Chapter 68

Merit: 263

Wang Ping'an lay in his mother's embrace, listening to his mother and grandmother's idle chat, when a thought stirred and he silently summoned the system; his gaze first fell on the number after Merit, seeing that there were over two hundred Merit.

His face was full of undisguised joy!

Among them, two hundred and one Merit came from Peregrine Falcon Little Gray, rescuing the captured water buffalo and child, as well as dealing with the wicked man.

Of course.

It was also thanks to Hei Mao Bu Tou stepping in; otherwise, given the abilities shown by that last man, Peregrine Falcon Little Gray's current capabilities couldn't handle it, and naturally couldn't earn so much Merit at once.

So.

He also needs to find a way to improve Peregrine Falcon Little Gray's abilities; otherwise, even if a similar situation arose with a large amount of Merit waiting for him to reap, if Peregrine Falcon Little Gray lacked strong abilities and couldn't get Hei Mao Bu Tou's help, it would be hard to earn Merit.

Whether it's the skill Blessing Technique or the cultivation method Qi Guidance Method (Spirit Beast Chapter), both can enhance the spirit beast's own abilities, but these two only gradually increase, not instantly become strong.

Expecting these two to boost Peregrine Falcon Little Gray's abilities in a short time is almost impossible.

Wang Ping'an's gaze finally settled on the skill—Technique, and he saw a flashing golden '+' sign after it, confirming his guess.

To raise a talent, skill, or cultivation method from proficiency to the next level requires one hundred Merit.

"Ding! You spent one hundred Merit to upgrade the skill: Technique, Proficiency → Mastery!"

A mechanical, icy voice echoed in his mind; before Wang Ping'an could even show his joy, he faintly felt that the Sword Qi injected into his body by Great Sword Hero Dong Qing had changed.

Since he obtained the skill Technique, he has almost day and night nurtured that Sword Qi within him; although he had just begun cultivation, the system gave him a cheat, and furthermore Great Sword Hero Dong Qing did not tamper with that Sword Qi.

Moreover, knowing he had just been born and his body was weak, they deliberately refined that Sword Qi once, causing it to be very gentle.

Soon he came to control it, making it his own Sword Qi, not Great Sword Hero Dong Qing's.

Of course.

Even without cultivating the Sword Nurturing Manual, that Sword Qi, over time within his body, would eventually still become his own Sword Qi.

This is what Great Sword Hero Dong Qing did!

The next moment, the spiritual qi wandering between heaven and earth, as if sensing some mysterious attraction, surged from all directions.

Liu Dongzhu exclaimed in surprise: 'Mom, what's going on? On such a hot day, how could there be a breeze blowing, and it's so cool and comfortable?'

"Maybe the heavens, fearing that this devilish heat would scorch our family's Ping'an, specially blew a cool breeze!"

Although she said that, Zhang Guihua's face likewise showed surprise.

They naturally didn't know that this so-called cool breeze was caused by Wang Ping'an, making them feel comfortable because the spiritual qi gathered, seeping through their pores from all over their bodies, healing their long-standing hidden ailments.

Of course.

Over this period of time, ever since Wang Ping'an obtained the Blessing Technique, whenever he had time he would use it on his mother, father, grandfather, and grandmother, as well as on Hei Mao Bu Tou, Peregrine Falcon Little Gray, and the Black Dog Little Black.

He naturally could not avoid using it on his family; even though Hei Mao Bu Tou could help him earn Merit, in his heart their status still wasn't as important as his family.

The Blessing Technique truly is a top-notch art; after his use over this period, the hidden ailments in his mother, father, grandfather, and grandmother's bodies have long been healed, and continued use will only prolong their lives.

No wonder wealthy families are willing to spend money to ask Daoists to come home and perform blessings and chant sutras.

But at this moment Wang Ping'an had no mind to listen to his mother and grandmother's conversation; his entire focus was drawn to that Sword Qi within him.

As the skill Technique upgraded from proficiency to mastery, that Sword Qi within him also underwent an immediate change. However, since the change had just begun, it wasn't obvious at a glance; one could only see a rough outline, and even Wang Ping'an himself didn't know what changes would occur.

But from the spiritual qi surging from all directions, he could roughly guess that such a vast amount of spiritual qi was likely nourishment for the Sword Qi's transformation.

When the surrounding spiritual qi that had surged in was completely absorbed, that would mark the end of the transformation of the Sword Qi within him.

Wang Ping'an didn't rush, for after all, the completion of the Sword Qi's transformation within him was merely a matter of time; he silently cultivated the Technique, contributing his effort to the change of that Sword Qi.

Originally.

He was still preparing to wait for the Technique to upgrade, then immediately upgrade his cultivation method: the Purple Qi Classic. During this period of cultivation, he understood better than anyone that the importance of the Purple Qi Classic was not inferior to that of the Technique at all.

If the Technique strengthens that strand of Sword Qi within his body, then the Purple Qi Classic strengthens his physique.

But.

Given the current sudden anomaly, it's still better to wait for the Sword Qi transformation to finish before upgrading the Purple Qi Classic, to avoid an irreversible mishap.

「Is Master Wang at home? 」

Time passed unnoticed, and just as Wang Ping'an was immersed in cultivating the Technique, a shout came from outside the main hall.

This novel you have arrived

Liu Dongzhu lifted Wang Ping'an to his feet; at that moment, Zhang Guihua had already picked up a hoe, shouldered a bamboo basket, and gone out to work.

Outside the courtyard, there were three men in constable uniforms; the leader was none other than Constable Mao He, who had visited their home not long ago.

「Constable Mao, my father has gone to Yan Family Village! 」

Liu Dongzhu said: 「Constable Mao, what business do you have with my father? 」

「Madam Wang, this is not just your family's Divine Cat Hero who killed two heinous villains; he also rescued a child and even a water buffalo! 」

Saying this, Mao He's face showed undisguised shock as he sighed: 「I have come representing the county office to thank your family's Divine Cat Hero, and incidentally to deliver the reward silver for those two heinous villains to you! 」

Not long ago.

He was on duty at the county office when he heard that someone from Yan Family Village had come to report a case; he eagerly went to meet them, but when the person explained the purpose, he almost ended up beating them away.

The Divine Cat Hero saves people and kills villains?

A black cat that appeared from nowhere can not only save people but also kill villains?

This matter.

Probably only a three-year-old child would believe it!

But.

Faced with the other party's repeated oaths, and even the vicious swear 'If I lie, I will bear a son without an anal opening,' he finally had no choice but to believe, leading his team to follow behind that Yan Family Village villager.

Arriving at the scene of a homicide, they found a male corpse; the man turned out to be a wanted criminal pursued by the authorities, having committed several major cases.

He was not a local; he likely fled from elsewhere into their county.

Afterwards.

Also, in another place, they found a corpse, a local, but not a good sort; they hadn't committed any major crimes, but kept making small mistakes.

Never imagined they would be so audacious, together with a wanted criminal, to steal oxen for plowing and tie up children!

(End of chapter)