Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Purification and Rejuvenation
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
In the small courtyard, Chen Ping’an practiced the Gale Saber Technique.
The Gale Saber Technique was as fast as a gale. With every chop and slash, its Saber Momentum made the wind howl.
The Eighty-one Paths of Gale Saber were interlinked, each sequence more powerful than the last.
Having reached the Minor Success Realm in the Gale Saber Technique, Chen Ping’an’s execution was exceptionally skilled, carrying a faint, indescribable charm.
Under the moonlight, the blade’s cold glint was chilling.
+1!
+1!
+1!
...
A stream of Cultivation Experience notifications floated past Chen Ping’an’s eyes.
Finally, as one more notification flashed by, the saber in Chen Ping’an’s hand came to a stop.
"160 Cultivation Experience Points!"
Chen Ping’an’s eyes gleamed as he looked at the information on the translucent panel before him.
The Gale Saber Technique had ultimately surpassed Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, accumulating enough experience for a breakthrough first.
Chen Ping’an sheathed his saber and stood still, bathing in the moonlight as he regulated his breathing.
"Breakthrough!"
As he focused his mind, the Experience Points on the panel swirled into a vortex, churning wildly.
Once it reached a certain intensity, the vortex dissolved into motes of starlight that flowed into the space between his eyebrows.
A flood of enlightenment washed over his mind, as if he had practiced bitterly for many years.
At that moment, his Gale Saber Technique reached Great Success!
But it wasn’t just his Saber Skill that changed. A wondrous phenomenon was occurring within his Dantian Qi Sea.
The abundant Inner Qi that filled his Dantian Qi Sea began to steam away, undergoing a thorough purification.
The pure rose, and the impure sank!
And then...
Summoning Clouds and Mists, purification and rejuvenation!
"The Second Stage of Inner Qi, Purification and Rejuvenation!"
Chen Ping’an’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint flashing within them.
His Qi Blood surged and his Inner Qi roiled, creating a profound and mysterious phenomenon.
Sensing the state of his Dantian Qi Sea, he found that the Inner Qi that once filled his entire Dantian now only occupied two-thirds of the space. One-third of his Inner Qi had been refined into dross and expelled from his body.
’My Inner Qi is purer, and its destructive power is greater! Now, I can channel my Inner Qi with every move, unleashing great power with a mere lift of my hand or foot!’
A master at the Second Stage of Inner Qi was considered a significant figure in all of Weishui Outer City. They could serve as the leader or public face of a genuine, established power. With this Cultivation Realm, one could influence the local balance of power in Weishui Outer City.
The Fang Family Elder who had previously severely injured Zuo Wumei was at this very Martial Arts Realm: the Second Stage of Inner Qi.
The Second Stage of Inner Qi, much like the First Stage, was judged by one’s actual combat record.
A top-level expert at the Second Stage of Inner Qi could contend with a master at the Third Stage for a short time, whereas a weaker one was only slightly stronger than someone at the First Stage.
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Purification and Rejuvenation
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection), Flying Locust Stone (Perfection), Public Door Thirteen Sabers (Perfection), Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Horizontal Training (Perfection), Golden Bell Shield (Great Success: 298/400), Gale Saber Technique (Great Success: 0/400), Eight Steps Chasing Cicada (Minor Achievement: 118/160)
...
’My Gale Saber Technique has already reached Great Success, and Eight Steps Chasing Cicada isn’t far behind. Once Eight Steps Chasing Cicada also reaches the Great Success Realm, my combat prowess will rank among the veterans of the Second Stage of Inner Qi.’
’And if my Golden Bell Shield reaches the Perfection Realm, I’ll be practically unrivaled among those at the Second Stage of Inner Qi!’
’At that point, relying on the Golden Bell Shield’s ability for both Inner and Outer Cultivation, I’ll even stand a fighting chance against those so-called experts on the Rising Star Chart!’
"..."
In the small courtyard, Chen Ping’an’s eyes glinted, his heart surging with emotion.
He had risen from the bottom to achieve what he had today. Just one more step, and he could join the ranks of the truly gifted. His name would spread throughout the province, and stirring up storms would be a simple matter!
"How satisfying!"
"Again!"
Chen Ping’an let out a long cry, gripped his Hundred Pattern Saber, and resumed practicing the Gale Saber Technique.
Among his three Superior cultivation methods, his progress in the Gale Saber Technique was the fastest, as he had also invested the most time in it.
