C19 Young Master Things Are Not Good

"This..."

Upon detecting the black grime oozing from his pores, Meng Yang nearly retched.

His penchant for cleanliness took over, and without a second thought, he dashed from the room to have someone heat water for a thorough wash.

Once the attendant who had helped him bathe had departed, Meng Yang settled into the tub and reviewed the fresh data in his pupils.

Wealth: 2,310

Level: Acquired

Physical Body: Mortal

Skeletal Frame: 0/59

Fourth Bone: 0/51

Skeletal Frame: 0/126

Martial Arts: Level 3 Soul Stealing Palm, Level 2 Water Serpent Style, Level 2 Flesh Puppet.

Gazing at the newly emerged Bone Tempering details following his practice of the Scripture of the Triune Soul, Meng Yang's eyes ignited with fervor as he pondered, "With the Blood to Spirit Transmutation complete, my body can now hold a sliver of spiritual energy. To fully harness it, I must temper all 206 Martial Bones."

At this phase, one must achieve Mortal Shedding of all 206 bones to advance to the Convergence of Five Energies stage.

The Blood to Spirit Transmutation is akin to laying a house's foundation, while the bones are like the reinforcing steel of the floors.

Only with these two solid bases can Meng Yang's body endure the vast spiritual energy of the Convergence of Five Energies without crumbling in battle under the force of martial arts infused with spiritual energy.

"Judging by this, my current wealth value is far from sufficient."

Meng Yang clicked his tongue, his initial zeal waning as he contemplated his finances. Wealth value, though seemingly simple to amass, proved elusive.

He vowed to steer clear of claiming ownership of items not rightfully his, understanding that wealth value could only be increased through legitimate means.

Meng Yang had yet to experiment with whether theft could bolster his wealth value, and he certainly knew that robbery was out of the question.

Ma Qingshan had offered his contribution willingly.

This was particularly true when Meng Yang's status as a core disciple of the Lin family was evident from the token he wore, prompting even more eager offers of wealth.

So, it wasn't exactly theft.

From the perspective of the Martial Hall, trading and gambling were permissible, but an equivalent exchange was not.

Meng Yang felt he was beginning to understand the nuances.

Although he was only aware of the utility of soul stones, he suspected there might be other means to increase his wealth.

Ever since the upgrade of his Goldfinger, it had ceased responding to his inquiries.

But he wasn't bothered; he knew that only with substantial wealth could he truly establish himself in this world.

With this thought, a wide grin spread across Meng Yang's face, and he laughed joyfully.

"Young Master, we have a serious problem..."

While Meng Yang was lost in his pleasant daydreams, Lee Ming's agonized shout from outside jolted him.

He then envisioned a cute little girl with a fierce expression and devilish horns on her head.

"Could it be Lin Zitong?"

The thought of having deceived her out of twenty soul stones made Meng Yang's heart lurch. He quickly executed a donkey kick maneuver, leaping out of the water bucket.

Next, with a light tap of his left foot, a surge of vital blood energy emanated from within him, instantly drying the droplets of water on his skin and allowing him to dress.

Such control over one's internal blood energy was a hallmark of Blood to Spirit Transmutation.

Turning his head toward the door, he caught sight of Lee Ming, drenched in sweat.

Oddly, there was no trace of fear or anxiety on Lee Ming's face, only a look of wild excitement and joy.

This left Meng Yang momentarily puzzled about what could have caused Lee Ming such alarm.

"Young Master, Young Master, we're in trouble..."

Lee Ming, gasping for breath, leaned on the doorframe and shouted.

"What's going on? Why all this commotion? Has the Lin family been attacked?"

"No, Young Master, it's serious. The Exalted One has arrived at our Lin family."

"The Patriarch has decreed that all disciples must assemble at the Martial Hall in three days."

Lee Ming, wiping the sweat from his brow and with red, earnest eyes, conveyed his urgency.

"And who is the Exalted One?"

"Isn't this good news?" Meng Yang asked, puzzled.

"It is indeed good news. If the Exalted One favors you, soaring to great heights will be within reach."

Upon hearing the news, Meng Yang couldn't help but furrow his brow, "Then why the panic?"

