Chapter Eighteen: Sharpening the Blade

“Director Yang, the prescription I wrote—has Elder Lu seen it? What does he think?” Jiang An suddenly asked, clearly still concerned about his responsibilities. This made Yang Hanmin’s heart warm, and he smiled, “Yes, Elder Lu has seen the prescription, and I relayed your exact words to him. He thinks it’s very feasible, and he wanted me to invite you to join him for further discussion.”

However, Jiang An shook his head and replied, “Elder Lu is a renowned national master. Entrusting this matter to him is more than sufficient. I have my own affairs to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

“Very well,” Yang Hanmin considered it and thought it might indeed be better for Jiang An to leave now.

“That’s settled then, everyone. Until next time,” Jiang An said his farewells and departed without hesitation.

Watching his poised and unrestrained figure fade into the distance, Yang Hanmin was suddenly struck by a realization—this man could not be held back here.

Elsewhere.

Liu Chengfeng and his entourage had already left in their car. With no other choice, the Liu family arranged a transfer to another hospital. Inside the speeding vehicle, Liu Chengfeng’s face was so dark it seemed rain might fall. The scenery outside the window flashed by in reverse, his irritation mounting. How could a man like Young Master Liu, used to everything going his way, tolerate being provoked by an ant who wasn’t crushed on the spot? No, he couldn’t wait. That man had to be punished immediately!

“Contact Ghostface at once. Tell him to grab Jiang An for me tonight!” Liu Chengfeng suddenly ordered his subordinate.

“Ghostface? Young Master, he just finished his last job not long ago, and things are a bit tense right now. Besides, with his twisted methods, even if he brings you the man, he’ll probably leave him crippled or even dead,” the subordinate advised.

“Hmph, what do you know? We just had a conflict with them—Sword Gate’s people are sure to be watching our Liu family closely. Any move on our part will be noticed, but currently, no one knows Ghostface is in Lin City. His move will catch everyone off guard. Besides, I want his brutality. Tell him, just make sure the man’s alive when he delivers him to me…”

Jiang An, of course, had no idea that Liu Chengfeng was already plotting against him. At that moment, he too got into Gao Chao’s car, heading to another base of the Sword Gate.

Soon, they arrived at the Green Sea Grand Hotel, one of the Sword Gate’s properties.

Inside a lavishly decorated secret chamber, Jiang An took the chief seat unceremoniously. Below, Dao Mo and the others immediately bowed deeply. “Greetings, Your Highness!”

Jiang An took note of their respectful demeanor—it was likely the effect of the Clear Origin Elixir. He asked, “How is the efficacy of the Clear Origin Elixir?”

A look of joy flashed in Dao Mo’s eyes as he cupped his fists. “Just as Your Highness said, the elixir not only healed my injuries swiftly but also works wonders for speeding up cultivation. It is truly a rare and miraculous medicine. With this and Your Highness’s wise leadership, the Sword Gate will surely rise to new heights!”

“That’s good,” Jiang An replied noncommittally. With a flick of his wrist, a white flash shot out. Dao Mo instinctively caught it, finding a sheet of paper covered in writing. A glance left him stunned. “This, could this be…?”

“Indeed, this is the recipe for the Clear Origin Elixir. From now on, you are responsible for its safekeeping and preparation. Just be sure to supply me regularly,” Jiang An said flatly.

Dao Mo was both shocked and delighted. In his view, holding such miraculous medicine exclusively would ensure the Sword Gate’s dependence on Jiang An. Yet Jiang An handed over the formula without hesitation—as casually as a millionaire tossing away a hundred-dollar bill. This clearly meant Jiang An didn’t value the recipe at all. How unfathomable!

“Thank you for Your Highness’s trust! The Sword Gate will always be Your Highness’s Sword Gate!” Dao Mo pledged his loyalty again. Cheng Yang, Gao Chao, and the refined-looking Fan Jun were overjoyed, especially Fan Jun, who had little prior interaction with Jiang An. He had just heard from Gao Chao about the hospital incident, and thought Jiang An would immediately urge the Sword Gate to attack the Liu family. Instead, Jiang An first presented the Clear Origin Elixir, quietly strengthening the Sword Gate’s unity. Such methods and magnanimity were not common!

Biting the bullet, Fan Jun stepped forward and asked, “Your humble subordinate Fan Jun seeks permission: may the Sword Gate distribute the Clear Origin Elixir? It would be the perfect tool for expansion!”

As the strategist managing all Sword Gate businesses, he naturally saw things from a commercial angle.

Jiang An was indifferent; such matters were of little concern to him. “You may. As long as the recipe isn’t leaked, Clear Origin Elixir will bring enormous profits. You will be in charge of this.”

“At once!” Fan Jun, having made himself noticed, was about to step back when Jiang An continued, “You must have heard—I intend to strike at the Liu family. Since you’re the strategist, what’s your view?”

