Chapter 40: Chapter 39: Immortal Martial Cultivator

“What has happened? What’s this big commotion?”

“I heard the Young Master of the Salt Gang Branch has disappeared. Stone Leader is offering a large reward: one thousand taels for any clue about the culprit, and ten thousand taels for capturing the culprit!”

“Hiss! If one captures the culprit, they’d make a fortune, wouldn’t they?”

“Is the culprit that easy to catch? Even with so many people in the Salt Gang Branch, they couldn’t catch them. Even if the culprit was right in front of you, you still wouldn’t be able to catch them!”

…

Qinghe City was in turmoil due to Shi Baoyu’s disappearance.

Countless citizens secretly rejoiced, feeling that heaven had opened its eyes.

They had suffered under Shi Baoyu for a long time.

“The Young Master of the Salt Gang Branch has disappeared?”

Qin Hongyu was startled upon hearing the news. Just yesterday, she was nearly trampled to death by Shi Baoyu on horseback, and today he was suddenly missing.

She couldn’t help but look at Zhou Chen. Could it have been Zhou Chen who did it?

In her sleep, she seemed to have felt Zhou Chen leave, but she was too tired to wake up at the time.

“Brother Chen…”

“Shi Baoyu committed many evil deeds, and this is his just deserts. It was only a matter of time!”

Zhou Chen smiled without saying much.

He wasn’t worried that the Salt Gang would come after him unless Shi Lei could find a Great Divine Power User; otherwise, it would be hard to trace back to him.

As for Qin Hongyu’s injury from Shi Baoyu’s reckless riding, others wouldn’t care because there were many injured.

And though Qin Hongyu was Zhou Chen’s wife, she didn’t attract much attention.

In others’ eyes, Qin Hongyu was no different from Zhou Chen’s maid.

“Thank you, Brother Chen!”

Qin Hongyu embraced Zhou Chen, moved in her heart. Although Zhou Chen hadn’t said it outright, she knew it was he who did it.

“Hongyu, as you can see, the world isn’t peaceful. I found a martial arts manual for you. From today on, you should practice with me. Maybe you won’t become very strong, but you’ll at least have some self-defense skills!”

Zhou Chen took out a manual—the Phantom Sword.

This was found in the storage bag of the Second-in-command of Wolong Mountain, Lv Xiao. It’s a medium-level martial art, focused on agility and adaptability, quite suitable for women to practice.

“Brother Chen, you’re so good!”

Qin Hongyu wrapped her pale, lotus-like arms around Zhou Chen’s neck, her eyes misty as she tilted her head to give him a peck.

She had never dared to dream of learning martial arts before.

For the lower-class people, learning martial arts was as difficult as learning to read and write in feudal society.

Not to mention the so-called “cold gates,” which were actually fallen aristocrats, not ordinary people.

Zhou Chen was persistent in his search.

After a while.

Remembering he still needed to teach Qin Hongyu martial arts, Zhou Chen had to gently release her and withdrew his hand.

“Alright, get ready to learn martial arts with me!”

Looking at Qin Hongyu, her cheeks flushed and her eyes dreamy, Zhou Chen spoke earnestly.

“Hmm.”

Qin Hongyu hummed softly, slowly standing up, only to almost stumble over.

Zhou Chen wiped his hands, consuming three hundred Wind and Moon Points to enhance the Phantom Sword.

Phantom Sword Level Three (0/400).

In an instant.

Zhou Chen seemed to have practiced the Phantom Sword for ten years, achieving great success, while also completing the refining of skin and flesh once more.

His body was further strengthened, and he felt as if his body had become much lighter and quicker. Although his strength didn’t increase much, his speed was significantly faster.

Phantom Swordsmanship reached great success.

Zhou Chen took out a light longsword, looking at Qin Hongyu with seriousness:

“Watch closely!”

Qin Hongyu calmed her fanciful thoughts, watching Zhou Chen intently.

Swish, swish, swish!

Zhou Chen moved the longsword in his hand, executing the Phantom Sword Technique, which was both swordsmanship and a body refining technique.

Boom!

Zhou Chen suddenly thrust forward, producing six sword shadows in the air. This was the Great Success Swordsmanship, with the Perfect Swordsmanship able to produce nine sword shadows.

In the ultimate state, one could produce twelve sword shadows.

“Amazing!”

Qin Hongyu marveled but didn’t remember anything.

Zhou Chen wasn’t surprised; he was just giving Qin Hongyu an overall glimpse. The real teaching would involve guiding her step by step.

After all, not everyone is a martial arts prodigy like Zhang Wuji who can master a skill after seeing it once.

Zhou Chen had checked Qin Hongyu with the Thunder Light Ruyi Hand in secrecy; she had neither a Spirit Root nor a special physique.

