Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Venomous Hatred
Name: Chen Ping’an
Realm: Inner Qi - Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Blades Perfect, Thirteen Grand Protectors Cross Training Perfect, Golden Bell Shield Perfection, Gale Blade Technique Perfection, Eight Steps Chasing Cicada (Great Success) (316/400), Flying Star Swordsmanship (Entry Level) (13/20), Great Vajra Palm (Entry Level) (5/20)
.....
Chen Ping’an gazed at the information on his Golden Finger Panel.
Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown!
The Third Stage of Inner Qi. He had finally broken through!
The Celestial Gate above his head opened, and as the Celestial Rain fell upon his crown, Chen Ping’an felt his Inner Qi undergo another sublimation.
The Celestial Gate opened quickly, but it also closed quickly!
It only remained for a few breaths before gradually fading away.
And the changes it brought...
With a mere thought from Chen Ping’an, the Inner Qi in his body began to surge wildly. In an instant, it reached his fingertips and shot out from his body.
SWISH!
The disembodied Inner Qi caused the air to vibrate.
It shot forward a full ten feet, its power undiminished, before beginning to wane. It finally dissipated slowly just shy of twenty feet!
’After being purified and sublimated by the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown, the attack range of my Inner Qi has increased dramatically.’
Chen Ping’an mused with a hint of awe.
At the First Stage of Inner Qi, Inner Qi could only cling to the surface of a weapon, causing minor ripples in the surrounding area through the splash effect of clashing blades.
At the Second Stage of Inner Qi, having been purified to a certain degree, it could leave the body over a small area. At the perfection of the second stage, this distance was less than five feet.
But at the Third Stage of Inner Qi, the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown...
It could travel ten feet without losing power, with a maximum attack range of up to twenty feet!
Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown meant that the engagement distance between Martial Artists had broken the limits of physical weapons.
According to rumor, in the Profound Light Realm beyond Inner Qi, the engagement distance was even more terrifying. With the aid of Spiritual Clarity Divine Intent, one could even achieve brief periods of levitation, leading to a greater variety of moves and killing techniques.
Feeling the boundless, surging Inner Qi roiling within him, an indescribable sense of pride and power welled up in Chen Ping’an, making him want to let out a long, triumphant cry.
’The Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown Realm!’
’Golden Bell Shield at the Perfection Level, Gale Blade Technique at the Perfection Level! And... Eight Steps Chasing Cicada, which is about to reach Perfection!’
’With these three superior cultivation methods, I’m powerful enough to look down on everyone in Weishui Outer City!’
Based on what he had learned recently, the number of Martial Artists in the entire Weishui Outer City who had reached the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown Realm could be counted on two hands!
Within the Outer City Garrison Command, for example, only the Commander-in-Chief and his deputy, along with two mysterious Inner Qi Grand Tributors, had reached such a realm. Beyond them, only the dominant powers of Weishui Outer City had Martial Arts Masters at the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown level presiding over them.
As for the Profound Light Realm, which was above the Inner Qi Realm, those experts were all gathered in Weishui Inner City!
After breaking through to the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown, Chen Ping’an, for the first time, shifted his gaze from Weishui Outer City and began to truly consider the entirety of Weishui County City.
Among the various powers, large and small, within Weishui County City, if one could produce a single expert at the Profound Light Realm!
Then it would be considered an Inner City power! Across all of Weishui County City, that would qualify as a Quasi-First-class Power!
Above a Quasi-First-class Power was a First-class Influence.
The hallmark of a First-class Influence was having several Profound Light Realm experts, ensuring the power’s status wouldn’t plummet due to the sudden death of any single one.
And above the First-class Influences were the top-level powers that truly dominated the entire Weishui County City!
The top-level powers of Weishui County City, for example, were the Four Great Noble Families of Weishui!
The Liu Family, the Mu Family, the Fu Family, and the Fang Family!
Each of these four great families possessed an Absolute Master who served as their ultimate pillar of strength!
’Not enough! It’s not enough! It’s nowhere near enough!’
