Starting from the pharmacy, he grew into a martial saint among men.

Chu Hong listened quietly, pondering to himself.

According to this view, the training model of a sect is actually similar to that of a martial arts school.

Or perhaps, a martial arts school is simply a simplified version of a sect.

Only those disciples who are valued will receive abundant resources for their upbringing.

The Sky Patrol Division is quite different. Not only are its resources abundant, but its rule of prioritizing merit and strength greatly motivates everyone to practice martial arts and go on missions.

You will reap what you sow.

In that case, joining the Sky Patrol Division is indeed a good idea.

He was tempted, but he was also thinking about how to join the Sky Patrol Division.

He currently has three paths before him.

The first option is to use Gu Jin's quota to directly join the Sky Patrol Division.

The second reason was that he was granted a special position in the company by the iron plaque given to him by Xiong Town, and with Xiong Town's backing, he received generous treatment.

The third option is to rely on one's status as the top martial arts candidate and wait for the Sky Patrol Division to recruit one, starting from scratch.

Each of the three paths has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Having the backing of Xiong Zhen or Gu Jin's connections gives one a higher starting point, but it inevitably leads to early alignment and being constrained by them.

Starting from scratch may feel liberating, but without a foundation to protect you, the hard-earned achievements may be stolen, which is also dangerous.

After a moment's thought, Chu Hong gave up on starting from scratch.

He thought it through very clearly. Since he had such good qualities, why should he pretend to be weak and suffer in secret? Wouldn't that be a waste of this kindness?

After thinking for a moment, Chu Hong raised his eyes and asked:

"In your opinion, Lord Pavilion Master, would it be the safest path for me to follow the one recommended by Lord Xiong?"

Chu Hong made this suggestion because he thought that Gu Jin was "in dire straits."

Furthermore, she has many enemies in the Azure Dragon Prefecture. If she follows her own path, she will make enemies as soon as she enters the Sky Patrol Division, which will be detrimental to her development.

However, relying on Xiong Town as a direct route is different. Xiong Town is powerful and has high-ranking officials in the Sky Patrol Bureau, making it the best choice at present.

Gu Jin's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded: "With Lord Xiong's channels, it is indeed the safest option for you."

When she spoke of Xiong Town, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

When the Gu family suffered misfortune, Xiong Zhen not only failed to help them but also took advantage of their misfortune, causing the Gu family to fall into ruin.

Afterwards, Xiong Zhen offered no explanation whatsoever and quickly severed ties with the Gu family.

She once hated Xiong Town for this, spreading rumors that Xiong Town was ungrateful and disregarded the kindness of the Gu family, but Xiong Town didn't care at all.

When that major incident occurred, the Gu family was nearly destroyed, and she herself almost died as a result.

At this moment, it was Xiong Zhen who spoke up, giving her a glimmer of hope.

After arriving in Yunxi County, she pondered for a long time before she finally understood Xiong Town's plan and overall situation.

But by then, it was too late.

She was the only one left in the Gu family, with no hope of ever rising again.

Every time she thinks about it, her heart aches.

Upon hearing Gu Jin's affirmation, Chu Hong immediately made a decision.

Go to the Sky Patrol Division!

But thinking of something else, he found it hard to say, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke:

"Sect Master, there is one more thing I would like to ask you."

"Lord Xiong said that my Hunyuan stance is shallow and will inevitably be limited after reaching the Transformation Realm. Moreover, I will be suppressed by others in the Azure Dragon Mansion. I need to switch to cultivating superior stance skills as soon as possible. Please give me some guidance."

Gu Jin snapped out of her reverie, putting the past behind her, and smiled faintly, "Just say what you have to say."

Chu Hong steeled his resolve and immediately revealed his intentions.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jin lowered his brows and pondered for a moment before speaking:

"Since it was Lord Xiong who sent you to find me, I won't say much more. I can teach you this method, which can be considered as making up for the unfulfilled opportunity."

"You can wait for me here for a moment."

After saying that, she stood up, moved lightly, and slowly walked into the inner courtyard, carrying a faint fragrance.

