"I understand there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world." Lusheng nodded. By properly joining Crimson Whale Society, he planned laying foundations for the Lu family in Mountain City while also earning money. Establishing connections and backers. But the ultimate goal was still finding martial arts deadlier than Blood Evil Skill.

Zhao Jie briefly introduced some gang rules.

Very simple. Just three points: No casually betraying the gang, no divulging secrets, and obeying all rules.

"As long as you adhere to these three and not removed by the gang, you'll receive fixed monthly benefits. Discounts at most shops in the city. And the gang serves as your staunchest backer when trouble arises." Zhao Jie amiably smiled, "Just recently, our Foreign Affairs Envoy Master Chen held discussions with the city's Vice Commander Master Jiang regarding settlement of vagrant refugees. This was merely an envoy yet he could directly dialogue with top city leaders. Plus many elders of equal station and deputy chiefs above them along with the chief."

He mildly revealed some of Crimson Whale Society's influence to Lusheng. After all, Lusheng's attire and uncommon temperament marked him as a student. Likely to garner high usage. Fostering good ties in advance was proper.

Lusheng understood. In current times, literate intellectuals like him were elite managers in gangs. Even lacking martial arts, just joining guaranteed carefree living. Hence he understood the other party's attitude.

Entering the side room, he swiftly registered without inquiries about background or family status. Only name, age and specialties documented. Soon, Lusheng became an ordinary bottom-rank member.

New Crimson Whale Society members all required making contributions to the gang for records. Things like patrolling, collecting protection fees, catching thieves, assisting official investigations on human trafficking all counted. A specialized institution under the Home Affairs Envoy assessed and verified corresponding contribution ratings.

Learning of the system surprised Lusheng. This gang's management was extremely strict and detailed. Moreover, these tasks didn't seem very criminal. More accurately labeled a civic grey organization with fantastic official ties.

After registration, Zhao Jie seemed to want getting closer to Lusheng and amiably led him out a rear exit to a small white-walled yard.

"Elder Xiao living here is the assessor testing disciples' power levels. Passing grants access for instruction under strength."

Lusheng smiled and nodded. "Just happened to want witnessing abilities of gang experts and learning stronger martial arts. Hopefully Elder Xiao doesn't disappoint me..."

Although said smilingly, his words instantly contrasted the prior amicable atmosphere.

Strands of faint killing intent slowly permeated the yard.

Elder Xiao's face sank, vaguely sensing something wrong. This statement was somewhat arrogant.

Seeing Lusheng's current posture of stored power ready to erupt at any moment, entire body's forces circulating like an orb without chaos or disorder. His expression promptly changed to shock.

"Mastery realm expert?!"

"Mastery realm?" The puzzled Zhao Jie also froze up. "This young brother's only teenaged right? He's actually already at the mastery realm?"

Even for top gangs like Crimson Whale Society, mastery realm experts weren't numerous. At most a hundred among over ten thousand.

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Such masters could usually serve as pillars of strength in smaller cities. At central branches like Mountain City, they would still stand among elites.

Lusheng smiled and slowly pushed his right palm forward.

Whoosh... The entire yard inexplicably manifested strands of bloody aura as if beasts pounced, extremely dangerous.

Both Zhao Jie and Elder Xiao felt goosebumps violently rise as their hearts shook.

"This is the insight state!!" Elder Xiao's teacup in hand dropped to the ground with a clatter. He watched Lusheng dumbfounded. "Y-You... How old are you?? Already able to... to..."

He choked up, momentarily speechless as his complexion reddened. Only able to stamp his feet anxiously on the spot.

Zhao Jie promptly reacted by vigorously patting Elder Xiao's back until his breathing smoothed out after quite a while.

"May I ask what level my techniques rate amongst the gang?" Lusheng smiled asking.

His actual strength naturally far exceeded mastery realm, likely comparable to any consolidation realm top-level master.

But no need revealing too much here. Mastery realm alone sufficiently earned him regard. More would be too monstrous, detrimental for concealing hidden cards.

Yet Elder Xiao now seemed to instantly age over a decade despite this. Wearily watching Lusheng with abnormal envy.

"Elder Xiao painstakingly cultivated... thirty years to reach mastery realm... forty more at mastery peak..." He forced out a sigh after speaking, unable to continue.

They silently sat for a spell. Fortunately Zhao Jie was present to converse with Lusheng answering his occasional questions.

Very soon, noises came from outside the yard gates. Large batches of people dressed in the gang's black uniforms strode in led by two figures.

One was a silver-haired old man with a longsword on his back. The other a gorgeous, curvaceous middle-aged woman wearing two curved blades at her waist. Their attire all bore a white whale insignia.

The moment they entered, that old man brashly yelled, "Who?! Who's the mastery realm expert!? Dozing off from reading that urgent notice! Twenty-ish years old with mastery realm!! Heavens!! Is this a joke?!"

"Home Affairs Envoy Elder Wang! Elder Ouyang!" Seeing the new arrivals, Zhao Jie promptly shuddered giving a courtesy. Elder Xiao also promptly came forward to bow.

"No need for excessive courtesy." The beauty, Elder Ouyang gently said. Her sight landed on the sole calmly smiling Lusheng in the yard. "Truly a dragon or phoenix among men. This is Brother Lu right?"

Lusheng cupped his fists smiling. "Lu Sheng below. Indeed the so-called mastery realm expert."

"Mastery realm!? Real or fake!? Let me try a punch!!"

Boom!!

Right as he finished yelling, that old man pounced over. Piercing shrieks resembling eagle cries abruptly pervaded the yard, extremely jarring.

"Excellent!" Lusheng's eyes lit up. This was his first match against higher than mastery realm and still able to unleash martial intents.

Soul Breaking Palm swiftly launched without inner force reinforcement. He directly welcomed the old man head on.

Aowu!!

Even sans inner force, the insights into Black Tiger Saber's intents formed post-mastery naturally erupted with tiger snarls shaking the yard. Peach tree leaves swirled down like rain.

Redness emerged on Lusheng's palm as vague crimson threaded imprints surfaced on his brow. His posture resembled arrows abruptly clashing with the old man midair.

Bang bang bang bang bang!!

Their first palm mutually repelled each other before five more palms rapidly exchanged. Then both separately retreated.

"Hahahaha! Refreshing!!" Lusheng instantly felt happy and comfortable. Apart from demons, this was still his first chance to fight someone so smoothly. No inner force yet still evenly matched fully powered strikes brought him great joy. A sense of mutual sympathy emerged inwardly.

"Again!" Lusheng stretched his blood-red palm forward, intent on continuing.

Puff!!!

Only to see the old man tilt back spraying out a mouthful of blood before crashing onto his back.

"......"

Everyone froze up speechlessly around them.

"Elder Wang! Save him!!" Zheng Jie first reacted and frantically rushed over supporting that elder up.

Elder Ouyang also walked over taking out a small bottle from her sleeve and poured out a tiny medicine pellet the size of beans. Swiftly feeding it to the old man.

Next was massaging his acupoints and dredging congested blood.

The group busily tended to the elder for quite a while. Lusheng stood at the side. Elder Xiao came over seemingly wanting to console him but couldn't really say anything reasonable before that Elder Wang's survival was unsure.

He gave Lusheng a monster-like look and sighed shaking his head without a word, only patting Lusheng's shoulder.

Lusheng speechlessly sighed. The strand of ardor just now once more extinguished.

He suddenly grasped some understanding towards his current level of might.

It likely exceeded his prior speculations of grandmaster level... Even stronger perhaps...