"Something's wrong. Why is there nothing here? The system's entry description wasn't very detailed either; it only said it was inside the cracks of the statue."
The system was not omnipotent. It had not specified which statue or where the crack was.
He still had to find it himself.
Su Changqing frowned slightly and carefully examined the Grand Purity statue before him.
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened and landed on the large red gourd held in the Grand Purity statue's hand.
The base of the gourd was connected to the Grand Purity statue, and over the years, a crack had formed there.
"The Three Purities statues are only cleaned once every ten days. No wonder Li Kongxiang never found it after so many attempts. So it was here."
Delighted, Su Changqing reached toward the crack. His little finger fit inside perfectly.
With a hook, three slightly yellowed, dried tea leaves fell into his hand.
"Who are you? Where is Li Kongxiang?"
Two voices suddenly rang out. Su Changqing was startled and hurriedly climbed down from the Grand Purity statue.
These four men before him were the real ones wearing Flying Fish Robes.
Their tight robes were embroidered with gold, long sabers hung from their waists, and they were tall and imposing as they stared coldly at Su Changqing.
"I'm a menial disciple. Li Kongxiang is trying to break through to Body Refinement Stage Eight, so he asked me to clean in his place." Su Changqing raised the broom in his hand and quickly explained.
At that moment, he could only forcibly suppress the panic in his heart. His acting was flawless.
Whether he inspected Jade Purity, Supreme Purity, or Grand Purity, he had never let go of the broom and rag in his hands.
He had been afraid that someone might suddenly enter the hall and expose him.
"Mm. During this period, clean the Three Purities statues thoroughly. In a few days, it will be the day for you menial disciples to be selected into the Imperial Guard."
The leader glanced around the spotless hall, nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left.
Su Changqing stood where he was in silence, gripping the three Enlightenment Tea Leaves tightly. A drop of cold sweat slid down his forehead.
"That was close today."
People in this world killed without hesitation. Menial disciples were no more than ants.
Su Changqing did not leave immediately. Instead, he continued cleaning the halls, only departing after he had finished three side halls and the main hall.
It was nearly noon by then, yet Su Changqing did not feel the slightest bit tired, nor did he intend to eat.
Instead, he headed straight for the back mountain!
He began at a slow walk, then quickened his pace, gradually leaving the area behind as lush green grass flashed past his sides.
This time, he moved like a dragon swimming through the sea, a tiger roaring through the forest!
"Li Kongxiang swallowed them on the spot, but I can't do that. After all, I stole his opportunity. There may still be complications."
Su Changqing had once been a programmer. He knew that one error in the code could ruin the entire thing.
The back mountain was in early spring. The trees were dense, fresh buds were sprouting, and everything was lush and verdant.
He took out the three Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
The leaves had long since dried out completely, brittle and shriveled.
"May the Grand Purity Sage bless me."
He took a deep breath and placed all three leaves in his mouth. They were slightly bitter, yet saliva welled up after he swallowed them.
The next moment, he sat cross-legged. The three leaves actually dissolved directly, releasing an incomparably fresh fragrance.
Su Changqing's mind became clear, as though enlightenment had been poured into him.
His face flushed red, sweat emerged across his forehead, and his bones began to crack abnormally.
The thread of inner force within him was like boiling water over a raging fire, while the muscles around the acupoints on both sides of his head bulged repeatedly.
Body Refinement Stage 6!
The three Enlightenment Tea Leaves dissipated within his abdomen and circulated through his eight extraordinary meridians.
An incomparable fragrance gathered around his body. His vital energy surged, and even the birdsong and cicada cries around him fell silent.
Though the Enlightenment Tea Leaves had dissolved, they continued transforming his body and forcibly tempering his physique!
They only stopped once he reached the seventh stage!
Su Changqing abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze like cold lightning. Rising to his feet, he loosened his bones, which crackled like Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound and echoed in every direction.
Had an expert been present, he would certainly have discovered that Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound, something only attainable at the Body Refinement Ninth Layer, had already appeared in this Body Refinement Stage Seven Imperial Guard.
Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound strengthened the body so greatly that ordinary blades, swords, and arrows could no longer harm it!