Chu Hong sat alone in the pavilion, gazing at the serene scenery around him, and sighed inwardly.

Gu Jin treated him very well.

Such a skill was taken out so readily, without the slightest hesitation.

Therefore, I must do my best to practice martial arts, reach the Transformation Realm as soon as possible, and fulfill Gu Jin's request.

Before long, Gu Jin returned with an ancient book in her hand and gently placed it on the stone table.

With a solemn expression, she instructed:

"This technique is the 'Gu Xu Zhen Hai Gong' passed down in my Gu family. It was created by my ancestor Gu Guixu after he slew a dragon in the East China Sea to suppress the sea."

"There is only one such family in the entire Great Yan region, and no one else has told about it. Once you start cultivating, you will be branded with the Gu family mark, which may bring trouble in the future. You should think carefully."

Chu Hong knew that this was Gu Jin's well-intentioned reminder.

Accepting this method is equivalent to accepting part of the Gu family's karma; if one cannot bear it, one will surely die as a result.

But for him, a superior martial arts technique was hard to come by, so he couldn't afford to hesitate like this.

He immediately stood up, his expression resolute:

"The path of martial arts is inherently fraught with troubles. Even without the troubles of family, other troubles will inevitably arise."

"But as long as I'm strong enough, I can smooth over any trouble, so what is there to fear?!"

In Chu Hong's view, a superior foundation is essential for going far.

Compared to that, a little trouble is nothing.

Moreover, he now has Xiong Town as his "backer" and a cultivation technique to enhance his strength. It's hard to say who will cause trouble for whom in the future.

Gu Jin was stunned for a moment, then her eyes shone brightly.

She nodded to Chu Hong, opened the first page of the book, and explained:

"For now, I will only teach you the stance training method. You can use this to practice until you reach the Transformation Realm without worry."

"It's not that I'm unwilling to give you the whole thing, but the follow-up to this method is hidden somewhere and isn't on my person yet."

"Once you arrive at the Azure Dragon Mansion, you can take what you need yourself."

"Thank you very much, Pavilion Master." Chu Hong solemnly accepted the book, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.

Gu Jin looked at Chu Hong, her gaze softening slightly, carrying a hint of teasing:

"Young Master Chu, now that we are on the same path, calling me Pavilion Master is a bit too formal."

Chu Hong was slightly taken aback, then understood and immediately changed his words with a smile:

"Thank you, Miss Gu!"

Although he couldn't see Gu Jin's face, judging from his voice and figure, Chu Hong determined that Gu Jin was not much older than him.

One word, "Miss Gu," is enough.

Upon hearing Chu Hong's address, Gu Jin's lips curled slightly beneath her mask.

"Young Master Chu, come, let me teach you how to stand on this Great Suppressing Sea Pillar."

She led Chu Hong to an open space, struck a strange and awkward pose, and demonstrated and explained to Chu Hong.

Then he had Chu Hong strike a pose.

She stepped forward to make adjustments for Chu Honglue.

A short while later, a new message flashed on Chu Hong's panel.

[Proficiency in the "Return to the Void and Suppress the Sea" skill +1]

Seeing that Chu Hong had already entered the door, Gu Jin wiped the slight sweat from her forehead and spoke softly:

"Alright, Young Master Chu, hurry back and focus on practicing your stance training to solidify your foundation. I'm waiting for you to bring me the life-saving herbs."

At this point, Gu Jin's face darkened.

After thinking for a moment, he whispered to Chu Hong:

"There must be informants within Yunxi County; your deal with me won't escape their notice."

"They will definitely try to sabotage our journey to Black Dragon Abyss, so... be careful then."

"Or, you can get the medicine for me after you've achieved true cultivation."

Chu Hong's expression was solemn, but he shook his head:

"Don't worry, Miss Gu, I will make all the necessary preparations before setting off."

"Furthermore, if I were to condense my true form, I would have already caught their eye and even gained their attention, which would be even more dangerous. Compared to not being truly noticed yet, now is the most suitable time."

"Moreover, given Miss Gu's current condition, I'm afraid she won't be able to wait until I reach Ningzhen."