Chapter 170 : Lightness Skill
Chapter 170: Lightness Skill
Qin Changyuan vented his anger, and only after the carriage disappeared from sight did he finally stop yelling. Gasping for breath, his eyes bloodshot, his face full of murderous intent, he growled, "Go. I’ll personally slaughter that bastard!"
The coachman was a middle-aged man. He calmly said, "Young Master, think thrice."
Qin Changyuan erupted with rage. "Even you want to defy me now?"
The coachman replied, "A month ago, Han Xiangcheng from the Heavenly Ultimate Sect challenged that Chen Ming and was defeated by a single sword strike, suffering internal injuries. That night, his senior brother Lai Xiangran tried to seek justice for him, only to declare seclusion the next day. There are rumors saying he lost to Chen Ming's sword and even had one arm severed—"
As he spoke, he shook his head. "That rumor is too outrageous to be believed. The most likely explanation is that Chen Ming has a powerful protector at his side. To kill him, at least a Third Grade must take action to be certain."
The implication was clear—given Qin Changyuan's strength, he most likely couldn't kill the man. He’d only end up humiliating himself.
Qin Changyuan wasn’t a reckless brute. After hearing the coachman’s analysis, he finally calmed down. Cold light flickered in his eyes as he suddenly snatched the whip from the coachman’s hand and lashed him several times.
The coachman didn’t dodge. He took the lashes head-on, his skin torn and bloodied.
"Hmph!"
Qin Changyuan said coldly, "This is what you get for talking back."
He then tossed the whip back, returned to the carriage, and ordered, "To Tianxiang Tower."
The coachman silently steered the carriage and turned it in the direction of Tianxiang Tower.
……
"Qin Changyuan comes from a collateral branch of the Qin Family. He was born into poverty. At fifteen, he demonstrated extraordinary talent and was granted favor by the clan head, thus joining the main bloodline of the Qin Family."
Qiuxiang was telling Chen Ming about Qin Changyuan. "Although he is a standout among his generation in the Qin Family, he actually can’t mobilize their power. As long as you don’t kill him, the Qin Family won’t send strong experts against you."
Then she added, "However, he is now part of the main branch and very talented. Many in the city are willing to associate with him. It’s possible some small power might send a Third Grade expert to trouble you. It’s not something to take lightly."
Third Grade? Small power?
Chen Ming found it hard to put those two terms together.
In Qingfeng City, there hadn’t been a single Third Grade for a long time.
One could only say Jiangzhou City was filled with experts. Saying Third Grades were as common as dogs was an exaggeration, but in Jiangzhou, they really held little prestige.
Chen Ming asked, "Do you think Miss Yu would send a Third Grade expert to protect me?"
Qiuxiang and Dongxiang hesitated for a moment, then shook their heads.
He asked, "What do you think is going through her mind?"
They had followed Yu Haitang for several years and knew her to some extent.
Dongxiang cautiously replied, "She... probably wants to use this chance to test whether you have any other trump cards."
"What if I don’t? What if I just die?"
Qiuxiang and Dongxiang looked troubled, as if they wanted to speak but held back.
Chen Ming understood. If he died, she probably wouldn’t care much.
That was true. She had so easily cast aside even long-serving personal maids. Why would she care about an outsider like him?
Fine. It seemed he could only rely on himself.
That woman in red had already left.
Doctor Sun from Changqing Hall—who knew if he could be counted on?
Chen Ming felt a bit frustrated. Depending on others for protection really sucked.
If he truly encountered a Third Grade enemy, he’d have to break through to Fourth Grade on the spot and go all out.
Thinking this, he silently recited in his heart.
【Level: 55】
【Current Points: 624000】
【Cultivation Methods: 《Iron Horse Stance》 (Fifth Layer, Perfected), 《Five Elements True Art (Incomplete)》 (Fifth Layer 990000/1500000)】
【Martial Techniques: 《Three Talents Fist》 (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastery), 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 (Mastery), 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 (First Layer 20463/100000)】
【Secret Arts: 《Disguise Technique》 (Mastery)】
Over the past month, he had continued adding two thousand points per day to 《Five Elements True Art》.
Chen Ming stared at the panel, deep in thought.
When he saw 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》, he couldn’t help but recall the words of that mysterious woman in red.
He had practiced this lightness skill occasionally, and its proficiency had risen by several thousand points—barely better than nothing.
He thought for a moment and made a decision in his heart.
"Add points."
He directly allocated eighty thousand experience points to the lightness skill 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》.
