If Chen Cheng were only a Great Success Blade Master at the Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm, he would have been riddled with wounds and long dead.
An hour later, Mu Xiaowan was drenched in sweat. Although her Short Sword hadn’t so much as grazed Chen Cheng’s clothes, she felt she’d never had such a satisfying fight.
"Brother Cheng, you’re too strong," Mu Xiaowan said with great solemnity, sheathing her Short Sword.
"Sigh..." Chen Cheng also sheathed his Long Saber, let out a long sigh, and said with a serious expression, "Xiaowan, your Sword Techniques are not only sharp, but also ruthless and decisive. If I were any weaker, I’d be a dead man by now."
"Brother Cheng, I knew I couldn’t hurt you, so I just went all out with my Phantom Sword Technique." Mu Xiaowan offered an apologetic smile, then asked expectantly, "Brother Cheng, how do you think my Phantom Sword Technique is coming along?"
Chen Cheng pondered for a mont before answering truthfully, "You’re just one step away from the Perfect Level Sword Skill.
However, your killing intent is imnse. If you fight others with the sa ferocity you just showed, you could hold your own against an opponent with a Perfect Level Saber or Sword Technique."
Mu Xiaowan’s apologetic expression deepened. She walked over, took Chen Cheng’s arm, and said softly, "It’s not that I did it on purpose. When Master taught Swordsmanship, she always drilled into that I must never hold back when I strike, or I’ll never be able to unleash the full power of the technique."
Chen Cheng gently pinched her slightly flushed, delicate cheek and said earnestly, "The Matron is right."
...
The Chens’ ate dinner early. At dusk, before the sky had completely darkened, Chen Cheng had already finished a hot bath and was lying comfortably on his large, brocade-covered bed.
Of course, Mu Xiaowan had helped by giving him a massage again.
"Brother Cheng, how co you’re not asleep yet?"
Mu Xiaowan, having also finished her hot bath, ca in wearing a loose nightgown, only to see Chen Cheng’s eyes shining brightly, looking very much awake.
In truth, Chen Cheng was indeed a bit tired and wanted to properly relax. Otherwise, he would have definitely practiced another round of the Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique before sleeping.
But this level of fatigue had no effect on Chen Cheng. Even if he were to face a life-or-death enemy right now, he could still throw himself completely into the fight.
This was one of the benefits of cultivating the Martial Dao; once a Martial Artist’s Qi Blood Power reached a certain level, minor fatigue was no longer an issue.
"I was waiting for you."
Chen Cheng said softly, pulling Mu Xiaowan into his arms.
"Mm," Mu Xiaowan murmured in response.
Breathing in her faint, refreshing fragrance, a slight smile appeared on Chen Cheng’s face, and his mind, for once, completely relaxed.
’It was a good thing his hands were large; otherwise, it seed they wouldn’t be able to hold those proud, towering peaks.’
"Brother Cheng!"
"Mm."
"Master said I have to reach Small Success in the Bone Forging Realm before... before we can..."
The rest of her words were barely a whisper...
"Mm, let’s sleep," Chen Cheng’s voice grew even gentler.
But as was his habit, he held the night at bay for her, a silent watch that lasted until dawn.
...
The night passed peacefully.
...
Ti flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another month had passed.
For the entire month, not a single drop of rain fell in Linji City. The weather was unusually dry, and even the water level of Jishui Lake seed to have dropped considerably.
Nothing major happened in the South City District this month, and Lishui District was also calm and peaceful.
If there was any case worth ntioning, it was the Zhou Family’s private hoarding of Armor and smuggling of precious tals—a cri tantamount to treason.
The Zhou Family was mostly purged, with only Zhou Xu remaining a fugitive at large. It was rumored that soone had spotted Zhou Xu in the city, so the manhunt for him beca a top priority for the City Guard Departnt.
The bounty for Zhou Xu was raised to two thousand taels of patterned silver, along with one rit point from the City Guard Departnt. With this rit point, one could directly claim a Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill.
It could be said that as long as Zhou Xu remained hidden, he was safe. But the mont he dared to show his face, certain death awaited him.
Chen Cheng, however, wasn’t interested in the rit for capturing Zhou Xu. He continued to slack off during his daily shifts, focusing his mind on cultivating the Martial Dao.
One afternoon, Chen Cheng stood on the balcony of his attic, his gaze deep as he looked out over the sparkling Jishui Lake.
A few days ago, Shen Qingshuang had sent Xiaoxing over to tell him that the Shen Family had made all the arrangents with the Demon Suppression Departnt. She told Chen Cheng to be ready and await his official transfer orders.
Shen Qingxuan had also sent invitations to Chen Cheng several tis this month, but he had no ti to waste on the frivolous pursuits of the young masters and ladies from the great families and declined every invitation.
Afterward, Wang Xiongzhang also sent an invitation once, which Chen Cheng again politely refused. After that, they didn’t send any more invitations.
