Chapter 350: with translation of chapter title

356. Chapter 356: Progress

Translate: "356. Chapter 356 Progress". Could also be "356. Chapter 356: Progress". We'll keep simple: "356. Chapter 356 Progress".

In the blink of an eye, another half month passed.

Translation: "In the blink of an eye, another half month passed."

As the first person to eat a tomato, this senior disciple, on the twentieth day after receiving the Fearless Peerless suit implantation, upgraded his Configuration to level two.

Translation: "As the first guy to eat a tomato, this senior disciple, on the twentieth day after receiving the Peerless Martial suit implant, upgraded his Construct to level two."

Check: "the first guy to eat a tomato" = "the first guy to eat a tomato"

In theory, it shouldn't be this fast.

Translation: "According to theory, it shouldn't have been this fast."

But the senior disciple is, after all, a mid-stage Condensed Truth realm martial artist, endowed with true qi, and he spares no effort, cultivating it day and night.

Translation: "But the senior disciple, after all, is a mid-stage Condensing Truth realm martial artist, possessing true qi, and he does not spare its consumption, nourishing it day and night."

It's only natural that the level‑one Fearless Peerless suit would reach level two far earlier than expected.

Translation: "The level-one Peerless Martial suit advancing to level two well ahead of schedule is therefore quite natural."

Once it reached level two, the Fearless Peerless suit's boost to the senior disciple became far more noticeable.

Translation: "After reaching level two, the Peerless Martial suit's enhancement of the senior disciple becomes even more pronounced."

Whether it's aiding cultivation or helping in battle.

Translation: "Whether assisting cultivation or aiding combat."

For cultivation support, it first speeds up the condensation of true qi, and second it purifies the true qi inside the body.

Translation: "Assisting cultivation: first, it increases the rate of condensing true qi; second, it refines the quality of the true qi within the body."

When it comes to combat assistance, activating the Fearless Peerless suit actively boosts the user's strength, speed, agility, and endurance significantly.

Translation: "In aiding combat, after actively activating the Peerless Martial suit, one's strength, speed, agility, and endurance can all be greatly enhanced."

It even has three explosive killing moves.

Translation: "It even possesses three burst-type killing techniques."

Li Shuwen personally went down to the field several times, holding back his own cultivation to feed techniques to the senior disciple.

Translation: "Li Shuwen personally stepped in several times, controlling his own cultivation level to feed moves to the senior disciple."

It both instructs the senior disciple and evaluates the Configuration.

Translation: "This is both teaching the senior disciple and testing the Construct."

The results were very good, and Li Shuwen was pleased.

Translation: "The effect is excellent, and Li Shuwen is very satisfied."

But just as Li Shuwen planned to first introduce the Configuration inside the Eighth‑Level Martial Hall, then expand outward from the Clear‑Mind Sword Sect and his own Mixed Origin Sect on a small scale...

Translation: "However, just as Li Shuwen planned to first promote the Construct internally within the Level 8 Martial Hall, then start from the Bright Heart Sword School and his own Primordial Origin Sect for a small-scale external rollout,"

The world is in upheaval!

Translation: "The world is in turmoil!"

The crown prince rose in revolt, marching his forces against the palace.

Translation: "The Crown Prince rebelled, raising troops to attack the imperial palace."

Having seized the heavenly gate of the imperial city, the army divided: one column marched straight for the palace, the other headed to slay the Director of the Astronomy Bureau where the emperor's elixirs are made.

Translation: "After breaking through the imperial city's Fengtian Gate, the forces split into two routes: one straight for the palace city, the other slaughtering toward the place where the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy concocts elixirs."

Clearly, the Qianlong Emperor's quest for immortality pills to reign for centuries drove the crown prince insane.

Translation: "Obviously, Emperor Kang Qian's act of taking elixirs to prolong life, aiming to reign for several hundred years, drove the Crown Prince mad."

Even if the elixir succeeded and the prince got a dose, giving him hundreds of extra years, what difference would it make?

Translation: "Even if the longevity elixir is successfully refined and the Crown Prince receives one pill, granting him several hundred more years of life, what then?"

How could there be a crown prince destined to live for hundreds of years?

Translation: "How could there be a Crown Prince for several hundred years under heaven?"

