Chapter 185 - 120: Perfection (Part 2)
The moment he spoke, disaster struck!
Behind Chen Qing, the lid of a large wooden crate, which had been sitting in a corner of the deck, suddenly burst open!
A flash of a saber, infused with chilling True Qi, silent yet swift as lightning, slashed straight for the vital point on the back of Chen Qing’s neck!
Where the saber’s light passed, the air itself seemed to freeze. This was clearly a Treasure Saber of extraordinary quality!
At the same time, all pretense vanished from the face of Wang Zhenshan, who was blocking the cabin door, leaving only a savage killing intent.
The True Qi in his palms erupted, carrying a scorching heatwave as he viciously struck at Chen Qing’s chest!
A pincer attack from front and back! A death trap had been sprung!
"You little bastard! You ruined my plans! Now die!" Wang Zhenshan roared.
The person who leaped from the crate was a pale-faced young man—none other than the fifth young master of the Zheng Family, Zheng Da, who had been lucky enough to escape.
In the nick of time, it was as if Chen Qing had eyes in the back of his head!
He pushed his Wave Riding Body Technique to its absolute limit. His toes spun on the slippery deck, and his whole body moved like a willow catkin in a gale, narrowly dodging the fatal slash.
At the same time, the Cold Chiyi Spear in his hand transformed into a furious dragon. Instead of meeting Wang Zhenshan’s ferocious Palm Power head-on, he channeled the essence of ’Moving Mountains and Unloading Seas’. The spear’s shaft drew a perfect arc, and its tip struck Wang Zhenshan’s wrist meridian with unerring precision!
CHI!
His Cyan Wood True Qi, concentrated to a needle’s point, instantly pierced Wang Zhenshan’s Protective True Qi.
Wang Zhenshan felt a heart-piercing pain in his wrist. The flow of his True Qi abruptly stagnated, and the Palm Power he had unleashed dissipated by more than half. The scorching heatwave spread out but failed to harm Chen Qing in the slightest.
"The Wang Family dares to collude with a remnant of the Zheng Family? Are you not afraid of your clan being annihilated?!"
Chen Qing stabilized himself and pointed his spear at the two men, his voice icy cold.
"Hmph! You wet-behind-the-ears brat, what do you know of the Jianghu! The world isn’t so black and white. I’ve known Brother Zheng for decades; how could I let you sow discord!"
Wang Zhenshan endured the excruciating pain in his wrist, the fury in his eyes intensifying. "Nephew Zheng, let’s attack together! We’ll end this quickly!"
Seeing his sneak attack had failed, Zheng Da’s gaze turned sinister. His Treasure Saber conjured a curtain of bone-chilling light. With sharp Saber Qi, he attacked again—Cunning, Ruthless, and Fierce, aiming for all the vital points on Chen Qing’s body. Wang Zhenshan also forced his True Qi to surge, and crimson palm shadows fluttered about, sealing off Chen Qing’s escape routes.
One from afar and one from up close, the two coordinated with surprising tacit understanding.
A cold sneer played on Chen Qing’s lips.
His strength was far beyond what it once was; he was only a single step away from the Mid-stage Embracing Pill realm.
"Since you’re looking for death, I’ll oblige you!"
The Cyan Wood True Qi within Chen Qing’s body surged like a great river, concentrating at the tip of his spear.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! SHIIING—!
Spear shadows, like a raging tide, instantly collided with Wang Zhenshan’s palm shadows and Zheng Da’s curtain of saber light!
Every collision produced the muffled boom of exploding True Qi and the ear-piercing shriek of metal on metal!
Wang Zhenshan felt an irresistible, immense force transmitted from the spear, jolting his blood and qi into turmoil. His arms grew numb, and he was forced to retreat again and again.
Although Zheng Da’s Saber Qi was cold, Chen Qing’s Cyan Wood True Qi was more vigorous and resilient, giving him the upper hand!
However, during a head-on block, the cold light from the Treasure Saber in Zheng Da’s hand flared. Its blade precisely struck the point where the head of the Cold Chiyi Spear connected to its shaft!
With a piercing "KRAANG!", sparks flew. A fine but clear crack had actually been cut into the incredibly tough shaft of the Cold Chiyi Spear!
’Zheng Da’s saber... it’s a Middle-Grade Treasure Artifact! No wonder it’s so sharp!’
Seeing his slash succeed, a flash of ecstasy crossed Zheng Da’s eyes, and his attacks grew even more ferocious.
Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened. He had spotted a tiny opening. The tip of his spear shot out like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair, so fast it left only an afterimage!
PUCHI!
The Cold Chiyi Spear pierced Zheng Da’s throat with absolute precision.
In his wide eyes, ecstasy instantly turned to astonishment and ashen despair.
Seeing this, Wang Zhenshan turned without the slightest hesitation. True Qi erupted from under his feet as he prepared to leap over the ship’s rail and into the river!
He chose to flee!
