Chapter 98: Doubts Cleared
Chapter 98: Doubts Cleared
At this time, Li Min's wife Yuwen Eying whispered a few words to her husband. Li Min nodded and smiled, "There is another piece of news that may be related to the two heads of the family. Concubine Chen sent a message from the palace that she wants another Hundred Beads Tent. That is the treasure tent she has had since she was a child. As long as this treasure tent can be returned to her, she will not ask for other treasures."
Xiao Lin and Xiao Cong exchanged a glance and were immediately overjoyed. Xiao Lin hurriedly said, "The Hundred Pearls Tent is with me. I will send someone back to Jinling today to fetch it and present it to Concubine Chen!"
Xiao Xia did not dine in the lobby. He sat in the yard with Xiao Zhurong and Xiao Xin.
In his previous life, Xiao Xia didn't like this kind of grand gatherings. He felt it was too restrictive. He still preferred to sit together with a few friends and feel relaxed.
Xiao Zhurong took out a small Huandan and handed it to Xiao Xian, "This is a small Huandan that our Xiao family has newly refined. Can you please take a look at it, brother and teacher?"
Xiao Xin looked at it carefully, sniffed it, and said with a smile: "No need to ask my master, this is exactly the same as the Xiao Huan Dan of Jinling Xiao Family. The formula and refining method of our two families were given by Yuan Tianshi. My master said that this is a lost ancient method of refining elixirs, and the effect is no less than that of Longhu Dan. Brother Zhu Rong, practice hard, and you will definitely be able to break through the barrier within a year or two!"
Xiao Zhurong was overjoyed and said quickly, "I have only taken it for a month and the effect of the pill has appeared. Next spring I plan to go to Chang'an to take the fourth-rank examination."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "You can find me when you come to Chang'an. I guess I'm studying at the Imperial College!"
Xiao Xin was very surprised, "Brother, you haven't even formed your elixir yet! Why are you going to study?"
Xiao Xia spread his hands helplessly, "It's not up to me!"
Xiao Zhurong lowered his voice and asked, "Does Brother Xian know Xiao Qilang's identity?"
Xiao Xian nodded, "I know. In our Jinling Xiao family, only the head of the family, Uncle Huan, and I know about it. No one else knows. The head of the family forbade me to reveal it. I didn't even tell my master."
"It's the same here. Except for the head of the family, my fourth uncle, myself and my father, no one else knows about it. The head of the family has also strictly prohibited it from being spread outside."
Xiao Xia waved his hands and said with a smile: "Let's not talk about this issue. I have a question about martial arts and I want to ask Brother Xian for advice!"
Xiao Xin smiled and said, "You say!"
"I think the rank system is very confusing. For example, Yuwen Chengdu rated me as a rank 7.5, but in reality I only know a little bit of swordsmanship and hidden weapons. I don't know anything else like riding and archery. I haven't practiced Qinggong properly. I haven't tried weightlifting, so I estimate that I can only lift more than 300 kilograms at most."
Xiao Xia had already asked Li Min about this question, and Li Min's answer was completely contradictory to Zhang Jue's, so Xiao Xia still wanted to understand it from multiple perspectives, as perhaps Li Min's story was only one-sided.
Xiao Xin smiled slightly and said, "You have confused the official martial arts level with the internal strength level. The official martial arts do not test internal strength, but only rely on martial arts projects. However, without internal strength as a foundation, many projects cannot be passed, so you must break through the barriers before you can take the test. As for the level of the test, it depends entirely on the performance of the project.
So it sounds like there are many ninth-rank officials, and eighth-rank officials are everywhere, and every prince has ninth-rank guards, but these are only ninth-rank officials in martial arts. There are only three people recognized by the world as the true ninth-rank officials in internal strength, namely Shi Wansui, Zhang Xutuo and Yuwen Chengdu.
There are only a handful of people who have reached the eighth level of internal strength, such as Mai Tiezhang, Han Qinhu, He Ruobi, Yang Xiong, Xiao Moke and others.
The main reason is that it is too difficult to consolidate one's essence. My master said that only one person out of a thousand barrier breakers can succeed."
Xiao Xia nodded silently, it seemed that Li Min was right.
"So is Yuwen Chengdu's assessment of me as a 7.5-grade person accurate?"
Xiao Xin shook his head, "I don't know, but I didn't expect that you could actually catch his sword. If this gets out, it will definitely cause a sensation in Chang'an. I estimate that there are no more than five people in Chang'an who can catch his sword." Xiao Zhurong was stunned when he heard this. When did Xiao Qilang's martial arts become so high?
At night, in the inner hall of the Xiao family, several important figures of the Xiao family gathered together, including the three Xiao brothers, Xiao Lin and Xiao Huan. There were four people of the younger generation, Xiao Ming, Xiao Hongye, Xiao Zhurong and Xiao Xin.
Xiao Ming is the third son of Xiao Cong. He does not practice martial arts but is a scholar.
In addition, Xiao Xia was also there. He had received special approval from the Emperor to compete on behalf of the Xiao family.
Xiao Gui introduced the upcoming competition for the business quota to everyone. He is fully responsible for the Xiao family's competition for the business quota this time.
"Next spring, Jiangdu will dredge the waterway again, and all the old docks and warehouses will be demolished. Only seven docks and warehouses will remain along the Yangtze River. Two of them belong to the government, and the other five will be purchased by five trading companies, three in the north and two in the south. We are competing for the two southern trading companies’ quotas."
"I heard there are changes in the eligibility criteria?" Xiao Lin asked.
"The north remains the same, but the south is different. The southerners require that only children with the same surname in the family participate in the competition. People with different surnames are not allowed to participate. In fact, this is to prevent the powerful from extending their hands too far."
"Qillang, do you think this plan is feasible?" Xiao Cong asked Xiao Xia with a smile.
Xiao Xia shook his head. "It's useless. For example, if the Yuan family finds a master named Chen to compete on behalf of the Chen family, the Chen family doesn't even need to change the family tree. They can just find a member of the Chen family who makes a living in Chang'an and say that the contestant is this person. How can they check it? If they want to find out, they have to go to Chang'an to investigate. How can they do it in time? Even if they find out in the future that this warrior has nothing to do with the Chen family, can they still cancel the Chen family's business? The Yuan family has its interests involved."
Xiao Xia's words were very sharp, and everyone realized that they had thought the situation too well.
Xiao Gui said in a deep voice: "Xiao Qilang is right. The names of the participating warriors are kept secret this time. The organizer said it was to protect the participating warriors, but in fact the organizer compromised."
At this time, Xiao Cong also said: "It seems that we still need to make preparations for both situations. I will talk to Li Min again tomorrow!"
Xiao Gui smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid it's too late. I've already reported the names of Xiao Xia and Xiao Xin."
Xiao Xin reacted very quickly and said immediately: "Then let's find an expert to impersonate me. Not many people know me anyway."
Xiao Cong looked at Xiao Xia again. He still wanted to hear Xiao Xia's opinion. Xiao Xia pondered for a moment and said, "Ninth-rank warriors are easy to recognize. I estimate that most of them are seventh- and eighth-rank warriors. They should all be seventh- and eighth-rank warriors who have passed the martial arts exam. In reality, they are not as good as Xiao Xian. I suggest not to change."
Xiao Cong nodded, "Then don't change people, Lao Si, when will the fighting begin?"
Xiao Gui sighed: "We will draw lots tomorrow and then announce the competition plan. The first round will begin the day after tomorrow."
"Fourth Uncle, how many families are competing for the southern quota? How will they compete in martial arts?" Xiao Xia asked.
"A total of twenty-one families signed up to participate in the competition. The first round is divided into seven groups, with three families in each group. Just like the Three Xiaos Competition, the first place winner of each group will advance. A total of seven families will advance.
The second round is the same as the first round, with three families in a group and the first place advancing. However, there will be a lucky family in the second round, which will be decided by drawing lots. The winner will not have to participate in the second round and can directly participate in the third round.
The third round is the final three families competing. The first place will directly get a trading company quota, and the remaining two families will compete again to decide the winner and compete for the last trading company quota. "
(End of this chapter)