You had to kneel to speak, kneel when the Qianlong Emperor was unhappy, kneel if you erred, and kneel even if you'd done nothing wrong.

Translation: "In ordinary speech one must kneel; when the Emperor Kang Qian is displeased one must kneel; when one makes a mistake one must kneel; even when one has done no wrong one must kneel."

Everything demanded kneeling.

Translation: "Everything requires kneeling."

Kneeling for tens of years, the crown prince could no longer endure it.

Translation: "After kneeling for several decades, the Crown Prince could no longer bear it."

And he was supposed to keep kneeling for another few hundred years?

Translation: "Must he kneel for another several hundred years?"

Never mind.

Translation: "Forget it."

Let's revolt.

Translation: "Let's rebel."

Either he would kill the Qianlong Emperor and claim the throne, or be killed by him and have no further worries.

Translation: "Either kill Emperor Kang Qian and take the throne, or be killed by Emperor Kang Qian and have no worries."

A bloody battle ended in a disastrous defeat for the crown prince.

Translation: "In a bloody battle, the Crown Prince suffered a crushing defeat."

Supposedly, the Qianlong Emperor meant to have his Feathered Forest guards seize the crown prince alive for interrogation.

Translation: "It is said that Emperor Kang Qian originally intended to have his imperial guards capture the Crown Prince alive and confront him directly."

Seeing that defeat was certain, the crown prince drew his sword, confronted the Qianlong Emperor eye‑to‑eye, and then fell on his sword.

Translation: "As a result, seeing that defeat was inevitable, the Crown Prince personally drew his sword, faced Emperor Kang Qian in a stare, and then slit his throat with the sword."

The crown prince's final roar echoed across the whole Da Yong kingdom.

Translation: "The Crown Prince's roar before his death has already spread throughout the entire Grand Yong Dynasty."

"Long life and eternal vision? Hahaha… You're nothing but a lonely, forsaken wretch now! Look left and right—who can you still trust? Who dare you trust?"

Translation: "\"Longevity and eternal vision? Hahaha… You are truly a lonely, bereft one now! Look left and right—who can you still trust? Who dare you trust? \""

Accompanying that proclamation across the realm was a purge of blood and fire.

Translation: "Along with these words spreading across the world, there is also a cleansing of blood and fire."

The Qianlong Emperor ruled for forty‑eight years, the crown prince had been heir for thirty‑six years, and the power of the entire Da Yong realm had effectively been split into five shares.

Translation: "Emperor Kang Qian reigned for forty-eight years, the Crown Prince had been heir apparent for thirty-six years, and the power of the Grand Yong realm had in fact already been roughly divided into five parts."

Two portions went to the Qianlong Emperor, one to the crown prince, one to the noble families, and one to the jianghu.

Translation: "Two parts belong to Emperor Kang Qian, one part to the Crown Prince, one part to the aristocratic clans, and one part to the Jianghu."

When the crown prince's revolt ended in his death, his share passed to his supporters; those with connections promptly changed sides, while those without were naturally swept away.

Translation: "After the Crown Prince's rebellion and death, his share goes to him; those with connections swiftly change allegiance, while those without connections are naturally purged."

The Imperial Guard, following orders, started rooting out the rebel crown prince's remnants from the capital, and heads began to roll.

Translation: "By imperial decree, the Imperial Guard set out to purge the remnants of the rebellious Crown Prince, starting from the capital, where heads rolled in droves."

Fuli County isn't an isolated paradise, so of course it would be caught up in the turmoil.

Translation: "Fuli County is no secluded utopia, so of course it will also be affected."

Moreover, Li Shuwen had to personally go out to vouch for his own sect, the Mixed Origin Sect.

Translation: "Moreover, Li Shuwen had no choice but to step forward personally to vouch for his own Primordial Origin Sect."

The Mixed Origin Sect is located south of the Huai River, straddling the north‑south boundary.

Translation: "The Primordial Origin Sect lies south of the Huai River, situated at the dividing point between north and south."

As a leading sect of immortal martial arts in the southern jianghu, it naturally had connections with the Eastern Palace's power while the crown prince reigned.

Translation: "As the foremost sect of martial immortals in the southern Jianghu, the Primordial Origin Sect naturally had ties with the Eastern Palace faction during the Crown Prince's tenure."