As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!
"Trying to run? Too late!"
Chen Qing’s eyes were as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice; he had been prepared for this.
With a flick of his wrist, he withdrew his spear and turned. Facing the fleeing Wang Zhenshan, he changed his technique, switching from a thrust to a sweep!
The spear shaft shrieked through the air like a mountain shifting sideways. Wielding immense force, it struck first despite being launched second!
BOOM!
The shaft of the spear slammed viciously onto Wang Zhenshan’s hastily raised arms!
CRACK! The distinct sound of breaking bones rang out!
Wang Zhenshan’s arms were instantly twisted out of shape, and his violent True Qi was forcefully shattered!
A terrifying Power penetrated his body and shattered his heart meridian.
His body flew backward like a broken sack, smashing heavily against the ship’s rail. He spewed a torrent of blood and then went silent.
The waterway returned to a deathly silence, with only the Treasure Ship gently rocking on the waves.
Chen Qing slowly withdrew his spear. He looked at the crack on the shaft left by the Treasure Saber, his brow furrowing slightly before relaxing again.
He searched Wang Zhenshan and Zheng Da’s bodies, finding several bulging leather pouches and silk bags containing about thirty thousand taels of silver.
Looking at the thick stack of gold notes and silver notes in his hand, Chen Qing quickly began to calculate in his mind. ’I need to save up more silver. Then I can go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to look for a Treasure Medicine that can improve my Root Bone.’
Treasure Medicines that improved one’s Root Bone had appeared at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion’s auctions before, but the prices were extremely high, and they were snapped up every time they appeared.
Chen Qing calculated that he needed to accumulate even more silver.
After all, the benefits of improving his Root Bone were immense.
Not only that, but a suitable Divine Weapon, life-saving Top-Grade Inner Armor, and even the secretly produced high-quality Elixirs from the Wutai Sect—every single one of these things required a massive amount of silver coins to acquire.
Tallying his gains from this battle, besides the gold notes and silver notes, there were also several bottles of Elixirs for healing and restoring True Qi, as well as a few pieces of decent-quality Jade and Gemstones.
The biggest surprise of all was the Treasure Saber that Zheng Da had used.
The saber was over three feet long. Its scabbard was crafted from deep-sea ironwood, and it felt heavy and cold to the touch.
He slowly drew the saber. A cold gleam like moonlight flowed out. The blade was long, narrow, and slightly curved, with an incomparably sharp edge. A faint chill emanated from it. Near the handguard, two small characters in ancient seal script were inscribed: Yellow Springs.
A yellow Gemstone was inlaid at the end of the hilt.
"A Middle-Grade Treasure Artifact!"
A hint of joy appeared in Chen Qing’s eyes. He flicked the blade with his finger, producing a clear, crisp sound.
The quality of this saber was superb, worth at least one hundred fifty thousand taels or more!
It was clearly a treasured item from the Zheng Family’s collection.
He carefully put it away. If he didn’t end up using it, selling it would still fetch a huge sum.
Besides that, there were a few broken Weapons and several Middle and Lower Grade Martial Arts Secret Manuals. To Chen Qing, these things were worthless.
And this Treasure Ship itself was also extraordinary. Its materials, sturdiness, and the precision of its stern-wheel rudder mechanism were all far superior to the dilapidated piece of junk Shen Xiuyong had ’loaned’ him.
Without hesitation, Chen Qing transferred his belongings from his own boat to this new Treasure Ship and rearranged the Bone-Eroding Spider Silk.
He used his True Qi to push the dilapidated old boat into a reef-filled area deep in the waterway, leaving it to sink.
By the time he finished, night had completely fallen.
In the direction of Nine Waves Island, flames soared into the sky, dyeing half the heavens red. The sounds of shouting and killing also seemed to have faded.
Piloting the new Treasure Ship, Chen Qing quietly sailed away from this stretch of water.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence; success is inevitable]
[Great Success in Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear (1997/2000)]
After tidying up a bit, Chen Qing sensed that his Spear Technique was approaching Perfection. He immediately picked up his Cold Chiyi Spear and entered a state of Cultivation.
The Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear: when still, it is Immovable; when it moves, it is like the earth splitting and mountains collapsing—unstoppable!
The might of the ’Prison Suppression’ was not merely for defense, but for crushing all obstacles with an unrivaled, heavy force!
The ’Mountain-Toppling’ Momentum was about converting that immense weight, which could suppress the entire world, into a devastating destructive power!
In his mind, every detail of the Spear Techniques—every exertion of force, every circulation and eruption of True Qi—became incomparably clear.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence; success is inevitable]
[Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear at Perfection (1/3000)]
A feeling of smooth, unobstructed harmony rose from Chen Qing, then was immediately drawn back into his body.
He opened his eyes. The Cold Chiyi Spear in his hand seemed to let out a joyful hum, connected to his will.
His Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear had finally reached the realm of Perfection!
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