Martial Saint with Passives

”Another one above Force Integration?!” Jiang Che was a little surprised.

’If there are two of them, we actually have a chance to win!’

”That’s right. The Zhao Family is different from the other Noble Families. Most of the others are Official Families. While they have Martial Artists, they’re mostly Honored Guest Elders. But the Zhao Family is a Martial Arts Family! One of their ancestors was an Elder in a Major Sect and passed down a True Skill to them!”

”A True Skill!” Jiang Che’s eyes lit up.

”A True Skill can’t be compared to ordinary Qi Blood Martial Arts like ours. However, this particular True Skill has extremely high aptitude requirements. The Zhao Family has never been able to produce anyone above the Force Integration Realm, though they manage to produce quite a few ordinary Force Integration Artists each generation. That’s how they ranked among the Five Great Noble Families. To think this generation has finally produced someone above Force Integration...” Luo Kun lamented.

’A family with a True Skill... Zhao Kang...’

Jiang Che finally understood why the Zhao Family was so dominant, able to keep the other Noble Families completely suppressed.

So, they were a Noble Family with a True Skill!

’With Zhao Kang joining the fight, Tuoba Lie might not necessarily win!’

After all, in this era, the influence of top-tier experts on the outcome of a war was still quite significant.

After bidding his master farewell, Jiang Che headed for the Seven Stars Gang.

Upon arriving at the Seven Stars Gang, Jiang Che first found Qin Yue to sell his Black Crystals, then went to request an audience with the Gang Leader, Li Hanchuan.

He found Li Hanchuan dressed in a suit of light armor, reviewing battle reports.

Although his face remained androgynous, his current attire gave him a heroic air that his previous female dress had lacked.

He was now the commander of the Piracy Eradication Alliance’s army. In addition to leading expeditions against the bandits, he also had to drill the troops, so he usually wore armor and battle robes.

After Jiang Che was announced, Li Hanchuan did not look up, remaining focused on his reports.

Jiang Che stepped to the side and waited patiently.

Time ticked by. Jiang Che felt like a full half-hour had passed before Li Hanchuan finally looked up.

He set down his brush and smiled. ”Fellow Jiang, I trust you’ve been well?”

Jiang Che cupped his fist. ”Very well, thank you, Gang Leader.”

Li Hanchuan nodded. ”Speak. What brings you here?”

Jiang Che then relayed everything he had learned, from his undercover mission on Black Wind Mountain to the details of the Horse Bandits’ troop deployments.

He had planned to report these matters all along.

It was just that he previously felt Lin Yuan City’s leadership was corrupt and the County Soldiers were completely ineffective. He feared that even if he reported his intelligence, they would lose anyway.

But now, seeing that the Piracy Eradication Alliance had considerable strength, and with Li Hanchuan personally taking command, a flicker of anticipation grew in his heart.

The more Li Hanchuan listened, the more shocked he became. This information could completely change the course of the war; it was incredibly valuable!

He shot to his feet, walked over to Jiang Che, and clapped him firmly on the shoulder, his voice filled with excitement:

”Good, you’ve done very well! If we succeed in wiping out those Horse Bandits, you will receive a great deal of the credit!”

”I was mainly searching for my parents. I just happened to uncover this information about the bandits along the way,” Jiang Che said, shaking his head.

”Fellow Jiang, rest assured,” Li Hanchuan said in a low voice. ”Once we have exterminated the Horse Bandits, I will personally search for your parents’ whereabouts. I will definitely give you an answer!”

”Thank you, Gang Leader!” Jiang Che was overjoyed.

’With Li Hanchuan’s status, he might actually be able to help me find my parents!’

Afterward, Li Hanchuan rewarded him with a number of gold bars and high-grade Qi and Blood Supplement Pills.

Jiang Che didn’t feign modesty. After all, his cultivation consumed more and more resources, and he would be unable to make any progress without them. He accepted the gifts with a smile.

In the following days, Jiang Che kept an eye on the war while continuing his cultivation.

Even during his time undercover on Black Wind Mountain, Jiang Che hadn’t neglected his training.

After practicing the Flying Leaf Swordsmanship once through, Jiang Che saw that its Experience Points were full and stopped.

Then, he summoned his system panel.

...

[Name: Jiang Che]

[Age: 18]

[Realm: Qi Blood Third Realm·Late-stage Iron Skin]

[Qi Blood Martial Dao: Cloud-Stacking Fist (Perfection), Flying Swallow Step (Perfection), Prison-Suppressing Saber (Perfection), Shadow Tracing Step (Perfection), Flowing Light Saber (Perfection), Eight Sufferings Vajra Zen (Perfection), Iron Armor Skill (Perfection), Flying Leaf Swordsmanship (Perfection), Gale Saber Technique (Perfection), Five Poison Technique (Minor Achievement: 125/200)]

[Skills: (Omitted)]

[Talent: Divine Movement, Heart Stream, Omen, Rejuvenation, Mountain Collapse, Break Extreme, Insight, Stacking Force, Saber Momentum, Invisibility, Fury, Sword Momentum]

[Divine Abilities: Heart of the Black Abyss]

...

The three new Qi Blood Realm Martial Arts Jiang Che had recently obtained had all been cultivated to the Perfection Realm.

Among them, the Gale Saber Technique had once again activated Saber Momentum.

As a result, the effect of Saber Momentum was strengthened even further.

’If I learn a few more Saber Techniques,’ Jiang Che thought, ’Saber Momentum might undergo some kind of new transformation!’

As for the Flying Leaf Swordsmanship, it had activated Sword Momentum.

Unlike Saber Momentum, Sword Momentum didn’t cause an opponent to feel fear or hesitate.

Instead, it made him become like an unsheathed sword—incomparably sharp and keen.

It allowed his Swordsmanship to be more decisive and relentless, enabling him to execute every single move to its absolute limit.

As for the Iron Armor Skill, it had activated Rejuvenation.

The Rejuvenation activated by a Qi Blood Level Martial Art caused Jiang Che’s physical recovery ability to rise by another large margin.

He felt that as long as his heart and brain weren’t severely damaged, he was basically immortal.

As for his Qi Blood, although progress was slow, he had reached the Late Iron Skin Realm.

Once he reached the Peak, Jiang Che could begin to visualize the Fundamental Diagram in his mind and cultivate Force.

At that point, he would just need to gradually convert his Qi Blood into Force.

Once his muscles and fascia were filled with Force, this Force could be used for defense or infused into his attacks.

He would then become a true Force Integration Artist.

Since he had now mastered all of these cultivation techniques, Jiang Che made a trip to the Xuanji Secret Market.