Chapter 37 - 37 33 The Energy Rushes Against the Bull

37: Chapter 33: The Energy Rushes Against the Bull 37: Chapter 33: The Energy Rushes Against the Bull Cultivation was not something that one could excel at by simply engaging in relentless closed-door training.

In fact, experiences in the world and various battles were equally important.

This was one of the reasons why Emperor Zhuang had established the Merit Points Leaderboard to motivate cultivators to complete various tasks.

It wasn’t that the Court couldn’t handle those affairs; rather, such trials could enhance cultivation efficiency.

This was not unique to Zhuang Country; all countries and schools of thought around the world had similar systems in place.

Take the battle at Xiaolin Town, for example; after slaying the Grudge Ghost, Jiang Wang’s Tongtian Palace produced more than ten new Path Origins.

These were not achieved through Meridian Rush Practice, but naturally conceived in the aftermath of intense battle, amidst the lingering thrills.

Path Origin is the perfect integration of mind and strength, the true response of the spirit of all things to the original source of heaven and earth, and the foundation of all strength, the root of transcendence.

This is why Zhao Rucheng invited everyone to drink at the brothel—they, as cultivators, needed to complete their life experiences.

Ling He, with his upright nature, refused to be associated with such debauchery, so he took on the responsibility of picking up Jiang Anan from school that day and then taking her out to have fun.

Du Yehu was only too pleased, and Jiang Wang was half-pushed, half-willing.

He had hypocritically refused at first on the pretext of needing to take care of little Anan, but once Zhao Rucheng had quickly “arranged” for Ling He to step in, everything worked out for the best.

Then there was Huang Azhan, who was drinking with Du Yehu at the time.

Upon hearing this good news, he practically clung to Du Yehu’s legs and was dragged over.

Fortunately, Zhao the Young Master was wealthy and didn’t mind a few extra guests.

The best brothel in Fenglin City, Fragrance Loft.

The most luxurious private rooms, the most expensive girls.

Ever since he moved out to live with Anan, the group, aside from attending classes at the Taoist Sect, seldom had the opportunity to get together in private.

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Wang asked the girls to leave first.

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t go.”

“Sister, dear sister, I’ll go home with you!”

The one who turned red and burst into tears was naturally Huang Azhan, who had just coaxed each girl to drink with him at least seven or eight times and was now quite drunk.

He was almost ready to send them off for miles, with deep affection and reluctance, wishing to entrust his virginity to them.

But the girls simply giggled and declined, filing out one after another.

They were all cultivators, so it was unlikely they would engage in reckless behavior.

For cultivators, maintaining the Primordial Yang Body before opening the Heaven and Earth Gate was very necessary.

Therefore, Jiang Wang remained sober throughout.

As for Du Yehu, he really was just there to drink; where he drank and with whom was secondary.

In the entire setting, only Huang Azhan lingered, looking pleadingly at Zhao Rucheng, believing that they were kindred spirits.

But Zhao Rucheng simply shook his head, his disappointment showing as the girl he had specially requested did not turn up, “Such mediocrity, truly dull.”

“This is mediocrity?

This is!” Huang Azhan almost jumped up, “How big are those cups!

No, how round are those dresses.

No, how white are those hairpins…”

He eventually gave up, weeping bitterly: “Wuwuwu, where is it vulgar?”

Jiang Wang: “…”

Zhao Rucheng: “…”

Du Yehu slapped him on the head, “Just go to sleep if you’ve drunk too much, you can have everything in your dreams.”

Ignoring Huang Azhan, who was now snoring thunderously with his face down on the table, Jiang Wang calculated for a moment and said, “I’ve done some tasks here and there lately and earned 15 points of merit.

Together with the 25 points I saved before, I have 40 points now.

I don’t need the merit points for the time being, so I’ll transfer them to you guys.

Whoever has enough merit points among you should get a Channel-opening Pill first.”

By ‘you guys’, he naturally referred to Zhao Rucheng and Du Yehu, and of course also Ling He who was not present.

They were all brothers from the same sect, and it was best not to fuss over order or familiarity, so whoever had the most merit points would go first.

The external manifestation of the Path Veins is a major event, the first step towards transcendence, and the sooner the better.

“I don’t want it,” Zhao Rucheng said languidly, leaning back in his chair.

He seemed genuinely indifferent about cultivation, relying solely on his natural talent to get by.

“I don’t need it either.” Du Yehu downed a cup of wine and suddenly announced, “I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?