"The Enlightenment Tea Leaves' greatest effect is actually improving aptitude and aiding enlightenment, yet they still let me break through to Body Refinement Stage Seven!"
Su Changqing carefully savored the feeling in his heart, filled with amazement.
The mountain he had climbed was not especially high. Beyond it lay the true towering mountain ranges, with majestic peaks rising one after another.
He gazed at the endless rolling mountains, his heart surging.
He was a born villain, alone in this world.
In this life, wherever he died would be where he was buried. No one needed to gather his bones!
"Is there anywhere under heaven without green hills?"
He abruptly turned and headed down the mountain, moving with the gait of a dragon and tiger, leaving no trace amid the grass.
Su Changqing descended the mountain. He had originally planned to return directly to where he lived, but suddenly remembered that he had already reached Body Refinement Stage Seven and should be able to choose two cultivation techniques.
At Body Refinement Stage Five, Body Refinement Stage Seven, and Body Refinement Ninth Layer, one could choose a manual each time.
The Great Shang Dynasty's martial arts repository was open to all Imperial Guards, the court's hounds.
The Great Shang Dynasty was filled with geniuses and had dominated the martial world for nearly a century. Its martial arts repository was a five-story tower.
It contained books from across the world and held tens of thousands of secret manuals!
At the martial arts repository tower.
Su Changqing made his way straight to the repository and arrived there.
There were few people here, with only a scattered handful passing by.
At the entrance sat an old man in a loose red robe, a Spring Embroidered Saber at his waist. His eyes were calm, yet he carried an imposing authority as he reclined in a grand chair.
Name: Azure Dragon Realm: Heavenly Gang Realm Stage 7 Fate: Martial Arts Prodigy (Purple), Proficient in Hidden Weapons (Blue), Innate Saber Body (Purple) Life Script: (Major Supporting Character in A Chinese Ghost Story) Favorability: 5 Recent Turning Point: Three days later, an Imperial Guard with extraordinary aptitude will arrive at the Great Shang martial arts repository and accidentally discover the Heavenly Gang Level Saber Art, Tyrant Saber, hidden within the Prajna Vajra Sutra in the southwest corner of the first floor of the tower.
Great Shang martial arts were divided into: Body Refinement Realm, True Qi, Innate, Earthly Fiend, Heavenly Gang, Martial Saint...
Each realm had nine stages, with nine being the ultimate number.
This Azure Dragon was actually a Heavenly Gang Realm expert.
Su Changqing was shocked inwardly. No wonder this entire tower was guarded by this man alone. With him here, who would dare cause trouble?
"You're at Body Refinement Stage Seven. You may choose two secret manuals. Go." Azure Dragon looked at Su Changqing and frowned slightly.
"You may only choose from the first floor."
Su Changqing clasped his hands and nodded respectfully, then turned and headed straight for the first floor.
"Great Strength Vajra Finger, Mountain-Splitting Fist, Windfall Three Smokes..."
Su Changqing examined them one by one, his heart stirring. If he had not seen the Life Script beforehand, his eyes would have been dazzled as well...
The Great Shang Dynasty was simply too powerful. It possessed cultivation techniques from every sect, every school, and every sacred land. And this was only the first floor, containing ordinary martial arts manuals.
"My first choice must be Tyrant Saber."
Su Changqing did not head straight for the southwest corner. Instead, he wandered around several times before making his way there and searching carefully.
Soon, a yellowed manual entered his sight. It was the Prajna Vajra Sutra.
His heart stirred as he opened the scripture, yet he found no saber art within.
"Since the system panel says it's here..."
He examined it carefully, feeling around the scripture with his fingers. Soon, he found a hard inner layer.
Su Changqing had planned to take the Vajra Sutra directly away and register it with Azure Dragon, but then he frowned slightly.
According to the Life Script, that person had torn it open within the martial arts repository.
He was only an ordinary menial disciple. Why would he waste half of an opportunity to take a book written in Sanskrit?
Su Changqing hesitated no longer. With a light tear, a pale golden sheet of foil appeared in his hand, its radiance dazzling.
The opening line read:
"Tyrant Saber is supreme True Qi, transformed into Blade Aura. Cultivate the formless saber to sever the tangible..."
Its tyrannical aura was unmatched—a top-tier saber art beneath heaven.
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