Guangling Office.
A few days ago, Jiang Bianliu stormed into the Zhenwu Division, crippled Director Liao Huang, and then returned to the archives as if nothing had happened, burying himself in martial studies.
No one came to cause trouble.
The incident was left unresolved.
That day, someone suddenly came to report: "Elder Jiang, 'Shadowless Kick' Yan Chuang is requesting an audience!"
"Yan Chuang?"
Jiang Bianliu was deeply immersed in the study of various martial arts and didn't react at first. After a moment, he snapped out of it, his face lighting up with joy. "Quickly, invite him in!"
Even before the words fully left his mouth—
"No, no, no!"
He leapt up. "Yan Chuang may be young, but he's a rare talent! I must greet him personally!"
Jiang Bianliu hastily threw on his robes and rushed out barefoot, not even stopping to put on shoes.
In the reception hall of the藏武司—
Yan Chuang was waiting. Suddenly, he saw an elderly man with bushy white brows and youthful features, his face round like the moon, his eyes like clear autumn water, skin glowing with a healthy red hue despite his age. Dressed like a martial artist, barefoot, he hurried in while calling out loudly: "Yan Chuang, Master Yan! I've been waiting a long time!"
Startled, Yan Chuang immediately recognized who it was.
He stood up quickly and stepped forward. "Elder Jiang, I arrived late and hope you won't take offense."
"No offense at all!"
"Young people should stay busy!"
Jiang Bianliu warmly grasped Yan Chuang's arms like a neighborly elder. With a gentle smile, he said, "I'm truly happy that you came to see me."
Look at this old man!
Beaming with joy!
Yan Chuang had never met anyone like him before.
Even Shao Yanchong, eager as he was to recruit talents, paled in comparison to this genuine warmth.
"Elder Jiang, you are highly respected. It was my duty to come as soon as I received your summons."
Treat me with respect, and I'll return it doubly.
Yan Chuang's impression of Jiang Bianliu skyrocketed.
"Come, come, come!"
"Sit, sit, sit!"
"Sit beside me."
Jiang Bianliu held Yan Chuang close, not letting go. Looking at him kindly, he said, "I know what happened. Don't worry about the Zhenwu Division. As for the troubles at Guangling Academy—Wu Qi, Wen Wu, Yuan Shicai—they deserved their fate. Their deaths have nothing to do with you. If anyone bothers you, just let me know. I may be old, but I've still got some strength left. I'll protect you for ten years if needed! Stay in Guangling without fear."
Clearly, Jiang Bianliu thought Yan Chuang had left the city in hiding.
His promise now was to put Yan Chuang's mind at ease.
Yan Chuang quickly replied, "I wanted to thank you in person. I heard from the martial hall disciples that you were the one who cleared my name!"
As he spoke, he tried to stand and bow in thanks.
But Jiang Bianliu held him back. "No need for formality with me! If you really want to show gratitude, how about joining me in the archives? Let's discuss the various martial styles of Guangling Prefecture, shall we?"
"It would be my honor!"
Yan Chuang gladly agreed.
"Hahaha!"
"Straightforward! I like it!"
"Come with me!"
Jiang Bianliu laughed heartily, pulled Yan Chuang along—still barefoot—and headed straight for the archive room.
Archive Room!
This was the most important area in the藏武司's Guangling Office. The books stored here not only included full replicas of the Guangling Academy's scripture pavilion but also martial arts collected from the surrounding prefectures, plus original techniques created by藏武司 members, analyses, and insights.
Martial arts!
Analyses!
Reflections!
Layer upon layer of treasures—this was Yan Chuang's dreamland!
At his martial hall, without access to the academy or government libraries, he could only collect martial texts by buying them from afar or hiring people to copy them from the academy's scripture pavilion.
It was slow.
And expensive.
Yan Chuang had been grinding his teeth to keep going.
Ever since the martial tournament ended and he was hired as a guest professor at Taikang Academy, he had been dreaming of spending ten days and nights inside their library.
But unexpectedly—
He hadn't even arrived at Taikang Academy yet, and here he was, in藏武司's archive room—more expansive and better stocked!
"Archive Room!"
Yan Chuang felt like a country bumpkin in a palace, or a mouse in a rice jar—pure delight!
Beside him—
Jiang Bianliu kept holding his arm, very close and kind. Seeing the excitement in Yan Chuang's eyes, he laughed and explained: "This archive has six levels. The first level holds basic martial arts, plus insights and commentary from our officials and scholars—good for foundation building. The second level has our grade-2 and grade-1 publications, featuring new or outstanding martial arts techniques, equivalent to your Cheng family's 'Tiger Form' or the 'Ten Animal Forms.' The third level has what we used to call top-tier martial arts—like 'Iron Wire Fist' and your self-created 'Tiger-Crane Double Form.'"
