Chapter 172 : Plan
Chapter 172: Plan
【You defeated an LV69 enemy and gained 41,000 experience points】
Chen Ming glanced at the prompt and felt a sense of ease.
This elderly man, who resembled an account clerk, had not used his full strength. Just like the middle-aged man before, he carried the demeanor of a Fourth Grade Expert—striking only to the point of restraint.
In truth, if it were a fight to the death, unless Chen Ming used Sword Intent, he would be the one to die.
But if he did use Sword Intent, he wouldn't be able to face the next opponent.
The last time he used Sword Intent and severed Lai Xiangran’s arm, it took him half a day to recover. The mental toll was too great.
Today, these three opponents had earned him more than one hundred thousand experience points in total.
“As expected, high risk comes with high reward. The experience from challenging across ranks really is substantial.”
At this moment, he was akin to having max-level skills and a top-tier item, grinding monsters over ten levels above him. As long as his monster-luring technique was decent, he could enjoy experience gains that soared like the wind.
Chen Ming walked over to Ji Qianxing, who had been watching the match from the side, and said, “Thanks for your help, Brother Ji. Should I go pay a visit to the lady?”
Ji Qianxing replied, “No need. The mistress is in seclusion.”
Seclusion?
Could it be that she intended to dual cultivate the 《Primordial Fire True Art》 already?
Chen Ming admired her courage and asked, “May I ask how many Fourth Grade experts the lady has arranged for me?”
Seeing his earnest expression, Ji Qianxing said, “If you wish to continue, I can arrange it for Brother Chen tomorrow.”
“Continue.”
“Very well. Same time in the morning, just come on your own, Brother Chen.”
“Alright.”
⋯
After seeing Chen Ming off, Ji Qianxing headed to the rear courtyard to report to the mistress.
Entering through the courtyard gate, he spoke to the maid Ju’er standing guard outside, “He’s left.”
“Who left?”
A gentle voice came from within as a noble and elegant woman dressed in palace attire stepped out.
Ji Qianxing immediately saluted, “Greetings, Madam.”
The woman raised her hand and said, “No need for formality. You just said—who left?”
Ji Qianxing answered, “It was Chen Ming.”
“Chen Ming?”
The elegant woman paused for a moment, then recalled, “Is he the one who just rose to sixth on the Azure Cloud Ranking? Xiao’e has her eyes on another promising young man, wanting to take him under her wing? What nonsense.”
Ji Qianxing lowered his head, not daring to speak.
This woman was the mistress’s aunt by blood, born of the Yu Family, now the Sect Master’s wife of the Cangyue Sect, known as Madam Yu.
The Xiao’e she referred to was Yu Haitang. “E’niang” was her childhood name, used only by those extremely close to her.
Madam Yu asked, “Tell me, is Xiao’e truly in seclusion?”
“Yes, Madam,” both Ji Qianxing and Ju’er answered, bowing.
A hint of worry flickered in Madam Yu’s eyes. “Has she truly decided? Does she really intend to take that step?”
Ju’er softly said, “Madam, from what this maid knows, the mistress is cultivating a Secret Art, not breaking through a realm. It’s just that this Secret Art is quite difficult, so she had this maid inform Madam to act as guardian.”
Madam Yu said, “I understand.”
With that, she turned and walked inside.
Once she left, Ju’er asked, “How did the battles go?”
Ji Qianxing replied, “He won all three.”
“Ah?”
Ju’er was shocked, disbelief written across her face. “Is he really that formidable?”
Formidable was putting it lightly.
An indescribable emotion surged in Ji Qianxing’s heart, but he quickly suppressed it and said, “He wants to continue tomorrow.”
Ju’er said, “I’ll inform the mistress.”
⋯
The next day, Chen Ming returned. This time, his opponent was an elderly man in luxurious robes—visibly different from the three he had faced the day before, bearing a haughty air.
That aura was quite familiar to him. Back in Qingfeng City, those so-called esteemed masters carried the same air. In plain terms, they were people basking in the glory of past achievements, living in comfort and complacency. Their ambition had faded, yet they insisted on maintaining the pretense of seniority—such “elders.”
Such individuals tended to value reputation above all. To them, their name was worth more than their life. They were definitely harder to deal with than the previous three.
“She really thinks highly of me.”
Chen Ming cursed silently. It was bad enough that she had sent a peak-level 69 Fourth Grade yesterday, but today she brought in an even trickier one.
Was this her way of curbing his arrogance by throwing top-tier experts at him?
Hmph.
He silently summoned the panel and directly allocated 100,000 points to 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》.
【Level: 55】
【Current Points: 453000】
【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》 (Third Layer, 1232/300000)】
【Secret Arts: 《Disguise Technique》 (Mastery)】
In an instant, this Light Body Technique had broken through to the Third Layer.
Chen Ming’s body underwent another change—some tendons became more resilient and powerful, while certain meridians widened and strengthened.
Simultaneously, countless techniques and experiences related to this Light Body Technique surfaced in his mind, as if he had suddenly acquired years of hard-earned training from nothing.
At this moment, the elderly man in fine robes spoke, “As long as I defeat this person, my grandson’s matter will be written off?”
