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Chapter 100 One Sword Breaks All Laws

Chen Yue opened his eyes, flipped his right hand, and several bottles of pills appeared in his palm.

Of all the pills Chen Yue had taken, the one that always surprised him the most was the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

This elixir affects almost all of Chen Yue's cultivation techniques and talents, continuously reducing the time and experience required for cultivation, making it an accelerator for his rapid advancement in cultivation.

But just five days ago, the effect of the Marrow Cleansing Pill hit a bottleneck, or rather, his own bone and marrow cleansing process may have entered a deeper stage, and the upper limit of cultivation experience that the Marrow Cleansing Pill could reduce began to decrease significantly.

"We need to find a pill similar to the Marrow Cleansing Pill, but with even stronger effects."

Previously in Youlin County, resources were limited, and the Marrow Cleansing Pill was already the best option.

However, in Tianzhou Prefecture, which gathers the essence of the entire state, there must exist bone-cleansing and marrow-refining pills that are of a higher level and have stronger effects than the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Chen Yue wasn't worried about the availability of resources; his only concern was whether he had enough money in his pocket.

Fortunately, he was an alchemist himself. As long as he gained a foothold and obtained the pill formulas and materials, he could refine pills on his own, generate profits, and form a virtuous cycle.

Collecting his thoughts, Chen Yue put the pills in his hand into the small alchemy furnace and began to circulate the Vast and Firm Essence Technique, carrying out his daily, unwavering cultivation to nourish his mind, which had been slightly disturbed by his contemplation.

Two hours later, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Hu Shaoyu and Shen Dujiang returned one after another, and the four of them gathered in Chen Yue's room.

Hu Shaoyu first poured himself a cup of tea that had already cooled down, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then wiped his mouth: "Brother Chen, Master Lin, I mainly inquired about the living and shop conditions."

Sigh, no wonder it's the capital city, every inch of land is worth its weight in gold! If you want to buy a small courtyard or shop in a decent location in the city, the price is absolutely outrageous, and there are very few sellers willing to sell.

Most of these properties are ancestral homes, or owned by powerful figures, so they won't easily sell them. Therefore, I suggest we rent a courtyard to stay in for now. Renting a courtyard is expensive, but we can afford it in the short term. It's much more cost-effective and convenient than staying in a guesthouse all the time.”

Lin Quan nodded in agreement: "Brother Hu is right. No matter how high the price is, it won't exceed the cost of staying in an inn long-term. Besides, having your own courtyard is always more convenient and reassuring. As for opening a shop, it really needs to be considered carefully. If the price is too high, the risk will also be too great."

After a moment's thought, Chen Yue poured a cup of tea for each of Shen Dujiang and the other two, and said, "Then let's rent a small courtyard first, one that can provide a place for the four of us to stay, a quiet environment for cultivation and alchemy. The location doesn't need to be bustling, quietness and safety are the most important. Brother Hu, I'll leave this matter to you."

Hu Shaoyu quickly agreed: "Brother Chen, don't worry, I've already found a broker. He can take us to see a few suitable courtyards tomorrow, and we're sure to find one that we're satisfied with."

After arranging his accommodations, Chen Yue turned his attention to Shen Dujiang.

Hu Shaoyu was responsible for finding out about food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, while Shen Dujiang's trip was to understand the power structure of various factions within Tianzhou Prefecture, which would determine their future foothold and choices.

Shen Dujiang gently put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious. He cleared his throat and slowly said, "Brother Chen, Master Lin, Brother Hu, I have gathered information from various sources today and have a general understanding of the power structure in Tianzhou Prefecture."

In short, within Tianzhou Prefecture, there are seven most powerful forces, known as the Three Palaces, Two Gates, and One Faction.

Upon hearing this, Lin Quan subconsciously counted: "Three palaces, two sects, one faction? That's only six in total, Boss Shen, did you miss one?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Dujiang smiled and shook his head: "They are indeed six top forces in the martial arts world, but this seventh one is quite special. It does not belong to any martial arts sect, yet it is more deeply rooted and has immense power than any other martial arts force."

Shen Dujiang paused, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of awe, "This seventh power is called Shenlin Mansion."

""

"Shenlin Prefecture?" Chen Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Shenlin Mansion."

Shen Dujiang nodded and affirmed, "Or rather, it's the Lin family of Tianzhou. The Shenlin family is not only the most powerful family in Tianzhou, but more importantly, they also have the final say in the entire Tianzhou government."

The prefect, garrison commander, and even the main officials of the counties under Tianzhou Prefecture all had intricate connections with Shenlin Prefecture, either as its students or old friends, or as its relatives and collateral branches.

To put it more bluntly, the entire Tianzhou Prefecture can be considered the fiefdom of Shenlin Prefecture. They have been operating here for over a century, their influence is deep-rooted and permeates every aspect of life, making them a true local tyrant.

Even the Three Palaces, Two Sects, and One Faction must abide by the rules set by the Divine Forest Prefecture.

The room fell silent for a moment, and both Chen Yue and Lin Quan showed expressions of shock.

They knew that the state government was deeply entrenched in power, but they never expected that such a powerful local tyrant existed, who practically controlled the entire state.

A glint flashed in Chen Yue's eyes, as if he were deep in thought.

The Three Palaces, Two Gates, and One Faction represent the pinnacle of power in the Jianghu of Tianzhou Prefecture. Shenlin Prefecture, on the other hand, represents the pinnacle of officialdom and local tyrants.

These seven forces together constituted the complex and rigid power pyramid of Tianzhou Prefecture.