Of course, it wasn’t that Chen Cheng didn’t understand social etiquette or refused to network with the outside world; he was simply too swamped with cultivating the Martial Dao.
The Iron Armor Skill, the Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique, and the Great Power Realm all took up a significant amount of ti. Because of this, he barely had any ti left to practice the Horn-Cutting Saber Stance.
’You have to make choices when it cos to socializing. Even if it ans being on bad terms with future colleagues, it can’t be helped.’
Muttering to himself, Chen Cheng summoned his panel to check it.
[Na: Chen Cheng
Realm: Muscle Strengthening (Great Success)
Skills: Iron Armor Skill • Muscle Strengthening (Great Success 3,630/10,000)
Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique (Great Success 7,159/10,000)
Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection) (Powerful Eagle Claw Stance) (First Layer of the Great Power Realm 145,200/200,000)
Deer Cutting Saber Technique (Perfection) (Horn-Cutting Saber Stance 73,911/100,000)
Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Perfection, Wind Chasing Saber Stance) (Technique deduction in progress. Current progress: 45/100. Upon completion, the technique can advance to a Superior Technique.)]
In this past month, his progress with the Iron Armor Skill had been extrely fast, increasing by more than two thousand points.
The Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique had also improved significantly, and he now only had three Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills left.
He really hadn’t had ti to practice the Horn-Cutting Saber Stance, so his progress was minimal.
The Great Power Realm, however, was his top priority. He hadn’t missed a single day of practice, and he was only about two months away from completing its first layer.
As his Major Tendons grew stronger and his progress in the Great Power Realm increased, Chen Cheng now only needed less than a quarter of his body’s Qi Blood Power to use it.
’With my current strength, I could fight a martial artist at Small Success in the Bone Forging Realm. I should even be able to retreat safely from a martial artist at Great Success in the Bone Forging Realm. As for a Perfect Martial Artist of the Bone Forger Realm, I’d have to fight one to know for sure.
After all, Bone Forger Realm Martial Artists who have cultivated a conceptual Realm are few and far between, and it seems even a Perfect Martial Artist of the Bone Forger Realm would have trouble withstanding a full-power strike from a First Layer Realm.
I was once as insignificant as an ant, but now, there don’t seem to be many people left in Linji City who can kill !
Of course, I can’t get careless. Linji City has hidden depths. The disappearances of Yan Jian and Zhou Hongjun are still without any leads.
I also have to be wary of the Inner City Wang Family.’
...
In the evening, Chen Cheng got ready and hired a carriage to Dai Qingfeng’s house in the Dongyue District.
Today was the first-birthday celebration for Dai Qingfeng’s young son. He was holding a banquet at his ho and had invited many people, mostly those connected to the Shen Family.
They were both people cultivated by Shen Qingshuang, so it was inevitable they would have to deal with each other in the future. Moreover, when Chen Cheng had previously asked Dai Qingfeng to dispatch so constables, he had been very obliging, so Chen Cheng felt it would be rude to decline.
Chen Cheng wasn’t very enthusiastic about this kind of social obligation. When he arrived at Dai Qingfeng’s house, he offered so words of blessing, gave a monetary gift, and then found a quiet spot to eat and drink in peace. Once he’d had his fill, he took his leave and headed ho.
By the ti he left Dai Qingfeng’s house, night had fallen and a crescent moon hung in the sky. He couldn’t find a carriage for hire at the mont.
Chen Cheng had no choice but to walk quickly along the main street toward Lishui District. It was still early, so many of the taverns and shops lining the road were still lit, and there were still quite a few pedestrians on the street.
After turning past two major streets, a sense of alarm suddenly struck Chen Cheng. He quickly stopped and glanced back, but he only saw a few pedestrians hurrying in the opposite direction. Nothing seed out of the ordinary.
’My Perception Ability isn’t so sharp that I can sense the autumn wind before it blows, but I have a gut feeling for danger. I’m afraid so lowlife is trying to harm tonight!’
With that thought, Chen Cheng instantly picked up his pace, running like the wind along the main street. He was even a bit faster than a galloping horse.
If not for the occasional pedestrian on the street and Chen Cheng’s desire to avoid causing a scene, he could have run several tis faster than a horse.
As Chen Cheng suddenly accelerated, a figure in black darted out from a nearby alley and gave chase from a distance, their speed slightly faster than his.
But the mont the figure appeared, they could no longer hide their presence and were instantly discovered by Chen Cheng.
’Tracking so brazenly. This guy sure is arrogant.’
Silently gauging his opponent’s strength, Chen Cheng didn’t increase his speed any further. The person also hung back, seemingly waiting for the right mont to strike.
The two of them continued on, one chasing and one fleeing, leaving the Dongyue District and entering Lishui District. Chen Cheng suddenly picked up his pace and, upon reaching a familiar neighborhood, ducked into a secluded alley.
The black-clothed person abruptly accelerated, rushing into the alley in a few quick leaps and blocking Chen Cheng’s path.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
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