Ji Qianxing nodded, “Correct.”
The old man said no more. Drawing his weapon, he asked in a deep voice, “Young Master, are you ready?”
Having just completed his upgrade, Chen Ming smiled faintly and said, “I’m ready.”
“Take this!”
A sharp shout exploded in the air. The elderly man in fine robes had already vanished from his original position, and the long saber in his hand slashed toward Chen Ming’s waist.
He struck with full force right from the start.
Unfortunately, the strike missed.
Chen Ming dodged that blazingly fast saber by a hair’s breadth.
The elderly man’s second move followed immediately, chasing in pursuit, slashing at Chen Ming mid-air, leaving him with no room to evade.
At that moment, Chen Ming finally drew his sword. The sword tip tapped against the long saber, borrowing the force to rise again.
Each strike from the elderly man was faster than the last, saber energy surging everywhere.
To Ji Qianxing, it clearly looked like Chen Ming had fallen into a completely inferior position, unable to counterattack, yet each time, he narrowly avoided the opponent’s killing moves—resolving the crisis in seemingly impossible ways.
Even Ji Qianxing couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat for him. Under the fierce offensive of the elderly man, Chen Ming appeared to be in grave danger, as though he might be bloodied on the spot at any moment.
Gradually, Ji Qianxing began to realize something was off. Chen Ming moved gracefully, like a nimble great bird—suspended mid-air, as if he didn’t even need to land. The elderly man’s killing strikes all missed.
This movement technique was simply unheard of.
Finally, Chen Ming launched a counterattack. While airborne, he stabbed at the elderly man like a great bird diving down.
This move—Ji Qianxing had seen Chen Ming use it during the Azure Cloud Ranking contest.
But now, its power was completely different—easily ten times stronger. At this moment, the sword tip pointed precisely where the enemy was forced to defend.
The elderly man was no novice. Realizing the danger, he raised his saber to block.
Hm!
A flash of blood. The old man grunted, and his shoulder had already taken a strike. Blood gushed forth.
Even with Defensive Gang Qi protecting him, under an absolute divine weapon, it was no better than paper—it only slightly delayed the strike.
“What a sword technique…”
The old man’s expression turned bitter. Clutching the wound on his shoulder, he turned and left.
Ji Qianxing stood dumbfounded. He hadn’t even seen what happened—why had Chen Ming’s sword shifted three inches at the critical moment, just enough to avoid that saber strike?
He only knew one thing: this man had grown stronger again.
Chen Ming sheathed his sword and, as usual, sat cross-legged on the ground, circulating his energy to recuperate.
⋯
【You defeated an LV69 enemy and gained 41,000 experience points】
【You defeated an LV68 enemy and gained 39,000 experience points】
【You defeated an LV69 enemy and gained 41,000 experience points】
Today’s three opponents earned Chen Ming a total of 120,000 experience points. He instantly made back the 100,000 he had invested in 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》.
He felt even more the extraordinary nature of this Light Body Technique. Just at the third layer, he could already perform some unbelievable movements and directional changes that defied physical laws.
Today’s three opponents were all extremely strong, and their fighting willpower was resolute—not something the three from yesterday could compare to.
Yet he could defeat them with ease, which showed just how much power 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 gave him after reaching the third layer.
“But before reaching Third Grade, there’s no point in continuing to invest.”
Once 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 reached the third layer, only a Third Grade Martial Artist could fully utilize its profundities.
It was like a rocket engine—his True Qi was just gasoline. No matter how much it burned, it couldn’t reach the engine’s maximum output.
Like a pony pulling a heavy cart, further point investment would be a waste.
Chen Ming, however, wasn’t worried. With his current strength, there shouldn’t be many in the Fourth Grade who could surpass him. At the very least, it would have to be someone on the level of Su Zhi Ning.
As expected, in the next few days, the opponents Yu Haitang arranged for him were all easily defeated, granting him bountiful experience.
Over 100,000 a day—Chen Ming was grinding happily.
At this rate, in less than a month, he would have enough experience to reach the Third Grade.
That’s right—this was his goal: to leap past Fourth Grade and directly break through to the Third Grade realm. To surprise everyone.
In front of Senior Shang, the peak expert, and the First Grade Expert of the Heaven's Path Alliance, only breaking through to the Third Grade would give him some power to protect himself.
If he had extra experience points left, he’d raise 《Phoenix Dances Across the Nine Heavens》 another layer or two—to use for escaping.
This plan was simply perfect.
⋯
While Chen Ming quietly carried out his plan, Qin Changyuan’s patience had also reached its limit. He had sent spies to monitor Chen Ming and knew she was visiting the Yu Family every day.
More than once, his face turned green with rage, wishing he could storm over and tear Chen Ming limb from limb. Each time, it was his attendant who stopped him.
Today, that attendant finally brought good news.
“We found the man. He has only one condition.”
Qin Changyuan calmed down at this moment and asked, “What condition?”
“He has a son in the Six Doors Authority, already Fourth Grade, but unable to rise to Fifth Grade Constable. If his son gets promoted, he’ll act immediately.”
“Tell him to be ready to act in ten days.”