...
After breaking through to the Second Stage of Inner Qi, Chen Ping’an didn’t slacken his Martial Arts training in the slightest. Even during his leisure time in the day, he focused his energy on practicing the Golden Bell Shield.
All matters in the South City Prison, large and small, were handled by his subordinates. Only the most important issues were brought to his desk for a decision.
One day, a portly man stood anxiously outside the South City Prison.
This man was none other than Xu Jin-kui.
Some time ago, his hopes had been shattered by Constable Min. Worse, he learned that the top figure of the prison—a person of immense authority—had personally inquired about his son, Xu Renchang. Since then, he had been mired in terror and unease.
He never could have imagined that such a great personage would concern himself with such a trivial matter.
But Xu Renchang was his own flesh and blood, after all.
No matter how terrified he was, he could only grit his teeth and try to think of other ways to get Xu Renchang out of the South City Prison.
To that end, he had called in many favors. Many of them were part of a long chain of connections, one person asking another, reaching higher and higher up the ladder.
The people he sought help from were quite powerful and influential.
At first, with his lavish gifts and bribes paving the way, some had agreed to help after hearing his request. But that was only until they learned the details and discovered that Lord Chen of the South City Prison had personally taken an interest in the matter.
Then, all of them wanted nothing to do with it.
He tried this several times. Each attempt started smoothly, but once they learned of Lord Chen’s involvement, not a single person dared to take on the task.
Just who was this Lord Chen of the South City Prison? Why did the mere mention of his involvement make everyone too scared to help?
Unwilling to give up, Xu Jin-kui naturally tried to find out more.
However, what he discovered nearly drove him to despair.
Lord Chen of the South City Prison was a ruthless man—a truly ruthless man.
Wiping out the Tiger Head Gang, eradicating a Ten Thousand Demons Sect stronghold, firmly establishing his authority just days after taking office, and later suppressing his outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant subordinates...
To this day, some people still trembled at the mere mention of Lord Chen’s name.
The most crucial part was that this powerful and influential Lord Chen was still just a young man.
And youth meant limitless potential and a bright future.
In such circumstances, who would dare to offend him lightly?
Xu Jin-kui had already fallen into despair, resigned to letting nature take its course and hoping for mercy from the higher-ups. But then, in an unexpected turn of events, things took a surprising twist.
He received a message at home: his son, Xu Renchang, was to be released from prison today.
Upon hearing the news, without even stopping to verify if it was true, Xu Jin-kui rushed over to wait outside the South City Prison.
He wouldn’t dare put on airs by arriving in a carriage.
Staring at the solemn, gray-black prison walls, Xu Jin-kui’s heart was in his throat.
Xu Jin-kui asked the constable guarding the gate, his face wreathed in a humble smile.
"Lord Official, my greetings. Excuse me, but may I ask if a prisoner named Xu Renchang is being released today?"
The questioned constable glanced up at him and said dismissively, "I don’t know."
Xu Jin-kui, knowing how things worked, took some broken silver from his robes and handed it over.
After accepting the silver, the constable’s expression softened. "Xu Renchang, you said? I’ll ask about him for you in a bit."
"Lord Official..."
Xu Jin-kui was about to ask more when the constable’s expression suddenly tensed, and he became agitated.
"Go, go, step aside for now. We’ll talk about your matter later."
Shoved aside, Xu Jin-kui was a little dazed. Before he could figure out what was happening, he saw the constable, who had been lazing about just moments ago, suddenly snap to attention, his posture ramrod straight.
His spirit and bearing were so impeccable that even Xu Jin-kui couldn’t help but inwardly praise him; there wasn’t a single flaw to be found.
It wasn’t just this one constable; the others also stood perfectly straight, one by one. They were all in high spirits, brimming with vigor.
Seeing their transformation, Xu Jin-kui, no matter how foolish, understood that a major figure was about to emerge.
Footsteps echoed from within the main gate, reaching everyone’s ears. A moment later, a figure appeared in the distance.
Xu Jin-kui took a hasty glance but quickly lowered his head before he could get a clear look, not daring to stare.
"Lord Chen."
The gate-keeping constables greeted him in unison. Their voices boomed, resounding loud and clear.
Xu Jin-kui’s heart skipped a beat.
’Lord Chen?’
’The head of the South City Prison!’
Xu Jin-kui, who was already bowing his head, lowered it even further.
