Chapter 77: Kill Chen Mu First!

The reason it says "suspected" rather than "certain" is because Chen Mu discovered that this "Two Yin-Yang Sword Qi" was incomplete.

The content was fragmented!

Yet the skill card he picked up, "Two Yin-Yang Sword Qi," had reached the realm of thorough mastery.

How could an incomplete martial art be successfully cultivated?

Sword qi and blade qi are typically only released after breaking through the Innate Realm.

From the seventh layer of Postnatal, one can project internal force, but cannot condense it into sword qi or blade qi.

Shhh~

Chen Mu directly used the card, mastering this incomplete martial art to the realm of thorough mastery.

Then, he mobilized the internal force in his dantian, guiding it through the meridians to converge at his palm.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together, assuming a thrusting sword stance, and stabbed outward.

Xiu!

A forceless rush of energy, like sword qi, shot out instantly, crossing several meters in an instant and striking the wall, leaving behind a tiny Kong Dong.

Internal force can also be projected!

Though not as deadly as true sword qi, it was still formidable.

"If internal force can produce this power, what would be the effect if true qi were used?"

Chen Mu pondered.

If the content is incomplete, it must be completed.

This requires a Wu Gong card!

But the drop rate for Wu Gong cards is too low.

"Two Yin-Yang Sword Qi" must be set aside for now.

Thinking of this, Chen Mu took out a Body Strengthening card and used it to enhance his physique.

Building upon the foundation of the One Cauldron Hardening Body, he further refined his body to grow stronger and increase his strength.

A current of electricity surged through his body, sending faint, prickling stings of numbness throughout his limbs and bones.

After a long while, the enhancement ended, and the stinging vanished.

He rested for a moment.

Chen Mu used the skill card containing "Soul-Chasing Arrow," and within a few breaths, mastered this archery technique to the realm of perfection.

Then, he took out cultivation cards and began cultivating "Soul-Chasing Arrow."

One after another, each card granting one year, two years, two and a half years of training.

When all accumulated cultivation cards were used up, Chen Mu's mastery of "Soul-Chasing Arrow" successfully rose to the realm of divine mastery!

He again preliminarily encountered an意境 force: arrow intent.

With "Soul-Chasing Arrow" mastered and the new special skill Eagle Eye, Chen Mu immediately used the card to gain the ability.

The remaining skill cards were set aside for now.

Postnatal-level palm techniques, fist techniques, and blade techniques now seemed beneath Chen Mu's notice.

Unless they were specialized Wu Gong.

……

He rested briefly.

Chen Mu took out internal force cards, using them one by one; energy spontaneously arose within him, propelling the "Rolling Cloud Technique" to transform into his own internal force, repeatedly condensing within the dantian space.

When all internal force cards were used, a vortex appeared in the dantian space.

This was a swirling vortex formed by internal force that had been repeatedly refined and condensed!

If the vortex persists for three days without dissipating, one may attempt to break through to the Innate Realm!

However.

By nightfall, the vortex had dissipated by more than half, leaving only a thin thread still stubbornly spinning.

Not enough internal force!

Breaking through to the Innate Realm is the final threshold of the Postnatal Realm, requiring the greatest quantity of internal force.

True qi, aside from the initial influx of Innate power, is entirely formed from condensed internal force.

"I still need to pick up internal force cards!"

Under the night sky, Chen Mu stood on the rooftop, gazing into the distance.

Internal force cards are obtained by picking them up from dead cultivators.

Lately, private duels within Wulong Fucheng had decreased, leaving only the Longevity Cultists active in the shadows.

But the Longevity Cultists hid too deeply; all leads had gone cold, and he had no direction at all to track them down.

……

……

Wulong Fucheng.

In the western outer district, near the inner city wall, in a narrow alley, there was a courtyard unknown to ordinary people and low-level cultivators, yet well known to all factions and well-informed free cultivators for its risks and rewards.

Everyone who came here, upon entering the courtyard gate, either covered their face or wore a wide-brimmed hat.

In short, they concealed their appearance before daring to enter.

That night, Li Li Qiancheng had dressed specially: he wore a cloak, with a curtain hanging from his hat, obscuring most of his face, and stepped through the night to the courtyard gate, gently knocking three times.

