Chapter 65: Various Affairs of the Ancient Covenant

Zhang Shen waved his hand, speaking calmly.

“Rest assured, what I’m proposing is not the kind of training typically provided by our families. It’s simply about imparting basic literacy and nurturing a group of literate individuals capable of handling administrative tasks. Choosing children is because they have greater potential for development and are more amenable to instilling the concept of loyalty. If we encounter those with talents, they can be absorbed into the Ancient Covenant early for more in-depth cultivation.”

Zhang Yu and Li Zhong were still somewhat reluctant, a natural reaction shaped by years of their upbringing and environment.

However, Zhang Shen was insistent, and this approach indeed promised to alleviate their workload.

Reluctantly, they agreed. As long as the training system wasn’t fully opened up to everyone.

They decided to consider it as nurturing administrative talent for the Ancient Covenant.

“It’s your responsibility to persuade the high-level members of the Ancient Covenant. If any family leaders or elders have objections, let them come to me.”

Zhang Shen had long intended to open up the training system. Had it not been for the significant implications of opening up foundational martial arts training, which could easily attract strong external dissatisfaction, he wouldn’t have limited the scope to basic education only.

“One step at a time,” Zhang Shen thought to himself.

Once Zhang Yu and Li Zhong were somewhat reconciled to the decision, Zhang Shen produced a storage bag.

“Inside are some basic-level inheritances I’ve sorted out. Place them in the Ancient Covenant’s Heritage Hall for selective training.”

Zhang Yu took the storage bag, glanced through it quickly, and was immediately excited.

The range of inheritances inside was comprehensive, covering various fields. Once the Ancient Covenant fully assimilated these, their strength would surely increase substantially.

What he didn’t know was that these were specifically chosen by Zhang Shen for being ordinary and less likely to draw attention. Besides, the storage bag also contained resources for both the Acquired stage and Innate stage cultivation.

Zhang Shen was providing a subsidy to the Ancient Covenant. Although the Ancient Covenant had started to make a profit and was now running a surplus, the idea of it financially reciprocating Zhang Shen seemed a distant prospect.

Soon after, Zhang Shen took out a wooden box containing two jade slips.

“Inside these are the low-grade True Core techniques, Bright Moon Nine Heavens, which can be cultivated up to the third layer of the True Core stage, and the True Core True Understanding.”

“Could it be…” 

Zhang Yu’s hand trembled as he recognized the name Bright Moon Nine Heavens. It reminded him of the three levels of Bright Moon Technique for the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers of the Innate stage that Zhang Shen had previously deduced.

“The follow-up technique of the Bright Moon Technique was modified based on Bright Moon Nine Heavens. If one cultivates the Bright Moon Technique to the ninth layer of the Innate stage, they can seamlessly transition to the Bright Moon Nine Heavens Technique,” said Zhang Shen.

The new generation in the Ancient Covenant could start practicing Bright Moon Nine Heavens right from the beginning. But for the older generation who had already cultivated the Bright Moon Technique, transitioning wasn’t so straightforward. Not everyone could switch between multiple techniques and comprehend martial arts deeply like Zhang Shen, allowing for seamless transitions.

That was why Zhang Shen had specifically extrapolated the subsequent levels of the Bright Moon Technique, connecting it to Bright Moon Nine Heavens, so that the older generation wouldn’t face much difficulty in transitioning.

Zhang Yu gripped the jade slips tightly. A True Core stage technique was something that Hongyuan City had always yearned for, and now it was in his hands. He felt a sense of unreality.

But that didn’t stop him from feeling thrilled.

With these resources, Zhang Yu also found himself better equipped to persuade the elders of the Ancient Covenant and various families.

If they still had objections despite this, Zhang Yu wouldn’t be so accommodating. A hint of ruthlessness flashed in the eyes of this aging man.

Only after this did Zhang Shen begin to assess Li Zhi’s progress in her cultivation.

“Innate seventh layer, not bad at all.” 

Zhang Shen was very pleased. In nearly twenty years, to have reached such a level, even with ample cultivation resources, was a testament to Li Zhi’s hard work.

With a teasing smile, Zhang Shen asked, “I recently heard that a certain Iron Fist Judge in the Ancient Covenant is quite active. Do you know anything about this, Zhi’er?”

Li Zhi, uncharacteristically, rubbed her head, looking a bit embarrassed as she lowered her gaze.

“Why the sudden interest in managing these matters? I’ve heard you’ve dealt with quite a few people during this time,” Zhang Shen curiously asked.

His disciple who had no interest in swords, had developed a strong preference for using fists and feet after practicing the Mountain of a Thousand Layers technique. Her combat style was overwhelmingly dominant, and she had an exceptional sense of combat.

“Can’t stand them. They’re too greedy and audacious, overstepping their boundaries,” Li Zhi said with a chill in her voice, clearly indicating that she would handle those people the same way if given another chance.

“Hmm,” Zhang Shen acknowledged. 

He was aware of the kind of people she referred to. The Ancient Covenant had been established for some time now, and inevitably, it had bred some corrupt elements. Without regular cleansing, these elements wouldn’t just hollow out the Covenant but would also hinder its progress.

“Zhi’er, I’m considering setting up a law enforcement team to oversee corruption and misconduct within the Ancient Covenant. Would you be interested in overseeing this department?”

This kind of internal supervision had always been there, but there hadn’t been a dedicated department handling it. Now that the Ancient Covenant had passed its initial integration phase, it was time to establish such a department.

Li Zhi hesitated. She had always dealt with these matters incidentally and didn’t want to reduce her training time by taking on a dedicated role.

Zhang Shen could easily see Li Zhi’s concerns.

He knocked on her head lightly in a playful reprimand.

“Experience, my foolish disciple, experience. Growing under my protection has been safe, but it has also deprived you of many opportunities to face challenges and hardships. I don’t wish for you to take unnecessary risks, but you can’t skimp on essential combat experience,” Zhang Shen advised. “This role will be troublesome, fraught with challenges, and you’ll face many who resist fiercely at the brink of defeat. There are few in the Ancient Covenant whose cultivation matches yours, making these corrupt elements perfect for honing your skills.”

Zhang Shen had no qualms about using these corrupt elements for practical training.

“Zhi’er, remember, don’t think that overpowering the weak is shameful. That’s the true way of the king.”

Did overcoming the strong as the weaker party increase experience? Could the weak truly triumph over the strong? 

Those widely known tales of the weak defeating the strong were often superficial.

Dig deeper, and you’d find that the supposed weak weren’t truly weak. They appeared less formidable than their opponents, but their victory signified their superior strength. 

A weaker individual who won must have possessed strengths that surpassed those of the seemingly stronger opponent. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have emerged victorious.

Hence, at the onset of a battle, the dynamics of strength and weakness were already shifting.

Of course, if you started counting from before the battle began, it could be considered a case of the weak overcoming the strong.

But even such superficial instances were rare.

The prevailing norm had always been the strong overpowering the weak, the powerful defeating the less powerful. The people didn’t talk about it or promote it because it didn’t sound good.

Zhang Shen explained this principle to Li Zhi with a smile.

“Go and cleanse the Ancient Covenant of these parasites. Ensure our interests are unharmed, and use their blood and flesh to forge a pair of truly iron fists. They, as the weaker ones, would serve well as nourishment for you.”

Li Zhi nodded, convinced. She indeed needed to confront some capable individuals to test and refine her skills.

This way, when she truly faced formidable opponents in the future, she wouldn’t be caught off guard.