It was a mark of Jiang An’s favor; Fan Jun was a bit excited, his mind racing. He adjusted his glasses and replied, “Your Highness, our Sword Gate and the Liu family are evenly matched. Although Master Dao has just advanced to Grandmaster and we’ve absorbed some minor gangs, it’s only been a short while, so our strength hasn’t grown much. If we start a war with the Liu family, even if we win, we’d be left for others to devour. More importantly, if we strike the Liu family, their alliance partners, the Li family, will not stand by. United, the Li and Liu families would be second only to the Qi family in strength.”

“The Li family?”

“Yes. Three years ago, Liu Xue, the Liu family’s heiress, married Li Donglai, the Li family’s eldest son, forming a mutual defense alliance. Therefore, if we target the Liu family, we must be ready to destroy the Li family as well!”

“What’s your strategy?” Jiang An asked, his expression unchanged.

“With Your Highness and the Clear Origin Elixir supporting us, I propose a simple strategy: buy off some, intimidate the rest. First, use the elixir to buy off other factions—not to make them help us, but simply to keep them on the sidelines. Second—and most important—is to show we have the power to intimidate the rest. Otherwise, once the Clear Origin Elixir appears, we risk a coalition of all forces moving against us!” Fan Jun analyzed methodically.

“Excellent.” Jiang An gave him an approving look. He had naturally considered these points himself but wanted to test his men. He wanted the Sword Gate to be his assistant, not the other way around. Now it seemed promising—Dao Mo and the others for martial affairs, Fan Jun for strategy.

“I’ll handle the intimidation myself. The key is the Qi family—if the leading Qi family doesn’t act, the others won’t dare interfere. I hadn’t planned to deal with the Qi family so soon, but it seems I must… Dao Mo, you’ll handle the recruitment efforts. We move on both fronts; I want the Liu family split apart in the shortest time possible!”

“As you command!”

…

Over an hour later, in front of Mingde Apartments, a car waited quietly in the dim light. Jiang An sat in the back seat and asked Gao Chao, “How are the reports I asked you to collect?”

“Your Highness, though time was short, the information is accurate. At the Qi family ancestral home, only Qi Zhenghao, a Grandmaster, is present. The newly promoted Qi Tiancang is away traveling and hasn’t returned. So, the Qi family’s defensive strength consists of Grandmaster Jin Mang, ten experts at the Transformation level, and several gunners. That’s all we could discover,” Gao Chao recited.

Grandmaster Jin Mang, was it? Jiang An narrowed his eyes slightly. He had already gleaned from Dao Mo and the others an outline of the cultivation system among Chinese martial artists. Due to the lack of spiritual energy, the ancestors had created a system for training true energy. Whether external or internal styles, all began by forging the body, stimulating potential to generate true energy. At first, true energy was minimal and diffuse, used mainly to nourish the flesh—enhancing strength and speed, making one’s movements powerful and no longer mere show. This stage was called the Bright Strength level.

Next, as training continued, true energy increased and became more condensed. Martial artists could channel it through a body part into an opponent, where it would rampage inside, causing pain like needles and paralyzing meridians, rendering them unable to fight. This was the Dark Strength level.

As true energy grew and became more controllable, it would strengthen bones, impact acupoints, expel impurities, and greatly enhance the body. When every part of the body could use dark strength, one became a Transformation-level expert.

When all thirty-six major acupoints were penetrated and the Ren and Du meridians were open, one could begin to sense external energy, mobilize true energy ceaselessly, causing the “three flowers to gather at the crown,” project true energy outward, and move at will—then, one was a Grandmaster.

External styles focused on using all bodily potential to refine the flesh. According to Dao Mo, Grandmasters had three stages: the first was the Junior Grandmaster. When a Junior Grandmaster further compressed and condenses their true energy until it could be projected as a tangible force—invincible in its strength—they became a Golden Radiance Grandmaster. When a Golden Radiance Grandmaster opened the “Divine Sea,” fusing spirit and true energy, true energy would transform into Gang Qi, becoming a True Gang Grandmaster.

Grandmasters were exceedingly rare—though many trained in martial arts, due to limitations of methods and talent, only one in ten thousand succeeded. It was rumored that beyond Grandmaster was a realm called Great Grandmaster, but that was beyond Dao Mo’s knowledge.

Given all this, Jiang An judged that he should be able to retreat unscathed against a Golden Radiance Grandmaster. As for a True Gang Grandmaster, Dao Mo had not been clear, so it was hard to judge.

“All right, Gao Chao, you can head back. Did you bring what I asked for?” Jiang An paused then instructed.

“Right here.”

Gao Chao handed Jiang An a bag. Jiang An took it, got out of the car, and walked into the apartment complex.

Soon, he reached his door. The tiger jumped up to greet him affectionately. As soon as the door closed, hundreds of meters away, a pair of binoculars was lowered. In the darkness, a man quickly packed up and vanished without a trace.