Chapter 186: Chapter 120: Dissipating Skill, Breakthrough to the Late-stage of Force Integration
’If all else fails, I’ll just go kill a couple more Demon Sect members...’
A bold idea suddenly surfaced in Jiang Che’s mind.
However, the thought of the Demon Sect potentially having experts at the Refining Organ Realm, or even higher levels, made him quickly dismiss the notion.
’What am I thinking? This isn’t Lin Yuan City. I can’t just act recklessly...’
Jiang Che shook his head, stopped overthinking, and began to focus on his cultivation.
「Two months later.」
Jiang Che had cultivated another martial art to the Perfection Realm—a Qi Blood Realm Martial Arts technique he had previously bought from the Scripture Pavilion.
It was a Qinggong technique similar to the Shadow Tracing Step, and it also activated [Invisibility].
Therefore, [Invisibility] was upgraded, allowing him to move slowly in the dark without being discovered.
Afterward, Jiang Che used his last stalk of Withered Soul Grass and dissipated this Qinggong technique.
Jiang Che finally broke through the Mid-stage of Force Integration, leaping into the Late-stage of Force Integration.
With his Withered Soul Grass completely used up, Jiang Che could only resort to honest, normal cultivation.
Another six months passed in the blink of an eye.
Without the Dissipating Technique, Jiang Che’s progress was extremely slow.
In six months, he had only managed to consolidate his Late-stage Qi Force a little.
The next stage after the Late-stage of Force Integration was Great Success in Force Integration.
Once he reached Great Success in Force Integration, he could begin to charge toward the Bone Forging Realm.
At this rate, Jiang Che felt that breaking through to the Bone Forging Realm would probably take him three to four years!
Furthermore, he had less than two hundred taels of gold left.
’I still need a large amount of Withered Soul Grass, the next volume of my True Skill, next year’s tuition, and other cultivation resources...’
Jiang Che calculated the expenses he would have in the coming year and felt that even another two thousand taels wouldn’t be enough!
He’d need at least three thousand taels!
’This won’t do. I have to go earn some money!’
Looking at the few pitiful gold notes in his pocket, Jiang Che immediately felt the pressure.
Seeing that Cloud Mist Ridge would open in four months, he decided to temporarily stop his cultivation and go accept some missions to earn money first.
...
...
...
「Cangzhou Prefecture City, East Market Street.」
Yin’s Cloth Shop.
In the back courtyard, bolt after bolt of brightly colored silk, dyed in various hues, were hung out to dry.
A young woman with a slightly baby-faced look was inspecting the dyed fabrics.
It was none other than Yin Yingying.
"Alright, send this to the Li Mansion."
She said to an assistant after inspecting a bolt of peach-colored silk.
"You got it!"
The assistant carefully took down the dried silk, wrapped it in cloth, and quickly departed.
Watching the assistant’s departing figure, Yin Yingying couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
After coming to Cangzhou Prefecture, she stopped practicing martial arts and instead began to help her father run the cloth shop.
The shop’s craftsmanship was excellent, its colors vibrant, and its quality consistent.
The silk was deeply loved by the noblewomen of Cangzhou.
As a result, the cloth shop expanded rapidly.
But because their foundation was not yet stable, some local ruffians and hooligans had been constantly causing trouble recently.
Although the losses weren’t significant for now, it was a source of great frustration for Yin Yingying.
If they were just ordinary ruffians, she could have handled them herself.
After all, she was a Martial Artist at the Stone Skin Realm.
But she later discovered that many of the harassers were also Martial Artists, some with Realms no lower than her own!
After making some inquiries, she learned that these people were actually members of nearby gangs.
Some of these gangs even had experts at the Force Integration Level!
She had reported it to the Government Office, and had even spent a fair number of gold notes on bribes, but it was useless.
These people merely switched from harassing them openly to doing so covertly.
For example, they would sneak in at night to damage the silk.
Father Yin’s initial idea was to spend money to avoid disaster, so he sent payoffs to some of the nearby gangs.
But there were more than a dozen gangs nearby. If they paid off one, another would be dissatisfied.
And those who did receive payoffs just became greedier.
If this continued, the cloth shop would be forced to close down!
While she was in a daze, an assistant ran over and said, "Young Miss, the Master said that guests have arrived. He asks that you come over."
Yin Yingying nodded and returned to their living quarters.
Entering the living room, she saw her father, Yin Rong, drinking tea and chatting with a man and a woman.
"Greetings, Cousin, Brother-in-law!"
Yin Yingying gave a small bow.
The woman was a bit older than Yin Yingying, looking to be around thirty.
She was dressed extravagantly in pearls and jewels, looking ostentatiously wealthy.
Her features were somewhat similar to Yin Yingying’s.
But without Yin Yingying’s baby fat, her face looked slightly sharp and mean.
This was Yin Yingying’s older cousin, Wang Xiufen.
The man beside her looked to be in his forties.
The man was somewhat overweight with very small eyes. When he looked at Yin Yingying, his gaze was brazen and scrutinizing.
This was Yin Yingying’s cousin-in-law, Zhu Shichang.
"It’s been a few years! Yingying, you’ve blossomed and become more and more beautiful!" Wang Xiufen said with a smile, taking Yin Yingying’s hand.
Upon hearing this, Yin Yingying also smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with her cousin, Wang Xiufen.
Seeing that his daughter had arrived and the pleasantries were mostly over, Yin Rong spoke up:
"Xiufen, Shichang. I’ve invited you here today because I have a troublesome matter I’d like your advice on."
This nephew-in-law of his was a member of the Zhu Family, one of the Eight Families of the Upper City in Cangzhou.
Although he was only from a branch family, he still had considerable influence.
He thought that perhaps this nephew-in-law of his might have a solution to the harassment the cloth shop was facing!
Zhu Shichang’s expression turned serious. "Uncle, please speak!"
Yin Rong nodded and then explained in detail the recent harassment of the cloth shop and the Government Office’s inaction.
After he finished, Wang Xiufen immediately chimed in:
"Uncle, we heard some rumors about this on our way here. If you ask me, ordinary payoffs are useless! These local bullies are insatiably greedy. You have to hire a truly influential expert to watch over the place. That will make them think twice before trying anything crooked!"
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