at other martial arts schools, it sometimes happened that junior disciples would break through to Soft Strength before their senior disciples.

Naturally, the other disciples who were still at the high-level strength level had to start addressing him as "Senior Brother." The newly promoted soft-level strength disciples still addressed the veteran soft-level strength disciples as "Senior Brother," while the rest became his junior brothers.

The fifth senior brother suddenly uttered this sentence, clearly trying to lower his own posture and ease the tension with Jiang Ming.

After all, Jiang Ming's breakthrough to the Soft Force realm within eight months was exactly what Master Liu had set for Fang Heng. This Jiang Ming is definitely the next Fang Heng, and will certainly receive Master Liu's attention and training, so it's essential to establish a good relationship with him in advance.

Even if they can no longer maintain a close friendship due to past subtle conflicts, they cannot become complete enemies.

In the inner courtyard.

Jiang Ming accepted Xia Hui's congratulations indifferently.

He and Xia Hui had never had any major conflicts, and they rarely interacted. Since the other party was willing to ease tensions, Jiang Ming saw no need to embarrass him.

To his surprise, Xia Hui was the type to seize any opportunity to climb the social ladder. He moved closer to Jiang Ming, smiling gently.

"Senior Brother Jiang has always been diligent in his cultivation. He seemed unassuming before, but now he has broken through to the Soft Strength realm in one fell swoop. He is a late bloomer. Actually, my Xia family..."

Just then, Wen Jin, dressed in a simple blue cloth outfit, with a gentle and refined demeanor and a faint smile on his face, walked over calmly.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Jiang, on breaking through to the Soft Force realm! You've made a name for yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming completely ignored Xia Hui beside him and turned to look at Wen Jin, who was walking over, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"It sounds awkward to call you that. I'm the one who usually calls you senior brother."

"Just call me Jiang Ming, or you can call me Lao Jiang."

Wen Jin smiled upon hearing this: "Hehe, I was thinking of following the way other martial arts schools address each other, to show more respect. How about this, I'll call you Senior Brother Jiang, and you call me Senior Brother Wen. We'll be each other's senior brothers."

Jiang Ming shook his head: "Call me whatever you like."

After saying that, he turned to Xia Hui, who seemed hesitant to speak, and said directly, "Fifth Senior Brother, Senior Brother Wen and I have some things to discuss. Let's talk about it next time."

Half an hour passed.

The inner city, the waterside pavilion I visited once before.

This time, on the elegant pavilion that jutted out over the Mu River, only Jiang Ming and Wen Jin sat facing each other, while a servant came forward to brew tea.

"Old Jiang, I didn't expect you to break through to the Soft Force realm so quickly this time. Even Fang Heng might not be able to match your speed."

Wen Jin held a white porcelain cup in one hand and said with emotion.

"It's just luck."

Jiang Ming did not show excessive arrogance.

"This isn't luck. I've been stuck at the Great Perfection of the 'Strength' level for several months now. The more I accumulate, the harder it is to break through. This hurdle is much more difficult than when I broke through to the 'Strength' level."

Wen Jin took a sip of tea and said with some melancholy.

"With your talent, it's just a matter of being stuck for a few more months. You'll break through sooner or later," Jiang Ming encouraged.

"Haha, thank you for your kind words." Wen Jin smiled.

The two chatted for a few more minutes and drank some tea. Then, one after another, delicious-looking dishes were served. They seemed to have been specially delivered from a well-known restaurant near the waterside pavilion.

Jiang Ming and Wen Jin ate and chatted, each with a delicious meal in their hands.

"By the way, Lao Jiang, Xia Hui most likely came over to invite and recruit you. Actually, you could listen to his terms first. Sometimes, comparing offers from different sources might be helpful..."

Wen Jin's words were suddenly interrupted by Jiang Ming.

"Forget it."

Jiang Ming smiled faintly and shook his head.

"I'm a person with a weak will and a restless mind. I've seen Xia Hui's circle before; they spend their days in brothels and restaurants, eating, drinking, and having fun. I don't have that kind of self-control; I can't resist temptation."

"So I declined in advance, to avoid disrupting my cultivation later."

Wen Jin glanced at Jiang Ming, paused for a moment, then put down his chopsticks. He stood up and picked up the small white porcelain cup containing wine.

"Old Jiang, let me toast you first!"

"I'll drink it, you can drink as you like."

Wen Jin tilted his head back, downed the wine in one gulp, his heart pounding with excitement and a touch of emotion.

He knew perfectly well that Jiang Ming's excuse for refusing was utter nonsense. Jiang Ming was an extremely determined person, practically a cultivation fanatic.

Wen Jin had rarely seen Jiang Ming indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, let alone going to brothels or pleasure boats. He even suspected that Jiang Ming was still a virgin!

"Gurgle, gurgle."

Without hesitation, Jiang Ming also stood up and toasted Wen Jin.

He downed it all in one gulp.

"Come on, have two more drinks."

After a few drinks, and with Jiang Ming publicly rejecting Xia Hui's offer of a hand, clearly stating his position and standing firmly on Wen Jin's side, Wen Jin felt a surge of joy, all her usual gentleness vanishing.

My whole being was filled with heroic spirit.

He drank two cups with Jiang Ming, and in his excitement, he looked at Jiang Ming seriously and spoke loudly.

"Old Jiang, I have a medicinal herb gathering route deep in the mountains. It's risky, but the rewards are very high."

"I plan to form my own team to gather medicinal herbs in the deep mountains, and I would like to invite you to be the leader of this team!"