As he thought about the power structure of Weishui County City, the pride that had just swelled within Chen Ping’an gradually faded, replaced by a surge of even greater ambition.
In the distance, the golden morning sun pierced through the thick clouds, casting a dazzling light.
Chen Ping’an looked up, a blazing fire churning in his eyes.
....
After reaching the Celestial Rain Falling on the Crown, Chen Ping’an maintained his usual low profile, only leaving home for the periodic high-level meetings at the South Town Garrison Command.
Previously, in order to master the Gale Blade Technique to Perfection as quickly as possible, Chen Ping’an had focused most of his attention on it. Now that the Gale Blade Technique was at Perfection, he began to slowly devote some of his energy to practicing the Flying Star Swordsmanship and the Great Vajra Palm.
Within just a few days, he had reached the Entry Level for both techniques.
Upon reaching the Entry Level, Chen Ping’an felt his own Martial Arts Realm take another step forward!
By his own estimation, although he wasn’t a veteran master of the Third Stage of Inner Qi yet, he was already far beyond the level he had been at right after his breakthrough.
Time passed bit by bit, and occasionally, news of the Mu and Fang Families would surface.
Things like a certain Mu Family enterprise being mysteriously affected, or the Fang Family’s medicinal herb trade routes running into some trouble...
Clearly, the struggle between the two great Noble Families was gradually heating up.
Just when Chen Ping’an thought the game between the two great families wouldn’t end anytime soon, the Outer City Garrison Command’s process for exonerating Fang Rui was suddenly completed!
Fang Rui, who had been imprisoned in the South City Prison, was released that very day.
On the day of Fang Rui’s release, the Fang Family arrived in a grand procession of several dozen people. There were guards and beautiful maids, housekeepers and servants, and even an extremely luxurious two-horse carriage.
The gates of the South City Prison swung open, and Fang Rui walked out. The prison guards and constables standing on either side looked pale, their expressions grim.
"Move aside! Move aside!"
The Fang Family guards barbarically shoved aside the South City Prison’s guards and walked up to Fang Rui.
"Young Master!"
The group of guards fell to their knees respectfully.
Having been imprisoned for over a month, Fang Rui was not in good shape. Seeing the kneeling guards, it seemed to remind him of the grievances he’d suffered in prison, and he flew into a rage, kicking one of them.
"You blind fools, hurry up and help me up!"
The guard who had been kicked didn’t dare show any disrespect. He immediately scrambled to his feet and supported Fang Rui.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Fang Shicheng ran up with a heartbroken expression, carefully examining Fang Rui.
"It was this old servant’s incompetence! I’ve let the Young Master suffer! You have truly suffered!"
Watching Fang Shicheng, who looked more heartbroken than if his own son had been locked up, it was hard to tell if his attitude was genuine or just an act.
"Trash! A bunch of trash!"
"Your Young Master was suffering in there! What the hell were you all doing? Not a single one of you came to save me!"
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn that Chen Ping’an!"
"Fuck!"
Fang Rui vented loudly.
But after being imprisoned for so long, his strength was limited. After venting for a while, his voice gradually died down.
Fang Shicheng comforted Fang Rui, "Young Master, this old servant has arranged for the best physician to tend to your health immediately."
After a few more curses and insults, Fang Rui was ushered into the carriage like a returning hero.
Before the carriage curtain fell, Fang Rui shot a hateful glare back at the South City Prison, his face full of venomous resentment.
"You! The pain you made me suffer, I will pay it back ten, a hundred, a thousand times over!"
"You will all pay the price! Not a single one of you will escape!"
"I swear it, I will!"
Bowing, Fang Shicheng lowered the carriage curtain for Fang Rui. He glanced at the gates of the South City Prison, a sinister gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Men, escort the Young Master home!"
The grand procession gradually made its way toward the Inner City, leaving behind a wake of Fang Rui’s palpable resentment.
Chen Ping’an stood on an upper level of the South City Prison, watching the departing procession and letting out a sigh.
’The days ahead aren’t going to be peaceful, I’m afraid!’
