Cultivating in Different Professions

Master Wan and the others should have been enjoying their golden years.

But to protect the younger generation and Wuling City, these old soldiers had to take to the field once more.

"Master Wan, would those treasure hunters really dare to cause trouble?"

Luo Anning, though slow on the uptake, had finally grasped the situation and asked with a puzzled expression.

"Junior Sister Luo, there have always been more people who’d kick a man when he’s down than those who’d offer a helping hand in times of need."

Su Mu said slowly, "For a rare treasure, those people might not give a damn about the Taiping Bureau.

Deep in the old mountain forests, even if something happened, the Taiping Bureau would have no way to deal with them without any evidence."

"Master Wan, let me go out of the city. I have the Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow..."

Su Mu said.

"There’s no need."

Wan Qing shook his head. "We old-timers can still handle it.

They’re just a bunch of monsters and demons. Once they’ve jumped around for a bit, they’ll learn the difference between themselves and the Taiping Bureau.

When the Governor and the others return, these people will naturally settle down."

The Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow was indeed powerful, but its drawback was also obvious.

It had a limited number of uses.

This could easily be exploited by others.

Su Mu himself was only at the Blood Transformation Realm. If his Five Flames Heaven-Shaking Bow was countered, he would be in grave danger.

"I’ve just received news. Two Inspectors from the Inspection Bureau were assassinated. The killer is said to be Xue Shan of the Golden Wind Tower."

Wan Qing continued, "Xue Shan is the strongest of the Golden Wind Tower’s younger generation. He reached the Rebirth Realm at a young age and has mastered the Gen Mountain Realm. The reason he appeared in Wuling City is for the rare treasure in Daxing Mountain."

Su Mu: "..."

’Xue Shan?’

’He didn’t know if this Xue Shan was in Wuling City, but Xue Shan certainly wasn’t the one who assassinated those two Inspectors.’

’So this Xue Shan is taking the fall for me?’

’What a coincidence. It just so happens there’s an assassin in the Golden Wind Tower who has mastered the Gen Mountain Realm.’

’Xue Shan probably couldn’t clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River.’

’But these assassins are all very proud. Xue Shan probably wouldn’t deign to explain himself anyway.’

"All of you, be careful. There are many geniuses like Xue Shan from various sects and schools, and they might appear in Wuling City soon. Try your best to avoid conflict with them. If anything happens, leave it to us."

Wan Qing said.

Moved by his earnest concern, Su Mu and Luo Anning both thanked him.

"Master Wan, about the Blood Strengthening Pill and the Rebirth Technique—"

Su Mu began to ask.

Wan Qing’s description of the complicated situation had left Su Mu feeling a little uneasy.

’My strength still isn’t enough.’

"After the Spiritual Medicine you brought back from Daxing Mountain was sent to the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect, they immediately began the alchemy process. The entire process takes forty-nine days.

They should be finished by now."

Wan Qing said, "I don’t know how many pills the Headquarters received in total, but our Wuling Taiping Bureau will get one. The Governor will bring it back with them.

That Blood Strengthening Pill is for you."

Joy filled Su Mu’s heart as he quickly asked, "When will the Governor and the others return?"

"At the soonest, half a month. At the latest, two or three months. They will definitely be back by then."

Wan Qing said.

"As for the Rebirth Technique, the Governor will bring that back as well."

Wan Qing continued, "You performed with outstanding merit in repelling the Tier Five Demon Tide. According to the Taiping Bureau’s rules, you have earned a special contribution credit.

The Blood Strengthening Pill doesn’t count towards it. This special credit is just enough to exchange for a Rebirth Technique.

The Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique from our Taiping Bureau Headquarters is one of the strongest Rebirth Techniques in the world.

After cultivating it, a Martial Artist undergoes a nirvanic rebirth. Your strength, speed, and endurance will far surpass your peers. Most importantly, the Divine Phoenix Body forged by the Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique has an extremely high affinity for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, which will greatly increase your cultivation speed in the True Essence Realm."

"The Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique! That’s wonderful!"

Luo Anning said happily, "Senior Brother Su, you have such a profound foundation. You should cultivate this kind of top-tier Rebirth Technique so you don’t waste your talent.

This time, you absolutely must not be willful, like you were when breaking through to the Blood Transformation Realm. Don’t just casually practice some ordinary Rebirth Technique! You have to wait for the Governor to bring back the Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique."

As she spoke, she thought for a moment. "But that probably won’t happen this time. Senior Brother Su, it hasn’t been long since you broke through to the Blood Transformation Realm—a bit later than me, even. I’m only forty percent of the way through my blood transformation. You’re stronger than me, Senior Brother Su, but reaching the Perfection stage of blood transformation should still take you a few months, right? You probably won’t be breaking through that quickly."