Disaster rests on blessing; blessing shelters disaster.

Translation: "Misfortune leans on fortune; fortune leans on misfortune."

All the advantages the sect had received from the Eastern Palace over the years must now be given back twice over.

Translation: "However many benefits the sect gained from the Eastern Palace faction in past years, it must now disgorge double."

Even so, there's no guarantee they'll get through the crisis unscathed.

Translation: "Even with that, it is not certain to weather the crisis safely."

Having no choice, they summoned the secluded Li Shuwen, hoping to leverage his reputation as the top figure in the southern jianghu.

Translation: "Left with no alternative, they could only recall the reclusive Li Shuwen, hoping to borrow the renown of the foremost person in the southern Jianghu."

"Master, if it can't be done, preserving yourself comes first."

Translation: "\"Master, if it cannot be done, preserving oneself is paramount. \""

As Li Shuwen was sent off, Lin Ke offered a reminder.

Translation: "When seeing Li Shuwen off, Lin Ke gave a word of advice."

"Don't worry, Master—after all these years in the jianghu, you've gotten by on sharp eyesight."

Translation: "\"Rest assured, Master, having wandered the Jianghu for so many years, you rely on your keen eyesight. \""

Li Shuwen laughed loudly and paid no heed.

Translation: "Li Shuwen laughed heartily, utterly unconcerned."

Lin Ke wanted to vent.

Translation: "Lin Ke felt like retorting."

Your strength in the jianghu lies in a pair of peerless, mighty fists; anyone who encounters you in the jianghu survives only thanks to your eyesight.

Translation: "You wander the Jianghu relying on a peerless fist; others who meet you in the Jianghu survive only by relying on their eyesight."

Anyone without keen eyes would have long been knocked out by you.

Translation: "Those lacking eyesight have long been beaten to death by you."

Even the grass on the tombs has grown three zhang high.

Translation: "Even the grass on the graves is three zhang tall."

As Li Shuwen went to say goodbye to his master‑wife, Lin Ke concealed himself out of sight.

Translation: "Seeing Li Shuwen off to bid farewell to Madam and the others, Lin Ke hid in the shadows, not revealing himself."

The validation progress of Configuration users is promising.

Translation: "The verification progress of Construct martial artists is gratifying."

The cause‑and‑effect thread tying progress to the Eight‑Extremes Martial Hall is about to be severed, and Lin Ke wishes to avoid side issues that would create fresh complications.

Translation: "The causal line with the Eight Extremes Martial Hall's development is about to be severed; Lin Ke does not want to invite complications and generate new entanglements."

For instance, the master‑wife has lately been scheming to pair Lin Ke with Li Sisi.

Translation: "For example, Madam has recently harbored the idea of matching Lin Ke with Li Sisi."

Having undergone the earlier mutation, Li Sisi has also had a change of heart and is no longer so opposed to the master‑wife's desires.

Translation: "And after the previous mutation, Li Sisi has actually changed her mind, no longer so resistant to Madam's wishes."

This change simply made the heavens turn azure.

Lin Ke merely, in the past ten or so years, with his memory not yet fully recovered, and under the emotional inertia of his upbringing, did not regard himself as an outsider from another world, but simply underwent an immersive experience.

It was not that he truly considered himself a person of this world.

But he had no intention of settling down, starting a family, and spreading his seed.

He was actually quite afraid that Mo Li would find out about this, come over to kill him, and demand an explanation.

Thinking of Mo Li, Lin Ke couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

He also didn't know whether this world had been "captured" by the Supreme Council of the Wizard World, and whether the flow of time had been altered.

After a moment's thought, he gained nothing.

Lin Ke simply cut off this train of miscellaneous thoughts, no longer wasting his mental energy.

Better to focus on the matter at hand.

His master had left, but the internal promotion of the "Construct" would not stop.

Everything had been arranged and prepared.

He was merely responsible for selecting disciples lacking talent and handling the handover with Lin Ke, tasks that fell to Senior Brother Shi.

The Eight Extremes Martial Hall had, on the very day Lin Ke left the valley, urgently recalled all disciples who were out training.

All sellable assets were liquidated, and unsellable ones were kept running discreetly.