【Level: 55】
【Current Points: 544000】
【Cultivation Methods: 《Iron Horse Stance》 (Fifth Layer, Perfected), 《Five Elements True Art (Incomplete)》 (Fifth Layer 990000/1500000)】
【Martial Techniques: 《Three Talents Fist》 (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returns Sword Technique (Mastery), 《Vermilion Bird Sword Technique》 (Mastery), 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 (Second Layer 463/200000)】
【Secret Arts: 《Disguise Technique》 (Mastery)】
……
As soon as the points were added, Chen Ming felt a strange change occur in his body.
Some of his meridians and acupoints were widened, becoming more resilient. His mind filled with many techniques and experiences related to lightness skill.
This change lasted for more than ten seconds.
"My speed has increased by nearly fifty percent."
He was thrilled by the effect. This was his burst speed. For long-distance travel, it had improved by two or thirty percent.
That was already quite astounding.
"This lightness skill is really something."
A skill that required one hundred thousand experience points just for the first layer was certainly not ordinary.
If he had possessed this level of lightness skill a month ago, he wouldn’t have needed to use Sword Intent to defeat Lai Xiangran.
……
After nightfall, Chen Ming sat in his room reading. The "Mingfeng Sword" lay nearby within easy reach.
The night was silent.
Only occasional barks from outside and insect chirps from the courtyard could be heard.
A breeze blew in, bringing a refreshing chill.
Suddenly, Chen Ming sensed something and looked up, calling out, "Miss Su?"
A white figure appeared outside the window.
He opened the window and saw Su Zhi Ning standing beneath the eaves, dressed in white like snow, still wearing her veil, only her eyes visible. Those eyes sparkled like stars.
Chen Ming exclaimed in surprise, "It really is you! Where have you been all this time? I thought something happened to you."
He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the light in those brilliant eyes softened. She quietly replied, "Recovering from injuries."
"Are you healed now?"
"Mm."
"That’s great."
His joy was genuine. With her around, he felt secure.
Though not yet Third Grade, her identity as a disciple of the Heaven’s Path Alliance was deterrent enough.
As for her Heart Demon—it wasn’t too concerning. With his current strength, even if he couldn’t win, he could escape.
Su Zhi Ning saw the genuine joy on his face and instinctively looked away. She asked, "How did you notice me?"
Chen Ming picked up the Mingfeng Sword. "It told me."
Su Zhi Ning looked at the divine weapon and was surprised to find it had changed. It no longer looked lifeless but now exuded a faint vitality.
She glanced inside the room, her eyes turning cold. "Who are those two women inside?"
Chen Ming sighed, "Two pitiful people. They made a small mistake and had their legs broken by their former master, then were sent to the farm as slaves. I felt sorry for them and brought them back..."
Su Zhi Ning looked at him, as if trying to see through him. "Are they your maids now?"
Chen Ming felt a chill under her gaze and asked, "Is that a problem?"
With her Heart Demon, Su Zhi Ning truly had changed. She never used to care who was around him.
She quickly averted her gaze and dropped the topic. "Before our first spar, you said that if you won, I had to grant you a request."
Eh?
After all this time, why bring that up now?
Chen Ming cautiously replied, "I think... I did say something like that."
Su Zhi Ning said, "Go ahead. Make your request."
She had come to fulfill the promise of her own accord. It seemed the shadow of her defeat had finally lifted.
Chen Ming said, "It was just a joke. No need to take it seriously."
In the past, he would’ve made his request without hesitation. But now, with her having a Heart Demon, it was better to be cautious—not to provoke her.
Su Zhi Ning stared into his eyes and said, "Didn’t you once say you wanted to see my true face?"
Before he could respond, she reached up and removed her white veil.
In that instant, Chen Ming felt as if something had struck his heart. The face before him matched every fantasy he’d ever had about celestial maidens in martial arts novels.
That cool, sacred, and mysterious aura.
That bright, deep gaze, devoid of any impurity.
And the ethereal fairy-like aura that surrounded her...
Chen Ming finally understood why she was on the Absolute Beauty Ranking and not Mudan. Though they were from the same sect, there was still a gap in beauty and temperament.
"My master told me never to show my true face in the martial world. He said people are easily swayed by beauty—it would hinder my cultivation."
Su Zhi Ning looked at Chen Ming. Her voice was like a breeze from an icy spring, clear and gentle, intoxicating.
Chen Ming nodded in agreement. "Your master was right. In the martial world, the two things most likely to cause trouble are divine manuals and stunning beauties. Honestly, you shouldn’t have shown me either."
Su Zhi Ning said, "My master also said that after a year of tempering, I could remove the veil. For me, that is another form of cultivation."
Chen Ming thought of the peculiar techniques of the Heaven’s Path Alliance and understood her master’s intent.
However, she hadn’t been out for long before her master was trapped in the Sea-Calming King’s Mansion and didn’t get a chance to teach her much.
During this time, she had stayed by his side, always hidden in the shadows, rarely interacting with others.
If she really took off the veil—could she handle it?