Wan Qing felt a bit helpless. The Luo Girl was sharp as a tack at times, but laughably naive at others.

’Did Su Mu really break through to the Blood Transformation Realm by casually practicing an ordinary Blood Exchange Technique?’

’He cultivated the Xuanhuang Blood Exchange Technique, which is acclaimed as the strongest Blood Exchange Technique in the world!’

’If that was considered ’ordinary,’ then all other Blood Exchange Techniques could be thrown in the trash.’

Wan Qing had long since discovered that Su Mu was far more clear-headed than they imagined. He didn’t act like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old at all; his composure was frighteningly steady.

"Don’t worry, Junior Sister Luo. I’m not a casual person."

Su Mu said with a smile.

’The Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique... It sounds pretty good.’

’The Taiping Bureau’s power extends across the world. Even if the strongest Rebirth Technique they possess isn’t the absolute best, it can’t be far behind.’

’This Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique should be worthy of my profound foundation from an elevenfold blood exchange.’

"Master Wan, besides our Taiping Bureau’s Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique, what other famous Rebirth Techniques are there in the world?"

Su Mu asked curiously, "I’d like to learn more, so I can know my enemy and myself if I ever encounter people who practice them."

"There are a few other Rebirth Techniques in the world that can be compared to our Taiping Bureau’s Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique."

Wan Qing mused, "The Da Xuan Royal Family’s Twelve Dragon Forms Technique, the Divine Weapon Pavilion’s Fiery Fire Rebirth Technique, the Golden Wind Tower’s Geng Metal Rebirth Technique, and a few others."

"Doesn’t the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect have one?"

Su Mu asked, surprised.

"Besides our Taiping Bureau, the various sects and schools of the world basically only possess the strongest Cultivation Techniques for one or a few realms.

For example, the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect has the Nine Times Blood Exchange Technique, but their Rebirth Technique is not among the strongest.

Another example is the Golden Wind Tower. Their Rebirth Technique is excellent, but their Blood Exchange Technique is only effective up to eight times.

The Divine Weapon Pavilion’s Blood Exchange and Rebirth Techniques are both very good, but their True Essence Realm Cultivation Technique isn’t considered one of the world’s strongest."

Wan Qing explained.

Su Mu nodded in sudden understanding.

’So there’s a reason the Taiping Bureau holds such power in the world. They possess the strongest Cultivation Technique for every realm.’

’If a Martial Artist practices a top-tier Cultivation Technique in every realm, their strength will inevitably be top-tier as well.’

’And the Taiping Bureau has no shortage of such people in every generation.’

’This was something even the Da Xuan Royal Family couldn’t achieve.’

’In fact, the Da Xuan Royal Family hadn’t produced a top-tier expert in a very long time.’

"Right, there is one other Rebirth Technique."

Wan Qing thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "The Four Symbols Rebirth Technique. It’s said to be even stronger than the Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique, the Twelve Dragon Forms, and the others. The Divine Phoenix Rebirth Technique forges the Divine Phoenix Body, the Twelve Dragon Forms grants a dragon’s form, and the Geng Metal Technique a tiger’s form.

But the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique incorporates all four symbols. It possesses the versatility of the Dragon, the fighting spirit of the Tiger, and the fervor of the Phoenix."

"Legend says the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique is a primordial martial art, the origin of all other Rebirth Techniques in the world. But the truth of the matter is impossible to verify now."

Wan Qing added, "It has been lost to time, so you’ll never encounter anyone who practices this Rebirth Technique."

"Master Wan, I heard someone say once that a man on the Wanted List named Shi Ji was suspected of possessing the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique. Is that true?"

Luo Anning asked curiously.

"Of course it’s fake."

Wan Qing chuckled. "Shi Ji is certainly a capable person. Back in the day, he was ranked thirty-sixth on the Da Xuan Wanted List with just a Blood Transformation Realm cultivation, which was unprecedented.

Everyone ranked above him was at least in the Rebirth Realm.

But the story about the Four Symbols Rebirth Technique is probably just a rumor.

Shi Ji’s thieving skills are unparalleled, so it’s inevitable that some fantastic legends would spring up around him.

Otherwise, Shi Ji wouldn’t have chosen to join the Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect just to break through to the Rebirth Realm.

The Shennong Hundred Herbs Sect paid a hefty price to whitewash his identity."

"Oh."

Luo Anning nodded.

"Speaking of which, that Shi Ji is in Wuling City right now."

Wan Qing said with a smile, "Just yesterday, he entered Wuling City. He’s with Dai Jin now, most likely to support him.

Although this Shi Ji is only at the Rebirth Realm and has average combat power, his specialty is theft. We’ll have to be on our guard."