No matter how great the loss, it didn't matter; as long as they could keep people safe and smoothly survive the foreseeable upheaval.

Lose the people while keeping the land, and both are lost; keep the people while losing the land, and both are preserved.

That's the principle.

Time flew, and another half month passed.

"How about it, dare to try a hands-on operation?"

In the laboratory, Lin Ke finished the operation at hand, completed another "Construct" implantation, and while tidying up the equipment, he asked the person beside him.

This person was none other than Hu Suqi, who had returned to Fu Li County together with Senior Brother Shi.

After learning about the "Construct," he immediately developed great curiosity and wanted to study it.

After comprehensive consideration and over twenty days of observation, confirming the outstanding effect of the "Construct," Hu Suqi signed the confidentiality contract set by Lin Ke.

As a spellcaster, although Hu Suqi had never seen such a contract, he could feel its powerful binding force.

Compared to methods like planting a restriction, it was far superior.

Today was already the fifth day of Hu Suqi learning the hands-on implantation of the "Construct" under Lin Ke.

The person on the operating table was the fifteenth disciple to receive the "Construct" implantation over these five days.

While studying the knowledge of the "Construct" system within Lin Ke's organized Human Immortal Martial Dao, and while learning the practical operations, this study intensity and demand were certainly not low.

"Perhaps there's still something lacking."

Hu Suqi reviewed his grasp of knowledge and skills, then shook his head.

"No problem." Lin Ke rose and left, taking Hu Suqi toward the basement.

Those whose wickedness is full to the brim can never be completely caught.

The two-level basement had been renovated, one level made into isolation cells, the other into a laboratory and observation room.

"These are all your materials; practice well."

Arriving at the second basement level, Lin Ke pointed to the twenty isolation cells that were already full, speaking in an indifferent tone.

"That many?"

Upon seeing clearly, Hu Suqi couldn't help but exclaim.

"Don't worry, they're all people who deserve to die."

Lin Ke saw through Hu Suqi's thoughts behind the exclamation and gave an explanation in advance.

"You practice on your own, practice more."

Having said that, Lin Ke turned and left.

Hu Suqi stood in place for a while before finally taking action.

She only studied ancient witchcraft, not evil witchcraft, precisely because she did not want to become a cold-blooded demon who loses humanity in pursuit of power.

Therefore, even knowing that the martial artists who would become her material were all utterly wicked, she still needed to prepare herself mentally.

After spending half a day selecting, Hu Suqi first picked out the note deliberately posted outside the isolation cell, which wrote that the lecher had brought disaster to dozens of young maidens.

Such a person deserves to be hacked to pieces a thousand times.

Before the operating table, the subject was anesthetized, restrained, and pre-operative preparations were complete.

Hu Suqi gritted his teeth slightly and began the first hands-on practice.

At this moment, Lin Ke had already teleported to another stronghold.

Last night, taking advantage of the chaos, Hu Songqi broke away from the Internal Guard and the hidden forces left behind by Hu Chengqing, sneaked to this place, and made contact with Lin Ke.

She would not forget Lin Ke's promised offline gathering, and the strength that gave her a chance to kill Hu Chengqing.

"You've finally come."

Sitting in the cave illuminated by the Night Pearl, Hu Songqi's voice sounded like a grim ghost: "I thought you'd used me up and then just abandoned me."

"Nonsense."

Lin Ke pursed his lips, then asked, "Are you ready?"

"Of course."

Hu Songqi rose, loosened his hands, let the robe draped over his body fall to the ground, naked walked toward the stone slab, not minding the cold, and lay down straight away.

Lin Ke came before the stone slab, carefully examined Hu Songqi's body, missing no detail.

"Turn over."

After observing for a while, Lin Ke gave an order.

Hu Songqi did not hesitate, immediately turned her body, and lay on the collapsed stone.

Lin Ke inspected again, and had a clear plan in mind.

"All right, lie down."

Speaking, Lin Ke took out the needed tools and materials and laid them out one by one.

Hu Songqi proactively lay in a spread-eagle position, allowing Lin Ke to act freely.

According to Hu Songqi's physical condition, load-bearing capacity, and foundation in evil witchcraft cultivation, Lin Ke recalled from memory the 'Shadow Annihilation' set he had designed for Christina.