Unlike other protagonists’ companions who either have astonishing backgrounds or extraordinary talents, Qin Hongyu was just an ordinary person.

Zhou Chen wasn’t discouraged. Having a Spirit Root or special physique was a one-in-a-million talent. It’s not easy to encounter.

Isn’t nurturing an ordinary person to greatness more rewarding than those protagonists with explosive starts?

Qin Hongyu cherished the opportunity to learn martial arts, applying herself diligently and ardently.

Zhou Chen taught her only one move today.

After Qin Hongyu learned it, she practiced it repeatedly.

Zhou Chen corrected her as needed, and seeing she had grasped it well enough, he let her practice on her own.

“Last night, I gained quite a few Wind and Moon Points from Liu Ruyi, amounting to over eight thousand. It’s time to cultivate in the immortal realm.”

Recalling his past bizarre encounters, Zhou Chen felt that immortal cultivation techniques were more effective against the strange, and offered more methods. Combined with being an immortal martial cultivator, he was sure he would be invincible.

“Chang Chun Skill, enhance!”

Without hesitation, Zhou Chen augmented Chang Chun Skill.

Like Qi You, Lv Xiao was a loose cultivator who couldn’t make it in the cultivation realm and had nothing to offer of any great cultivation techniques.

However, Chang Chun Skill, though common, was well-balanced and had healing properties, making it a decent foundational technique.

One thousand Wind and Moon Points consumed.

Zhou Chen felt as if he had entered a space, sitting cross-legged, sensing the Spiritual Qi, guiding it into his body, and refining it into Magical Power…

In that moment.

It felt as if he had been cultivating for decades, as strands of magical power formed in his Dantian.

First-Layer Qi Refining completed.

Zhou Chen progressed to Second-Layer Qi Refining.

“Continue!”

Two thousand Wind and Moon Points consumed, Zhou Chen’s internal magical power grew stronger, advancing to Third-Layer Qi Refining.

The magical power surged through his body, cleansing him, making him feel invigorated and refreshed!

“Is this what immortal cultivation feels like?”

Zhou Chen sensed his own being. It was entirely different from practicing martial arts, yet equally thrilling.

It was the feeling of becoming stronger.

It was the metamorphosis of life.

Zhou Chen took out a low-grade magical artifact flying sword to refine, controlling it to hover unsteadily in the air.

Qin Hongyu, who was practicing her sword techniques nearby, widened her eyes. What on earth was this?

Wasn’t Zhou Chen practicing martial arts?

Wasn’t this control over a flying sword the supernatural power of those legendary immortals?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

After a moment, Zhou Chen became increasingly adept at controlling the sword. The flying sword darted back and forth in the air, surrounding Zhou Chen and transforming into beams of sword light!

[Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror]

[Master: Zhou Chen]

[Cultivation Techniques: Chang Chun Skill Third Layer (0/4000), Yi Arrow Skill Fourth Layer (5118/8000), Three-in-One Saber Third Layer (0/400), Phantom Sword Third Layer (0/400)…]

[Realm: Body Refining Fourth Layer (Refined Bone)/Third-Layer Qi Refining]

[Divine Techniques: Thunder Light Ruyi Hand]

[Spells: Breath Concealment Technique Seventh Layer (0/640), First-Layer Ghost Control Technique (10/1000)]

[Skills: Three-in-One Saber (Great Success 69/160), Phantom Sword (Great Success 9/160), Yi Arrow Piercing the Sky (Arrow Intent 65/1000), Tracking (Great Success 40/160), Throwing (Great Success 8/160)…]

[Formula: Yang Dingtian]

[Wind and Moon Points: 5025]

“At my current strength, I’m already invincible in Qinghe City!”

Zhou Chen retracted the flying sword, filled with boundless pride.

“Brother Chen, have you become an immortal?”

Qin Hongyu ran over excitedly, her face full of astonishment.

Zhou Chen: “…”

“You wish! It’s just a little trick!”

Patting Qin Hongyu’s head, Zhou Chen stood up:

“You practice the sword well at home. I’m going out for a stroll, no need to wait for me for dinner!”

“Okay!”

Qin Hongyu nodded vigorously, watched Zhou Chen leave, and continued to diligently practice her sword technique.

As Zhou Chen walked down the street, he unwittingly arrived at the entrance of Yang Dingtian’s shop, watching numerous people coming and going, indicating good business.

Looking up at the resplendent Snow Moon Square beside it, Zhou Chen had a thought, deciding not to drag Qin Hongyu out as she was already training hard at home.

He decided to visit Snow Moon Square to read the newspapers and earn some money (Wind and Moon Points).

With that in mind, Zhou Chen headed into Snow Moon Square with large strides.

“With nothing to do today, I’ll listen to some tunes in the courtesan’s quarter!”

…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep