Chapter 90: Chapter 84: Recommendation

’Pang Qinhai!?’

Chen Qing was shaken to the core.

The newcomer was none other than Captain Pang Qinhai of the Wutai Sect, the most powerful man in Gaolin County!

In Gaolin County, his name was known to all, his authority feared by all.

’But didn’t the rumors say he was seriously injured?’

Pang Qinhai studied Chen Qing, his voice betraying no emotion. “Quite the mood for a nighttime stroll in a blizzard.”

Chen Qing took a deep breath of the frigid air, suppressing the storm raging within him. Cupping his fist, he said, “This junior, Chen Qing, greets the Lord Captain.”

“Shi Wenshan is dead.”

Pang Qinhai got straight to the point, his gaze locked on Chen Qing’s eyes, searching for the slightest change. “He’s in the alley just ahead. It was a miserable death. Someone saw a figure with an extremely fast Body Technique.”

Chen Qing’s brow furrowed slightly, a look of perfectly calibrated shock and confusion on his face. “Master Shi is dead? This… are you suspecting me, My Lord?”

His tone was frank, tinged with the weary resignation of someone wrongly accused. “I just finished my training and was heading home. I was passing nearby when I heard what sounded like a fight. I was alarmed and unsure what to do, so I found a secluded spot to wait it out.”

“As for Master Shi… you think I’d kill someone? I wouldn’t dare. Besides, I know I don’t have that kind of skill. Master Shi was an expert who had achieved Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm. I’ve only just begun my training. How could I possibly be his match?”

His expression and tone were impeccable. His eyes were clear, filled with the nervousness expected of a young man, along with the sincerity of someone eager to prove his innocence.

He also wore a look of shock and bewilderment, as if he had truly just been caught up in a sudden and unexpected turmoil.

’Wouldn’t dare? Not skilled enough!?’

After a long moment, Pang Qinhai suddenly let out a low chuckle.

“Shi Wenshan was colluding with traitors, dealing in illicit medicine and weaponry. The evidence is ironclad. He more than deserved to die. His death actually saves me some trouble.”

He didn’t press the matter, instead changing the subject. “Chen Qing, your Root Bone may be average, but your temperament… is exceptionally rare. It’s a waste for you to be stuck in a small place like Gaolin County.”

Chen Qing’s heart skipped a beat, but his face remained a mask of confusion. “What do you mean, My Lord? This junior is dull-witted. Please, be direct.”

Pang Qinhai said, “Have you ever considered joining the Wutai Sect?”

’The Wutai Sect!?’

Chen Qing’s heart seized.

This was the very ladder to the heavens he had been dreaming of.

“Think about it. The game of chess in Gaolin is almost over.”

Pang Qinhai said it as if it were a casual remark. Before Chen Qing could react, he had already turned, his dark cloak cutting an arc through the wind and snow.

Chen Qing watched Pang Qinhai’s retreating figure, then leaped onto the eaves of a roof. He crouched low, his gaze piercing the blizzard, locking onto the epicenters of the outbreaks—the Huang Mansion, the Zhu Mansion, Renhe Pharmacy… and the Wangyuan Escort Agency!

The howling wind and snow could not drown out the clang of steel and the piercing wails coming from all corners of the Inner City.

The glow of flames painted half the night sky red.

’So that’s how it is!’

Chen Qing’s mind raced as realization dawned on him.

’It was no accident that Shi Wenshan was being followed. Pang Qinhai’s severe injury was a sham; he was just biding his time.’

’Tonight is very likely the moment he closes the net!’

’By killing Shi Wenshan, I just happened to stumble onto the edge of this raging storm and pull out one of Pang Qinhai’s thorns for him ahead of schedule.’

’I can’t stay here any longer!’

Chen Qing’s figure darted across the rooftops, speeding toward his home outside the city.

He vaulted silently into his small courtyard, his movements as light and quiet as a cat’s.

The house was dark and silent; Ms. Han was evidently sound asleep.

Without disturbing anyone, he slipped into his bedroom and gently bolted the door behind him.

Next, Chen Qing took out the items he had taken from Shi Wenshan’s corpse.

Five hundred taels in silver notes. This obviously wasn’t Shi Wenshan’s entire fortune, but carrying such a sum on his person was a testament to his wealth.

There was also a thin booklet.

Chen Qing had assumed it was the Secret Manual for Windbreaker, but when he opened the title page, he froze. ’Eight Extremes Vajra Body!?’

Suppressing the tremor of excitement in his heart, he quickly began to read through it.

This was, to his astonishment, an Upper-Grade Hard Skill!

In the world of Martial Arts, Hard Skills were generally considered an inferior discipline, focused on tempering the body and lacking sophistication.

But that mostly referred to Lower-Grade Hard Skills, which required nothing more than grueling training and lacked any subtle Techniques.

Superior Hard Skills, however, were completely different. Once mastered, the practitioner’s combat power was in no way inferior to a Sect’s Upper-Grade Martial Arts, and in some aspects, was even more formidable!

However, Superior Hard Skills had two fatal flaws. First, they couldn’t generate the “qi” that nourished one’s Inner Breath, making it impossible for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence. Years of constant battle made it easy to accumulate hidden injuries, causing most of their Cultivators to have short lifespans.

Second, the Cultivation process was exceptionally arduous. It demanded immense willpower and perseverance, and also had to be supplemented by expensive medicines and external aids to achieve breakthroughs.

For these reasons, disciples from Noble Families with other options would never practice such a time-consuming, strenuous, and body-damaging art, while commoners without the means simply couldn’t afford it.

Over time, true masters of Hard Skills became increasingly rare. The discipline’s reputation grew notorious, as it was rumored to be a method used by Noble Families to train death-sworn soldiers.

But for Chen Qing, who possessed the Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence Fate Plate, these flaws were hardly an issue!

The Eight Extremes Vajra Body had a total of eight Realms: Iron Armor, Copper Sinew, Steel Bone, Pan Stone, Golden Body, Tiger Elephant, Primordial, and Vajra Indestructible.

These eight Realms corresponded to the various stages of Inner Boxing and Upper-Grade Martial Arts. Specifically, Iron Armor, Copper Sinew, and Steel Bone corresponded to the Manifest Force, Dark Force, and Transmutation Force Realms of Inner Boxing.

’Then that Fishing Toad Force… was an incomplete manual?’

Reading this, Chen Qing had a sudden realization.

He had always felt that the Inner Strength Secret Technique, Fishing Toad Force, shouldn’t have only had three Realms.

It made perfect sense in hindsight. How could someone like Song Hu have possibly possessed a complete Inner Strength Secret Technique?

The version of the Fishing Toad Force he had obtained was clearly incomplete.

’If I get the chance in the future, I must find a way to complete the Fishing Toad Force manual.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep