Chapter 77

The reason he used the word "suspected" instead of being certain was that Chen Mu discovered this "Two Forms Sword Qi" was incomplete.

The content was missing!

Yet, the skill card he picked up for "Two Forms Sword Qi" had reached the realm of mastery.

Could an incomplete martial art actually be successfully cultivated?

Sword qi and blade qi could generally only be released after breaking through to the Xiantian realm.

From the seventh stage of Houtian onwards, internal energy could be projected, but it could not be condensed into sword qi or blade qi.

Swish~

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

Then, he mobilized the internal energy in his dantian, moved it through his meridians, and gathered it in his palm.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together and, in a sword-thrusting posture, thrust outward.

Shoo!

An invisible force, like sword qi, suddenly shot out, instantly crossing several meters and hitting the wall, leaving a tiny hole.

Internal energy could also be released!

Although it was not as lethally powerful as sword qi, it was not weak either.

"If it has this much power when driven by internal energy, what kind of power would it have if driven by true qi?"

Chen Mu pondered.

If the content was incomplete, it had to be completed.

This would require a martial practice card!

But the drop rate for martial practice cards was too low.

"Two Forms Sword Qi" would have to be set aside for now.

Thinking of this, Chen Mu took out a body-strengthening card and used it to reinforce his physique.

On the foundation of the Iron Refining Tripod Body, he continued to temper his body to grow stronger and increase his power.

A current of electricity surged and shuttled through his body, and a sour, numb, and subtle stinging sensation spread through his limbs and bones.

After a while, the strengthening ended, and the stinging sensation disappeared.

He rested for a moment.

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

Then, he took out a cultivation card and began practicing "Soul-Chasing Arrow."

One after another, with time limits ranging from one year, two years, to two and a half years.

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

Once again, he made initial contact with a type of artistic conception power: arrow intent.

With "Soul-Chasing Arrow" mastered, Chen Mu followed up by using the card for the new special skill, Eagle Eye, and gained the ability.

The remaining few skill cards were set aside for the time being.

Chen Mu no longer had much interest in Houtian-level palm, fist, or blade techniques.

Unless they were special-purpose Wu Gong.

He rested briefly.

Chen Mu took out internal energy cards and used them one by one. Energy was born out of thin air within his body, pushing the "Cloud-Rolling Technique" to run and converting it into his own internal energy, which was repeatedly condensed in the space of his dantian.

When all the internal energy cards were used up, a vortex appeared in his dantian space.

This was the thick internal energy that had been repeatedly tempered and condensed into a gas cyclone!

If the cyclone did not dissipate for three days, he could charge toward the Xiantian realm!

However.

By nightfall, most of the cyclone had dissipated, leaving only a small wisp that stubbornly swirled.

Not enough internal energy!

Breaking through to Xiantian was the final threshold of the Houtian realm, and the amount of internal energy required was the greatest.

Apart from the initial introduction of Xiantian power, everything else was condensed from internal energy.

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

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

Internal energy cards were obtained from the deaths of martial artists.

During this period, private fights within Nanyun Prefecture had decreased; only the Longevity Cultists were active in the shadows.

Yet the Longevity Cultists were hidden too deeply, the clues were broken, and there wasn't even a direction to root them out.

Nanyun Prefecture City.

In the western district of the outer city, in a small alley near the inner city wall, there was a small courtyard that ordinary people and low-level martial artists knew nothing about, but which various large and small factions and well-informed rogue cultivators were clearly aware of the stakes involved.

Everyone who came here, upon entering the courtyard gate, either wore a mask or a bamboo hat.

In short, they only dared to enter after concealing their figures and faces.

Li Qiancheng had specifically dressed up for the evening, wearing a cloak with a veil hanging from his head that covered most of his face. Stepping through the night, he arrived at the small courtyard gate and knocked three times gently.

"Come in."

A deep male voice came from inside the room.

Creak~

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

Then, he walked with light steps into the room that had a cloth curtain hanging at the entrance.

Inside the room, an oil lamp burned quietly, illuminating most of the space.

A long table was placed in the center.

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

"First time here?"

The old man held a brush, writing something on a piece of white paper, and asked without looking up.

"Yes."

Li Qiancheng was slightly nervous, swallowed his saliva, gritted his teeth, and said, "However, I have heard of the rules here."

"Good that you know the rules."

The old man continued writing without looking up. "Speak, who do you want to kill?"

"All the top brass of the Great Blade Gang!"

After breaking through to the ninth stage of the Acquired Realm, there were two remaining Internal Power cards; Chen Mu didn't keep them and used them all up one by one.

"Can do."

The old man's tone remained unchanged as he said indifferently, "To kill Guan Tong, one hundred thousand silver taels. For the five hall masters, to kill the External Affairs Hall Master Chen Mu, fifty thousand silver taels. For the other four, forty thousand taels each. For all the major leaders, ten thousand taels each."

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

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

Damn it, why is it so expensive?

Killing all the top brass of the Great Blade Gang was naturally for revenge.

For the Blood Wolf Gang—or to be precise, for Li Xiangyang!

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

Very few people knew about their relationship.

Because Li Qiancheng was not active in Nanyun Prefecture City; he lived in a county town under the jurisdiction of Nanyun Prefecture and was a local tyrant.

He was able to become a tyrant because of Li Xiangyang's support.

Some time ago, Li Qiancheng had gone on a long trip.

He returned to the county two days ago and only then learned of the great changes in the prefecture city.

The Guo family had been wiped out by the Martial Suppression Division!

The Blood Wolf Gang had been annihilated by the Great Blade Gang!

Li Xiangyang was Li Qiancheng's backer, his greatest source of confidence, and also the older brother he was closest to.

As it turned out, Li Xiangyang had died miserably under a flurry of blades!

Li Qiancheng had found out all the causes and consequences.

It was originally a dispute over a restaurant, but the Great Blade Gang had played dirty; Li Xiangyang was defeated by "Guan Tong," became dizzy on the spot, and was then hacked to death by the gang members.

Upon learning all this, Li Qiancheng was incredibly shocked and furious.

The sad part was that he simply could not afford to provoke the Great Blade Gang!

Li Qiancheng himself was only at the third stage of the Houtian realm.

Assassinating a few major leaders was possible.

But once he killed one, there was a high probability that the Great Blade Gang would notice and pursue him relentlessly; at that point, he would also die miserably.

He couldn't afford to provoke them, yet he was full of hatred.

What to do?

Find a killer!

Li Qiancheng had heard Li Xiangyang mention that this small courtyard near the inner city wall was the stronghold of the famous assassin organization, the "Black Dragon Society," in Nanyun Prefecture.

The "Black Dragon Society" had a good reputation; as long as the price was right, they would strike three times in succession.

Of course, if the first attempt failed, the price would increase before the second attempt.

Li Qiancheng had come specifically to find them, but who would have thought the price would be so high.

The deposit alone required one hundred and fifty thousand silver taels!

He only had thirty thousand taels on him.

"..."

"Is there a problem?" Seeing Li Qiancheng silent, the old man asked.

"No, no."

Li Qiancheng snapped back to reality with a start and waved his hand.

He paused and asked tentatively, "Um, how much is the deposit if I kill Guan Tong first?"

"Seventy thousand," the old man replied indifferently.

"..."

Li Qiancheng swallowed his saliva and asked again, "Then... then what about the External Affairs Hall Master, Chen Mu?"

"Thirty thousand," the old man replied.

"Good!"

Li Qiancheng's eyes lit up, "Let's kill him first!"