Lee Ming, swallowing hard, hurriedly replied, "But, but one must at least reach the De-boned level to catch the Exalted One's eye. Young Master, take a look."

With that, Lee Ming cocked his head, gesturing towards the east side of the courtyard.

Meng Yang, curiosity piqued, stepped out the door and followed Lee Ming's gesture. His face registered utter astonishment.

"Is that... a freaking dragon?"

At the edge of his vision, a massive, crimson dragon with a pair of wings and a menacing visage was perched above the Lin family's entrance.

The beast, more than thirty feet in length, with scales that glinted in the sunlight as large as a human face, challenged Meng Yang's understanding of the world.

Even more astonishing was the sight of three people standing atop the dragon.

Three middle-aged men, clad in flowing silk robes, stood with their hands behind their backs.

"Are these the Exalted Ones?"

Meng Yang's eyes gleamed as he took a deep breath. He suddenly realized that the Lin family's disciples might not be what he was seeking.

His blood raced, and an inner voice seemed to tell him that the individuals atop the dragon were his true aim.

A true powerhouse, one who could command the allegiance of a dragon, was the goal he aspired to.

"De-boned, is that the only way to gain the Exalted One's notice?"

Meng Yang mused to himself before a spark of determination lit up his eyes, and he let out a soft chuckle.

This day marked a grand celebration for the Lin family and the entire city of Omynabel.

The Exalted Ones had made their presence known not only within the Lin family but also among the other noble families of Omynabel City.

It seemed there were even more thrilling reasons behind this grand event that set hearts racing.

Meng Yang, having stood at the entrance of the main hall until the dragon took to the skies, finally turned and retreated to his room.

Seated in his chair, he frowned thoughtfully and said, "If I'm not mistaken, the Exalted One must be affiliated with the sect."

Drawing from his past life's experience with novels, Meng Yang had a hunch about the unfolding events. He also realized that the group departing on the giant dragon had dwindled from three to just two. This meant that one individual remained with the Lin family, likely involved in the imminent happenings.

As Meng Yang pondered, Lee Ming returned from his information gathering. "Good news, good news, Young Master!" he bellowed from afar in his unmistakable nasal tone. Bursting into the main hall with a beaming smile, he eagerly informed Meng Yang, "Young Master, I have wonderful news! The deacon hall announced that in three days, all disciples who have completed the Blood to Spirit Transmutation must assemble at the Martial Hall. It appears the Exalted One intends to assess you, Young Master, and has plans to unveil the Lin family's forbidden area in the back mountain."

"The forbidden area?" Meng Yang echoed, perplexed. Despite racking his brain, he remained clueless; he had never heard of any forbidden area in the Lin family's back mountain. What's more, it seemed to be linked to the upcoming assessment.

Noticing Meng Yang's confusion, Lee Ming quickly clarified, "Young Master, since you advanced from flesh puppet to disciple, it's understandable that you're unaware. Our Lin family does have a forbidden area in the back mountain, accessible only when the Exalted One arrives. The previous butler told me that the Exalted One himself had it constructed, apparently to identify and select those with exceptional potential."

"Ah, that makes sense," Meng Yang said, his expression clearing as he nodded. If Lee Ming's information was accurate, the Exalted One was indeed from the sect. Their visit to the Lin family had the same purpose Lee Ming mentioned: to scout for sect disciples.

Regarding the back mountain's forbidden area, it seemed the Lin family's status as a prominent household in Omynabel City owed much to the sect's backing. It stood to reason that a Lin family disciple with extraordinary talent would also join the sect, contributing to the family's glory.

Meng Yang rhythmically tapped his fingers while stroking his chin, squinting his eyes thoughtfully. Suddenly, he stood up, a gleam in his eyes as fierce as a tempest sweeping across mountains and seas, vast and powerful.

"It appears this world is even more fascinating than I had anticipated," he mused.

"There's always a reward for passing an examination. And if there's a reward, I must claim it. Even if I don't secure the top spot, I must at least rank within the top ten. That's the only way to stay true to my nature."

"This time, I'm determined to ensure that the name Meng Yang becomes known to everyone in the Lin family."