Where to?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Wei Yan asked me if I wanted to join the military a few days ago.

I’ve thought it over and decided, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

This sudden announcement took everyone by surprise.

Zhao Rucheng straightened up immediately, “Brother Hu, you need to think this through carefully.”

“I have thought it through,” Du Yehu said with a grin, “Wei Yan said I’m more suited for the way of the Soldier Home, and I think so too.”

Jiang Wang and Zhao Rucheng knew Du Yehu was right, as his physical prowess was extraordinary and his vital energy robust—a true Soldier Home prodigy.

However, Zhuang Country was predominantly a Taoist Sect country, with very few strong figures from the Soldier Home.

Even the nominal supreme commander of Zhuang Country’s military forces, Great General Huangfu Duanming, was in fact a Taoist Sect cultivator.

The entire country lacked a foundation for cultivators of other disciplines, including the Soldier Home.

Even Wei Yan himself practiced Dao Techniques.

Choosing this path meant that Du Yehu would be without a systematic cultivation method for quite some time, with only some scattered Soldier Home practice techniques.

It wasn’t that the Soldier Home wasn’t strong.

The reason Zhuang Country had remained peaceful under the covetous eyes of Yong Country for so long was the support of the Taoist Sect.

The Zhuang Court didn’t have the strength to be inclusive, unlike the Qin and Chu courts.

Zhuang Country, being predominantly Taoist, had to remain that way.

But Jiang Wang couldn’t bring himself to dissuade Du Yehu.

He understood Du Yehu too well; the man was driven by a fiery, undomesticated passion to never admit defeat or accept loss, and he was also unwilling to be left further behind by Jiang Wangyue.

But reading those Taoist texts gave him a headache, as they were simply incompatible with him.

His physical strength and vitality were truly exceptional talents.

Had he been in Mo Country or another place where military cultivation thrived, he would also have been recognized as a genius.

“Who did Wei Yan recruit you for?” Jiang Wang asked.

“There are quite a few vacancies in the Nine Rivers Xuan Armor forces, and several slots have been allocated to our Fenglin City.

Wei Yan thought I was a good fit and recommended me.”

Du Yehu’s bravery and forthrightness must have appealed to the soldiers.

Following the mission in Xiaolin Town, he did develop a friendship with Wei Yan.

As for the Nine Rivers Xuan Armor, it was nearly the pride of Zhuang Country, the military force with the strongest killing power, even more famous than the White Feather Army that protected the Zhuang Capital and Xin’an.

In fact, because of the Nine Rivers Xuan Armor, the Nine Rivers City, with just one city’s territory, was often called the fourth county of Zhuang Country.

Officially under the jurisdiction of Mount Dai County, it actually operated with a high degree of autonomy.

The City Lord of Nine Rivers City was also the leader of the Nine Rivers Xuan Armor, a tradition that had been maintained since the formation of the country, showing its uniqueness.

“Even if you’re going to Nine Rivers Xuan Armor, you’ll still need Dao merits,” Jiang Wang had already decided in his heart to transfer his Dao merits to Du Yehu since he was about to join the army.

“I don’t need them,” Du Yehu repeated, shaking his head.

He wasn’t being pretentious—nor was that his nature.

He said candidly, “Since I’m taking the path of the Soldier Home, I won’t rely on Channel-opening Pills.

I’ll follow the oldest and most traditional way of the Soldier Home!”

The so-called tradition of the Soldier Home involved cultivators not relying on pills, but choosing to open their meridians with their own vitality and blood.

This approach was called “ancient” because, on this path, the chance of success was one in a thousand.

The best outcome for those who failed was to become disabled, and many more died on the spot.

Every cultivator knew that engaging in Meridian Rush Practice twice a day to sublimate one’s vitality and blood and to condense Path Origin was already the limit for an ordinary person.

But to gather overwhelming vitality and blood to directly open the Tongtian Palace and manifest one’s meridians externally—how perilous was that?

Yet, it was precisely because of its peril that this method was regarded as the orthodox practice by Soldier Home fanatics and held in the highest esteem.

Once successful, the benefits were also immense.

Soldier Home cultivators who managed to open their meridians with this method tended to achieve far beyond the ordinary.

Jiang Wang and Zhao Rucheng both fell silent, sensing the determination of this old tiger.

“So, transfer the Dao merits to the boss first.

Mine as well,” Du Yehu casually cut off his own retreat, grabbed the wine jug, and guzzled down half of it.