I Can Use Myriad Divine Abilities-Chapter 57: First Steps into the Jianghu

In front of the majestic and solemn Dragon God Statue, Zhang Yuan completed a simple yet solemn initiation ceremony into the gang.

Listening to the rules, swearing an oath, learning martial arts, offering incense, and worshiping the gods.

Finally, the registration!

Zhang Yuan replaced his old identity token with a Hundred-Forged Goose Feather Saber and two sets of Spring and Autumn Clothes.

As well as fifty taels of relocation silver.

In fact, he had already received a sum of relocation silver when he first joined.

But this time, it was a benefit he received as an official Battle Hall Disciple.

Among all the halls of the Furious Whale Gang, the treatment of Battle Hall Disciples is the best. In the future, Zhang Yuan can receive a salary of ten taels of silver every month.

This amount of silver coins is enough for a whole family to live comfortably in the county town!

Additionally, as long as Zhang Yuan establishes military achievements, he can exchange them for cultivation techniques, elixirs, weapons, and other cultivation resources.

However, Zhang Yuan is well aware that these benefits are obtained only by risking his life.

If he were to die in battle or be injured, his family could still receive a substantial compensation.

This is very fair.

After the ceremony ended, as Zhang Yuan had just left the Dragon God Hall, Dong Yuanwei, who came out with him, patted him on the shoulder.

"Zhang Yuan,"

the Battle Hall Instructor said in a deep voice: "Originally, you shouldn’t have been arranged to join the gang so soon, but recently the Battle Hall is short on manpower, so you need to be prepared."

Zhang Yuan didn’t mind: "I understand."

In fact, from the moment he chose to join the Furious Whale Gang, he had already prepared himself for the mentality of licking blood off the blade.

In today’s world, it’s impossible for anyone from the lower class to make a name for themselves without risking their lives!

"It’s good that you understand," 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Dong Yuanwei nodded with satisfaction: "In the future, if there’s anything unclear about martial arts, just come to me!"

Zhang Yuan respectfully bowed to him: "Thank you, Master!"

In Zhang Yuan’s mind, the one who truly counted as his teacher, besides the late Elder Master Chen, was this Battle Hall Instructor before him.

All along, Dong Yuanwei had never held back from him.

Zhang Yuan’s rapid progress in martial arts was indeed inseparable from this instructor’s meticulous guidance!

Dong Yuanwei accepted Zhang Yuan’s bow with ease.

Then the Battle Hall Instructor took out a thick book from his pocket and placed it in Zhang Yuan’s hands: "This is some experience and insights I’ve accumulated over the years in cultivation, take it as a reference."

Zhang Yuan was taken aback.

Before he could express his gratitude again, Dong Yuanwei had already turned and returned to the Dragon God Hall.

Holding the book filled with the other’s lifelong efforts, Zhang Yuan felt a difficult-to-describe sense of gratitude in his heart.

In the days that followed, just like before, he continued to practice martial arts daily at Whale Castle.

But the location changed to the Grand Martial Arts Arena.

Here, Zhang Yuan met other Battle Hall Disciples and a few Incense Masters.

Unlike other halls, Battle Hall Disciples usually do not follow a fixed Incense Master; they only form teams when tasks are assigned, then led into battle by an Incense Master.

All Battle Hall Incense Masters possess Transformation Realm Cultivation!

Zhang Yuan speculated that this should be because the Battle Hall is the core strength of the gang, and cannot allow the formation of independent factions.

However, before Zhang Yuan could fully integrate into this new group, he received his first gang task.

"Junior Brother Zhang, it’s going to be hard work for you this time."

Outside the city at the dock, as Zhang Yuan had just boarded a merchant ship, a middle-aged man immediately came to greet him.

The man had a weathered look, quite ordinary in appearance, but with a kindly smile: "I am Feng Ming from the Outer Hall, responsible for supervising this ship."

Zhang Yuan clasped his fists in greeting: "Greetings, Senior Brother Feng."

"No need to be courteous,"

Feng Ming said with a smile: "Junior Brother Zhang, this is your first time on a ship, if there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me."

This Outer Hall member appeared friendly and joyful on the surface, but was secretly lamenting.

The Furious Whale Gang is the ruler of the waterways, not only having their own fleet but also cooperating with many large and small merchant guilds.

Many merchants pay regular tolls to the Furious Whale Gang for safe passage.

Every cargo shipment is thus protected by them.

This particular merchant ship was no exception.

Due to the small size of the ship, only two disciples were assigned to accompany the voyage.

Feng Ming, having worked on the water for many years, was rich in worldly experience.

However, he disliked taking newcomers on trips — newcomers are most prone to causing trouble!

Zhang Yuan appeared very young.

Youthful fervor, impulsive recklessness, and any problems could quickly escalate into major issues.

But since the task was assigned from above, Feng Ming was unable to be selective about his companions, and could only hope Zhang Yuan would be sensible.

Zhang Yuan, not being privy to Feng Ming’s inner thoughts, naturally found the other man’s first impression quite pleasant, as he did not put on any airs.

Zhang Yuan smiled and said, "Then I’ll be counting on Senior Brother Feng."

Before long, the merchant ship raised its sails.

A dark-skinned sailor quickly untied the mooring ropes, then agilely sprang back onto the deck, loudly shouting, "Setting sail!"

Amidst the shouts of the sailors, the fully loaded merchant ship slowly left the dock.

It headed upstream on the Celestial Horse River.

Besides the fore and aft sails providing power, the main source of propulsion for this merchant ship was dozens of long oars extending from the lower decks, rowing in unison.

Zhang Yuan, standing on the foredeck, could hear the chants of "Heave ho, heave ho" rising from below!

The river breeze blew across his face, carrying a slight moisture.

The rice paddies on both shores of the Celestial Horse River were about to ripen, swaying in golden waves that filled the heart with a sense of tranquility and joy.

Back then, the young man’s spring garb was light, with no worries troubling his brow!

At this moment, Zhang Yuan suddenly experienced the taste of his first entry into the martial world.

Unfortunately, a certain veteran ruined the mood by suggesting, "Junior Brother, the weather’s cool, it’s windy at the bow, how about we head into the cabin for a drink?"

The destination of this merchant ship was Nanxun Prefecture City, taking the waterway for about three days and nights.

Zhang Yuan actually wanted to enjoy the scenery along the way, but he couldn’t refuse the kindness of his Outer Hall Senior Brother.

So he nodded and followed him into the cabin.

What Zhang Yuan didn’t expect was that a rather lavish banquet was laid out inside the cabin.

With the ship owner and manager in attendance!

The personnel on a merchant ship include the ship owner, manager, chief, helmsman, assistant, sailors, etc.

There is even an Incense Worker — tasked with tending the incense before the Dragon God Statue, managing the rituals of morning and evening worship!

Among them, the ship owner and manager hold the highest status.

But both were extremely respectful to Feng Ming and Zhang Yuan, constantly offering toasts and flattering words throughout the meal.

In the end, they politely presented them with red envelopes.

Feng Ming naturally accepted the red envelopes, subtly signaling Jiang Yuan with a glance.

Zhang Yuan was both amused and helpless, eventually choosing to follow suit.

When he returned to his cabin to rest and opened the red envelope to take a look.

Inside was a silver note of ten taels.

Equivalent to Zhang Yuan’s one month’s salary!