Of course it couldn't be copied exactly; it was merely borrowing the design idea.

The set designed for Hu Songqi is named 'Shadow Sting', with only two effects: merging with shadows, and backstabbing.

Merging with shadows is not an ordinary shadow-escape technique, but Lin Ke's masterpiece in instant movement.

According to Li Shuwen's theory, 'Shadow Sting' merging with shadows is actually equivalent to the effect of entering the shadow layer in the Shadow City of the mage world, extremely hard to detect, and perfect for stealth and assassination.

As for backstabbing, it increases attack power when attacking an enemy from behind, in terms of concept and rules.

Hu Songqi wanted to kill Hu Shengqing, but the chance of winning in a direct fight was almost zero.

Then the only option was the path of assassination.

'Shadow Sting' was perfectly suited.

Lin Ke's design of the 'Shadow Sting' set also brought great gains.

Cavity Void actually means discerning and analyzing concepts and rules.

Designing the 'Shadow Sting' set allowed Lin Ke to grasp some of the rules and concepts related to darkness, shadows, and assassination in this world.

He was not far from reaching the Cavity Void Realm in the Human Immortal Martial Dao.

After some effort, the level-one 'Shadow Sting' set was successfully implanted in Hu Songqi.

After subsequent tempering, the 'Shadow Sting' set could be upgraded to level five!

In Lin Ke's established Human Immortal Martial Dao 'Construct' system, level-one sets correspond to the Qi Power Realm, level-two to the Condensing Truth Realm, level-three to the Unity Realm, level-four to the Cavity Void Realm, and level-five sets currently have no counterpart.

Because he has not yet seen any fifth-realm cultivators in this world.

However, it seems impossible to correspond.

It might lie between the peak of the Cavity Void Realm and the fifth realm.

"Don't practice evil witchcraft; practice this instead."

Lin Ke left behind two booklets and departed leisurely.

Without anesthesia, relying solely on willpower to accept the 'Construct' implantation, Hu Songqi remained fully conscious.

After Lin Ke left, Hu Songqi sat up, her eyes full of anger.

Is she ugly?

Is her figure bad?

She was like a stone—not even a thought of taking advantage, let alone the act.

Really… infuriating.

Hu Songqi also didn't wear clothes, angrily picking up the two booklets to read.

The first booklet explained the design concept, tempering methods, usage, and advice for 'Shadow Sting'.

The second booklet contained cultivation and practical secret arts that could be paired with the 'Shadow Sting' set, magnificent and grand, even more orthodox than ancient witchcraft, and with a completely different path.

"This is…"

Hu Songqi's breathing suddenly became heavy and turbid, her face flushing red with excitement.

Lin Ke was completely indifferent to the impact his left-behind booklets had on Hu Songqi.

He merely wanted to use Hu Songqi's hand to kill Hu Shengqing.

As long as Hu Shengqing's death could increase the probability of severing the fate lines, then let's give it a try.

Anyway, even if Hu Songqi's assassination attempt failed, it wouldn't matter much.

Lin Ke's figure appeared on the mountaintop, gazing toward the Hunyuan Sect.

With the gradual promotion of the Human Immortal Martial Dao 'Construct' system, the three fate lines entwined around Lin Ke, and the two related to the Eight-level Martial Hall and Human Immortal Martial Dao development, were about to be severed.

Only the line related to his master Li Shuwen remained unchanged for now.

Lin Ke previously speculated that perhaps only by helping Li Shuwen enter the See God Realm could it be done.

But now, Lin Ke felt a sudden hunch.

The Hunyuan Sect had encountered trouble, and Master Li Shuwen was caught in it.

If he could help his master overcome this ordeal and help the Hunyuan Sect escape danger, it would make the fate lines much more fragile.

However, Lin Ke did not act rashly.

Instead, he returned to Fuli County, fully mobilizing the intelligence network he had built years ago to gather information.

After piecing together the fragmented information from all sides to get a rough picture of the events, Lin Ke then set out.

The safety of Master Li Shuwen need not overly concern Lin Ke.

Anyone or any force capable of killing Li Shuwen could also kill the present Lin Ke.

The crux of the crisis involving the Hunyuan Sect lay not in the sect itself.

But in the capital.

Internal Guard!