"Enter."

A low, male voice came from inside.

Creak~

Li Qiancheng gently pushed open the door and stepped into the small courtyard, then closed it behind him.

Then, with light, slow steps, he entered the room where a cloth curtain hung at the entrance.

Inside, a single oil lamp burned quietly, illuminating most of the space.

A long table stood at the center.

Behind the table sat a thin old man, bent over, writing.

"First time here?"

The old man held a brush, writing on a blank sheet of paper, without looking up.

"Yes."

Li Qiancheng grew slightly nervous, swallowed hard, and gritted his teeth, "But I've heard the rules here."

"Knowing the rules is good."

The old man kept writing, still not looking up. "Speak. Who do you want killed?"

"All the high-ranking members of the Great Knife Gang!"

Li Qiancheng spat with hatred. "I want Guan Tong and his five hall masters, and every major leader, dead!"

"Accepted."

The old man's tone remained unchanged, calm. "To kill Guan Tong: one hundred thousand taels. To kill the External Affairs Hall Master, Chen Mu: fifty thousand taels. The other four: forty thousand taels each. Every major leader: ten thousand taels each."

"Since you know the rules, pay the deposit: one hundred fifty thousand taels."

"…" Li Qiancheng's face stiffened, his lips twitched, and he cursed inwardly.

Damn, why is it so expensive?

Killing all the high-ranking members of the Great Knife Gang was revenge.

For the Blood Wolf Gang—more accurately, for Li Xiangyang!

The leader of the Blood Wolf Gang was Li Qiancheng's cousin; they came from the same village and had been close since childhood.

Few knew of their relationship.

Because Li Qiancheng did not operate in Wulong Fucheng—he lived in a county under Wulong Fucheng, where he was the local tyrant.

His status as a tyrant came from Li Xiangyang's backing.

Not long ago, Li Qiancheng had traveled far away.

Only two days ago, upon returning to his county, did he learn of the upheaval in Wulong Fucheng.

The Guo family had been exterminated by the Town Martial Office!

The Blood Wolf Gang had been wiped out by the Great Knife Gang!

Li Xiangyang was Li Qiancheng's patron, his greatest source of strength, and his dearest older brother.

And now, Li Xiangyang had been slaughtered by a flurry of blades!

Li Qiancheng had thoroughly investigated the cause and aftermath.

It had begun as a dispute over a tavern—but the Great Knife Gang had broken all codes of conduct. Li Xiangyang had been defeated by "Guan Tong," knocked unconscious on the spot, then hacked to death by the gang members.

Upon learning this, Li Qiancheng was stunned and furious.

The tragedy was, he could not possibly challenge the Great Knife Gang!

Li Qiancheng himself was only at the Third Layer of Postnatal cultivation.

Killing a few major leaders might be possible.

But killing even one would almost certainly draw the Great Knife Gang's attention—they would hunt him relentlessly, and he would die just as horribly.

He could not challenge them, yet his hatred burned fiercely.

What to do?

Hire an assassin!

Li Qiancheng had heard Li Xiangyang mention this small courtyard near the inner city wall—it was the infamous base of the assassin organization "Black Dragon Society" in Wulong Fucheng.

The "Black Dragon Society" had an excellent reputation: once the price was paid, they would strike three times consecutively.

Of course, if the first attempt failed, the second strike required an increased fee.

Li Qiancheng had come here specifically—yet he never expected the price to be this high.

Just the deposit was one hundred fifty thousand taels!

He carried only thirty thousand taels on him.

"…"

"Is there a problem?" The old man spoke as Li Qiancheng remained silent.

"No, no problem."

Li Qiancheng snapped back to attention and waved his hand.

After a pause, he asked hesitantly, "Uh… if I only want Guan Tong killed first, how much is the deposit?"

"Seventy thousand." The old man replied calmly.

"…"

Li Qiancheng swallowed hard and asked again, "And… what about the External Affairs Hall Master, Chen Mu?"

"Thirty thousand." The old man answered.

"Good!"

Li Qiancheng's eyes lit up. "Then kill him first!"