These four newcomers from out of town, if they want to establish themselves here, whether it's acquiring resources or avoiding trouble, they can't avoid understanding and weighing the seven major forces.

"Is this the fiefdom of Shenlin Prefecture? Are the Lin family of Tianzhou kings and marquises appointed by the imperial court?" Lin Quan asked.

Shen Dujiang shook his head, his expression complex, a mixture of awe and a hint of inexplicable emotion: "They are not kings or marquises officially conferred by the imperial court, but in this Tianzhou Prefecture, the Lin family is more powerful than kings and marquises."

Countless renowned martial arts masters have longed to join the Shenlin Manor, even as a guest retainer, but have been unable to gain entry. The Shenlin Manor's threshold is too high; ordinary people simply cannot meet their standards.

Therefore, Shenlin Prefecture is aloof in Tianzhou Prefecture and has little to do with us newcomers. We need to focus more on the six top powers in the martial world.”

Lin Quan's curiosity was piqued after hearing this, and he quickly asked, "Then, Boss Shen, what exactly are these 'Three Palaces, Two Sects, and One Faction'? What are their names and methods?"

Shen Dujiang cleared his throat and began to list them one by one: "The three palaces refer to Xuanqing Palace, Wanyou Palace, and Lieyan Palace."

Xuanqing Palace's disciples practice techniques imbued with righteous energy, emphasizing moderation and harmony, and upholding justice while overcoming evil. It enjoys an excellent reputation among the people, and its disciples are generally upright in their conduct.

Wanyou Palace is a rather unique sect. Its actions are both righteous and wicked, and its techniques tend to be strange and secretive. It has few members, but each one is difficult to deal with, and its reputation is mixed.

The Blazing Flame Palace, as its name suggests, follows a path of extreme yang energy, characterized by ferocity and intensity. Its members are often hot-tempered, upright, and possess formidable combat prowess.

After Shen Dujiang finished speaking, he picked up his tea and took another sip. Seeing that Chen Yue had no objections, he continued, "The two sects are the Flowing Cloud Sword Sect and the Rock Sect."

The Flowing Cloud Sword Sect specializes in swordsmanship and believes in the principle of "one sword can break all laws." The sect's swordsmanship is superb, and its disciples often possess a sharp and piercing spirit.

The Rock Gate is somewhat similar to the Blazing Flame Palace, but it emphasizes powerful external martial arts and focuses on tempering the physical body.

Lin Quan proactively poured Shen Dujiang a cup of tea. For an alchemist like Lin Quan, such a top-tier martial arts force was something he had only occasionally heard about from storytellers.

Shen Dujiang picked up his teacup and continued, "One faction is the Canglan Faction."

This sect has the smallest number of members, and it is said that the conditions for accepting disciples are extremely stringent, only accepting those with extraordinary talent. However, because of this, every disciple in the sect is incredibly powerful, with few rivals among their peers. They simply keep a low profile and rarely venture into the martial world.

After listening to Shen Dujiang's introduction, Chen Yue nodded slowly.

These six forces are indeed unique and have different focuses, covering almost all the major directions of martial arts cultivation.

After a moment's thought, he asked the question that concerned him most: "Boss Shen, have these organizations recently publicly recruited disciples? Or are there any other ways to join?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Dujiang showed a hint of regret on his face and shook his head, saying, "Although these six top forces recruit disciples year-round, most of them have fixed opening times."

I've made inquiries, and unfortunately, the time for most families to recruit apprentices this year has already passed. The next large-scale recruitment period will likely have to wait until next spring.

Upon hearing this, Lin Quan became somewhat anxious: "Doesn't that mean Chen Yue can't get in for the time being?"

Shen Dujiang smiled and comforted him, "Master Lin, don't worry. Although the large-scale recruitment of disciples has passed, sects like the Blazing Flame Palace and the Rock Stone Sect, because their cultivation techniques have high requirements for physical talent, will still make exceptions to give some exceptionally talented individuals the opportunity to take the assessment."

If Chen Yue can pass their entrance test and prove his worth, he may also be accepted into their sect. Moreover, both sects have a good reputation among the six major powers.

Although the disciples of the Blazing Flame Palace have fiery tempers, they are mostly straightforward and loyal. The disciples of the Rocky Stone Sect, on the other hand, are generally honest, hardworking, and practical.

Hu Shaoyu asked curiously, "Boss Shen, among these six forces, which is stronger and which is weaker? There must be a hierarchy, right?"

Shen Dujiang thought for a moment and said cautiously, "According to my inquiries, these six major forces are roughly equal in terms of top-tier combat power, and they check and balance each other, so none of them can do anything to the others, which is why the current situation has been formed."

After Shen Dujiang finished speaking, he picked up the teapot to pour himself a cup, only to find that the teapot was empty.

Hu Shaoyu noticed this, took out some tea leaves from the side, and started brewing tea.

Chen Yue fell into deep thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table.

Judging from the characteristics of its own cultivation method, it seems to be most compatible with the body-refining path of the Rock Stone Sect, allowing it to continue to maximize its physical advantages.

The Blazing Flame Palace's masculine and vigorous approach is also good, but if we're talking about whether it can provide a quiet, undisturbed cultivation environment, then the Xuanqing Palace's tranquil and inactive approach, or the Canglan Sect's elite force approach, seems more suitable.

Are we waiting for next spring to formally accept apprentices?

There are still several months to go. In these months, should we slowly cultivate in Tianzhou Prefecture?

Chen Yue's experience in Youlin County gave him a sense of urgency; he couldn't afford to wait to improve his strength.

Chen Yue glanced at Shen Dujiang, Hu Shaoyu, and Lin Quan, who were looking at him, and made a decision.