Chapter 52

How can there still be someone forcing others to become their friend!

In his heart, Meng Zhangqing was already the type of person with an abnormal mind.

"I... am willing..."

Calming down, Tian Tong Shou still answered helplessly.

If you're willing, then be willing.

After all, I won't lose anything; generously satisfy this madman's special fetish.

Save me from suffering before death.

"Ding!"

"Friend added successfully!"

"Current Favorability: One Star!"

"Obtained Attribute: Talent 【Thick Skin and Tough Flesh】"

"Merge immediately?"

The system's voice sounded in his mind.

Meng Zhangqing's face immediately showed a joyful smile.

Good luck.

With the talent in hand, he truly feared randomly obtaining other attributes.

Like this one-time friendship.

Once the randomization goes wrong, it can never be obtained again.

After all, he cannot increase favorability with Tian Tong Shou.

"Thank you, my friend."

"As repayment, I will let you die more easily."

Meng Zhangqing patted Tian Tong Shou's shoulder contentedly.

Immediately, he formed a sword with two fingers and pointed it at his forehead, forcing powerful blood qi to surge in.

Causing his gaze to instantly scatter and his head to drop heavily.

His breath was already completely gone.

The bandit leader who had caused trouble in the region thus fell.

"System, merge the talent."

Meng Zhangqing said in his heart.

"Ding!"

"Merge started!"

The instant the words fell, Meng Zhangqing only felt a cold sensation surge beneath his skin, like flowing water, gradually spreading to every part of his body.

About a moment later.

Only then did this sensation completely fade.

"Is this the talent 【Thick Skin and Tough Flesh】?"

Meng Zhangqing rolled up his sleeves.

The thickness of his arms and his skin color did not show any particularly obvious changes.

However, this skin, when poked with a fingertip, could clearly feel resistance, like countless nets overlapping, incredibly tough.

"Try the 'Copper Armor Technique' again!"

Meng Zhangqing began to circulate the technique.

His skin color instantly became like an ancient bronze statue, radiating an aura of indestructibility.

The 'Copper Armor Technique' is merely a High-grade Human Rank body-refining martial art.

But now, under the amplification of the talent, it clearly had a substantial improvement.

It could absolutely compare to an Initial-stage Mystic Rank body-refining martial art.

"The shortcoming in defense has been somewhat compensated."

Meng Zhangqing thought.

Moreover, with this talent, no matter what body-refining martial art he cultivates in the future, the effect will be more significant, far surpassing others.

However, for Meng Zhangqing.

What he wanted most was the Stone Man bloodline of the two Shi brothers.

That is truly an awesome thing.

Recalling his composure, Meng Zhangqing took off Tian Tong Shou's gauntlets to use as proof.

Considering he had indeed gained benefits from him and was nominally his friend.

He immediately dug a pit.

And buried him.

Thinking that late autumn was approaching and the weather was slightly cold, Meng Zhangqing specifically covered him with several more layers of soil and stomped it down hard.

"Being able to make friends with such a considerate friend as me, you can count yourself lucky."

After finishing all this, Meng Zhangqing turned and left contentedly.

Killing Tian Tong Shou meant the mission was completed.

As for the other mountain bandits, none survived; the previous sword strike was fully unleashed, and even Tian Tong Shou dared not take it head-on.

Let alone them.

One by one, they died on the spot.

"Home!"

Mounting the spirit horse, Meng Zhangqing galloped swiftly toward the horizon.

――

Five days later.

Yunshui City.

An ancient city built beside a great river.

Its population was roughly around one hundred thousand.

Due to its convenient transportation, daily foot traffic was enormous, making the city's commerce highly prosperous.

The Mengshishang Society was one of the major trading societies in Yunshui City.

It controlled several market districts.

It was quite famous.

Of course, the most famous was the president of the Mengshishang Society.

A woman in a black dress who always wore a wide-brimmed hat, who, with her mysterious sword techniques, stood nearly invincible within the Apoerture Opening Realm.

It was precisely because of this.

The Mengshishang Society had been able to maintain its status these past years without being swallowed by other trading societies.

"Yunshui City—at last."

Gazing at the distant, half-visible massive ancient city, Meng Zhangqing exhaled softly.

At the same time, a faint, inexplicable emotion arose within him.

For this would be his first true encounter with his blood relatives in this world.