85: Chapter 85 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Chapter 33)

Walking through this life up to this point, it could be considered a perfect start.

As the first place in the nine-layer heavenly ladder trial, the designated direct disciple of Peak Master Lieyang, and with Elder Zhang's care.

At the same time, I have gathered a group of disciples from the same peak, as well as collateral descendants of the Chu family to serve as my foundation.

Even within the sect, there are some connections with previous generations of Chu family disciples who can provide assistance.

Furthermore, the connections at the Canglan Princes Mansion can also be...

A sharp glint flashed in Chu Shi's eyes, and he immediately stood up and walked into the cultivation room.

After finding a slightly spacious area, he stood still slowly.

He planted his feet in a horse stance, raised his fists, and slowly executed a set of fist techniques from the Great Sun Body Refining Technique.

As the fist momentum began, his whole body's blood and energy slowly rolled like muffled thunder.

With each punch that landed, his skin and membranes tightened and relaxed, like cowhide being repeatedly hammered, completely dissipating the last trace of fatigue remaining from the nine-layer heavenly ladder trial.

After finishing the set of punches, Chu Shi's whole body was burning hot, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

Yet his blood and energy were steadily locked at the peak of the mid-stage of the Ox-Skin Realm, with no trace of instability.

Yes, although the heaven and earth origin energy in the cultivation room was dense, he did not draw upon it.

This was not because he did not want to, but because he was still honing himself in the Body Tempering Realm.

He could not yet be considered to have stepped into the threshold of the extraordinary; all his cultivation was focused solely on his physical body and blood energy.

He could not, and dared not, draw upon the heaven and earth origin energy.

Afterwards, he changed into a clean set of casual clothes, pushed the door open, and went out, preparing to go to the Internal Affairs Hall to take a look.

After all, he had been brought directly to the Tingyang Courtyard by Elder Zhang and had not gone to report to the Lieyang Peak Internal Affairs Hall like the other disciples, so naturally, he had not yet received the various benefits for Core Disciples.

Walking on the road, he saw that the stone steps of Lieyang Peak were all paved with crimson volcanic rock, and stepping on them, he felt a warmth spreading up from the soles of his feet.

The needles of the Lieyang Pines by the roadside glistened with a fiery red luster, and as the breeze blew, the colliding pine needles produced faint sounds of clashing metal.

The air was filled with a faint heat and a sharp aura.

This was the unique Gold-Fire Qi of the Great Sun Holy Land, a fire-attributed heaven and earth origin energy mixed with metallic properties, and it was the foundation for the extraordinary nature of martial artists in this world.

Disciples were coming and going on the road in an endless stream, but apart from the Utility Disciples in white, they were basically all Inner Sect Disciples dressed in sky-blue attire.

However, when these people saw Chu Shi dressed in his martial attire, they couldn't help but glance at him, filled with doubt.

After all, although his reputation as the first in the nine-layer heavenly ladder trial had already spread throughout the entire Great Sun Holy Land.

Yet, he had gone into seclusion to regulate his breathing as soon as he arrived at the peak and had not yet received the standard uniform for Core Disciples.

Everyone found him familiar, but they did not dare to rashly step forward to strike up a conversation.

Chu Shi walked about a hundred steps and saw an Inner Sect Disciple in blue coming towards him, so he cupped his hands to stop him and asked in a calm tone, "Senior Brother, may I ask how to get to the Lieyang Peak Internal Affairs Hall?"

The disciple looked up and saw his face clearly; he was stunned for a moment, then his expression became solemn, and he quickly bowed in return, "Are you Senior Brother Chu Shi? The one who was first in the nine-layer heavenly ladder trial?"

Seeing Chu Shi nod, he became even more respectful and quickly pointed out the way.

"I dare not accept the title of Senior Brother. I am just an Inner Sect Disciple; Senior Brother Chu can just call me Junior Brother."

"The Internal Affairs Hall is about a hundred feet ahead. Follow the stone steps down, and it is the building with the 'Lieyang Internal Affairs' copper plaque hanging on it."

"Senior Brother Chu is going to collect the benefits for Core Disciples, right? I happen to be going that way; why don't I lead the way for you, Senior Brother?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but there is no need to trouble yourself."

Chu Shi politely declined, thanked him again, and then walked slowly in the direction indicated.

The Lieyang Peak Internal Affairs Hall was a building made of wood encased in red copper, with faint red flames lingering around the entire structure, yet it did not harm anyone.

Crimson copper bells hung from the eaves of the building's roof, and when the wind blew, a clear, metallic sound permeated the air.

Inside the hall, it was spacious and bright, with several counters lined up in order, and those on duty were all Inner Sect Disciples dressed in blue.

Chu Shi walked straight to the innermost counter and tapped his fingertips on the countertop, "Excuse me, I am here to collect the monthly benefits for a Core Disciple."

The disciple who was bent over the desk registering at the counter looked up upon hearing this. He was a young man of about twenty, and there was a faint resemblance between his features and Chu Shi's.

After seeing Chu Shi's face clearly, he was stunned for a moment.

Then he stood up abruptly, confirmed repeatedly, and his voice trembled with excitement, "May I ask, are you Chu Shi from Canglan State, the one who was first in the nine-layer heavenly ladder in this entrance trial?"

Chu Shi raised his eyebrows slightly, "And you are?"

"I am Chu Ming! My father is Deacon Chu Feng!"

The young man quickly walked around the counter, cupped his hands and bowed to Chu Shi, his tone full of closeness and warmth.

"According to our generation, you should call me Cousin! The family had long since sent word that a genius of our Chu family had tested with Top-grade Root Bone."

"Successfully joining the Great Sun Holy Land, and asking us to take good care of you."

"But I never expected that you would be so amazing, actually being able to enter the nine-layer heavenly ladder directly, shaking the entire Holy Land."

"Now, all the Chu family disciples within the entire Holy Land are looking forward to seeing you. I didn't expect to run into you at the Internal Affairs Hall."

So it was the son of Uncle Deacon Chu Feng. Chu Shi understood in his heart and quickly returned the salute, "Cousin, you are too polite. I have only been at the peak for a short time. I should have gone to visit Uncle and all the relatives first; it was my lack of courtesy."

"Hey, what are you saying!"

Chu Ming pulled him behind the counter, deftly searching for the prepared benefits, while talking non-stop.

"You are the number one genius of our Chu family in so many years! First in the Holy Land's nine-layer heavenly ladder, the direct disciple personally reserved by the Peak Master—what a great honor this is! Who in the family wouldn't wish you well? No one would hold this against you."

He first handed over a token cast from purple copper, with "Great Sun Holy Land" engraved on the front and "Lieyang Core Chu Shi" on the back.

It felt heavy in his hand, carrying a gentle warmth.

"This is the Core Disciple identification token. After you drip your blood to claim ownership, you will be able to enter the Scripture Pavilion, trial grounds, and core cultivation areas within the peak. The privileges are more than one grade higher than those of Inner Sect Disciples."

Immediately after, he brought over a set of neatly folded martial attire. The fabric was fire-resistant cloth mixed with ice silkworm silk, shimmering with a gentle purple light.

It felt smooth to the touch, yet possessed extreme toughness.

"This is the standard uniform for Core Disciples. You see, the ranks in our Holy Land are all distinguished by clothing color: Utility Disciples wear white, Outer Disciples wear green, Inner Sect Disciples wear blue, and you Core Disciples wear proper purple."

"As for the True Disciples above that, they wear gilded attire. As for the Elders, it depends on their own preferences; there aren't that many rules."

Chu Shi took the purple martial attire, his fingertips rubbing the smooth fabric, and his heart suddenly jolted.

White, green, blue, purple, gold. This clothing ranking system was exactly the same as the rating levels in his Ten Thousand World Simulator, without the slightest difference.

An inexplicable chill crawled up his spine, but his face remained calm; he just nodded slightly and properly put away the martial attire.

Chu Ming did not notice his abnormality and handed over a glistening white jade token, "This is the Contribution Point token. The monthly allowance for a Core Disciple is three thousand contribution points, which has already been transferred to you in full."

"Let me break down the purchasing power of these contribution points for you so you can have an idea."

As he spoke, he detailed it for Chu Ming, "Utility Disciples only get 10 points a month, Outer Disciples 100 points, and Inner Sect Disciples 500 points. Just this gap alone is a world of difference."

"Contribution points can be obtained through monthly allowances or sect missions. Taking the Body Tempering Realm you are currently in as an example, for commonly used Body Tempering Paste: low-grade Body Tempering Paste is 2 points a bottle, which would cost thirty taels of silver to buy outside."

"Mid-grade is 20 points, high-grade is 100 points. Don't look at the fact that the high-grade medicinal effect is only 5 times that of the low-grade; its advantage lies in its mild medicinal effect and minimal impurities. Long-term use will not affect your physical foundation, so I suggest you use high-grade if you are going to use it..."