The archive!
The top three floors already held high-tier martial arts!
Then—
"The fourth floor is for藏武司's core publications!"
"The fifth level holds Secret Arts—our grade-7 techniques. Guangling Academy's 18 widely practiced forms are here."
Only up to grade-7?
There were six levels total—so the sixth should be…
"No."
"The sixth isn't grade-6 martial arts."
Jiang Bianliu shook his head. "As of now, grade-6 techniques are rare in Dayan. Grade-5 are even more scarce. As for grade-4 and above, they're basically legendary."
Grade-7 is already secret.
Grade-6—rare.
Grade-5—even rarer.
Grade-4, 3, 2, 1—almost mythical.
Whether the Dayan court even possessed them—only the Emperor might know.
Yan Chuang already suspected this. From what Chen Ze and Zhong Hui said, the nine-grade system existed in name, but only grades 6 and 7 had real techniques. The upper grades were more aspiration than reality.
Now, it seemed the system was modeled on the Shanhai Realm's hierarchy.
Which meant—
The sixth floor wasn't to be spoken of lightly.
Yan Chuang realized something.
But—
"The sixth floor contains not Dayan martial arts, but techniques from another world—the Shanhai Realm."
Jiang Bianliu openly revealed everything about the archive's structure and even mentioned the Shanhai Realm without hesitation.
Huh?!
Yan Chuang was stunned.
Jiang Bianliu was being this honest on their first meeting?
Even mentioning the Shanhai Realm—one of the state's most closely guarded secrets?
And wasn't there a strict law? Talking about the Shanhai Realm to outsiders would trigger punishment from the Star Gate itself!
Why wasn't Jiang Bianliu afraid?
Was he so high-level that the law didn't apply to him? Or… was he one of the law's creators?
Or—
Did this old man also have a Starstone?
Yan Chuang wasn't sure.
But thinking back to how he'd bumped into others from Guangling Academy inside the Shanhai Realm, there was no point pretending not to know about it anymore. Still, when it came to the Starstone, he decided to act surprised. Eyes wide, he said: "Elder Jiang, but what about the iron law—?"
"Haha!"
"Here!"
Jiang Bianliu laughed and handed something from his sleeve to Yan Chuang.
He looked down—
A Starstone!
Another Starstone!
He was stunned!
This Elder Jiang was truly unpredictable!
"This is called a 'Starstone.' Like the academy's Stargate, it also houses a portal. Wrap it with your blood and Qi, and once it's refined, you'll be able to freely talk about the Shanhai Realm."
Jiang Bianliu held nothing back.
A Starstone—gifted at their first meeting!
Yan Chuang felt the weight of it. He quickly declined, "I haven't earned this—Starstones are precious. I can't accept it."
"There's a saying: 'When a senior bestows a gift, one mustn't refuse.'"
"This looks valuable, but with the academy Stargate, we hardly need it. Plus, like the iron law, this Starstone has limits too. It's not all that great. You'll see when you refine it."
Jiang Bianliu smiled, urging him to keep it.
Moved, Yan Chuang admitted, "Actually… I already have one."
He raised the new Starstone in his right hand, and from his chest, took out another with his left.
Two identical stones.
"Haha!"
"I worried for nothing!"
"Genius is often blessed. Starstones may be rare, but it's no surprise you have one."
Jiang Bianliu chuckled and didn't take it back. "Hold on to that one too. If not for you, perhaps your master can use it. He's been stuck for years—maybe this could give him a second spring."
"My master—"
Yan Chuang hesitated, then confessed: "He also has one. He's in the Shanhai Realm now."
At that—
Jiang Bianliu blinked. "So you and your master didn't go to Taikang Prefecture—you went to the Shanhai Realm? Why'd you return first?"
"Well…"
Yan Chuang had originally planned to seek shelter with Shao Yanchong. But now, Jiang Bianliu seemed like a good alternative—he gifted a Starstone at first meeting! He decided to tell the truth—though leaving out the existence of the Teaching Scroll and Treasure Rock. He claimed he learned the local language with help from natives, and that killing Tu Lie was pure luck.
"I see."
Jiang Bianliu, wise and experienced, quickly understood. "It's simple. The academy's easy to deal with. Don't worry—I'll handle it."
He knew Yan Chuang wanted to keep his Starstone hidden.
To someone like Jiang, it wasn't a big deal—but to others, it could stir envy.
No need to draw attention.
Keep it low-key.
"Thank you, Elder Jiang!"
Yan Chuang gratefully offered the extra Starstone back again. "So please take this one back."
"I gave it—it's yours. I won't take it back."
Jiang Bianliu waved a hand. "Keep it. Maybe someday, you'll have a disciple—or a lover—you want to share it with."
He insisted again.
Yan Chuang had no choice but to accept it.
Reluctantly.