Grasping the Blade Path

Alas, I don't know who is behind that person, and how they offended this Qingwen Long.

With the Black Tiger Gang, the overlord of Huangshi Town, as their backing, It will be difficult to live in town from now on!

It's just a shame about such a big business deal; I imagine that person could have produced a lot of money.

After Qingwen Long left, Gazing at Wang Xiaoshi's retreating back, the Zhang family shopkeeper also sighed.

"During this period, the two major powers have been confronting each other, and conflicts have become more frequent in the streets and alleys, leading to the decline of all industries. Although there have been many injuries and the demand for medicinal ingredients has surged, on one hand, the medicinal ingredients handed over to the Black Tiger Gang were almost given away for free, not even covering the cost. On the other hand, people from the Weilong Martial Arts School, who are associated with the Sifang Society, refuse to sell to us."

"Business is tough."

The Zhang family shopkeeper sighed softly.

With the conflicts and struggles of the major powers overhead, the ones most hurt were them, the common folk struggling to survive at the bottom.

Their pharmacy was doing alright, They could still manage to survive.

The common people at the bottom, who lived day to day without knowing where their next meal would come from, they were truly miserable.

Perhaps, during these days, More people starved to death in the city's gutters, unnoticed and unknown, than the number of people killed in the conflicts between the two major powers—several times over!

Shaking his head, The shopkeeper turned back to the counter with his hands behind his back.

No matter what, Life had to go on.

"What? Ten times the price?!"

In the courtyard, Yang Qingyun, who had just finished a set of boxing and whose Qi and Blood were surging, was stunned when he heard the report from Wang Xiaoshi, who had returned with only a few medicinal ingredients.

He turned to look, his face filled with confusion.

"Yes, every pharmacy I went to, the shopkeepers said that because of the conflict between the Weilong Martial Arts School and the Black Tiger Gang, there are big fights every three days and small fights every two days. The unrest in the streets has caused major problems with their supply channels, so they can only increase prices."

"I wouldn't dare to act on my own, and considering that it would delay your training, I only picked a small amount of medicinal ingredients to bring back, intending to ask for your instructions first before deciding whether to purchase in bulk."

Wang Xiaoshi's face showed distress as he held up the few packets of tonic herbs in his hand and showed them to Yang Qingyun.

"Young Master, I fear it's not just the medicinal ingredients that have increased in price. Soon, even charcoal, firewood, rice, oil, and salt will go up in price!"

"Price increases are normal. After all, the outside world is in chaos. It would be strange if prices didn't rise."

"But a tenfold increase in price?"

"Hmph! There must be something fishy going on!"

Yang Qingyun snorted and flicked his sleeve.

He immediately realized that someone must be behind this!

Although there was a conflict between the two major powers in Huangshi Town, prices shouldn't have skyrocketed to such an absurd level!

Someone is targeting me!

Most likely the Black Tiger Gang, Only the Black Tiger Gang has such great influence in Huangshi Town!

Perhaps, It's because I was previously on close terms with the Weilong Martial Arts School, and thus became a target for the Black Tiger Gang's crackdown?

Or perhaps...

I offended someone within the Black Tiger Gang!

In Yang Qingyun's mind, The image of a minor Black Tiger Gang leader with a blue dragon tattoo on his forehead flashed by.

Qingwen Long!

If I had any conflict with anyone in the Black Tiger Gang, It would only be him!

"You better pray I don't catch you!"

Most likely Qingwen Long, A murderous glint flashed in the depths of Yang Qingyun's eyes.

"Young Master, what should we do next?"

Wang Xiaoshi asked cautiously from the side, his expression respectful.

in a posture of submission and inquiry.

Although Yang Qingyun usually appeared very calm and wouldn't punish others for minor mistakes, his years of experience working odd jobs at the martial arts school had instilled in Wang Xiaoshi a cautious and respectful attitude towards important figures.

Especially since, in his understanding, he had to be even more careful when staying by the side of such a powerful individual.

Wang Xiaoshi didn't want to lose the opportunity to follow him and receive guidance from such a strong person due to his own mistake!

In recent days, with Yang Qingyun's guidance, he had successfully entered the realm through the medicinal bath.

This was an achievement he couldn't accomplish even after years of working at the martial arts school!

Wang Xiaoshi knew very well, what a great opportunity it was for him to be by Young Master Yang's side!

If he were to overstep or mess something up, causing him to lose this chance, he would surely beat his chest and stamp his feet in regret.

Yang Qingyun naturally had no idea what Wang Xiaoshi was thinking.

He pondered for a moment, shook his head slightly, and said, "Ten times the price? Forget it."

His money didn't grow on trees, and he wouldn't be foolish enough to jump into a pit he knew was there.

"Go ask Master Zhou if we can still use their martial arts school's channels to purchase medicinal ingredients externally. Hmm, I wonder if Master Zhou has time during this period. You should go deliver a formal request for a meeting first, and I'll visit him personally on another day."

Yang Qingyun said after some thought.

The matter of medicinal ingredients was crucial to his martial arts path.

Even if it was a bit troublesome, there was no other way.

"Black Tiger Gang..."

A hint of grimness flashed in Yang Qingyun's eyes.

Having suffered misfortune for no reason and having his cultivation plans interrupted, a trace of anger welled up within him.

However, he wasn't letting this anger cloud his judgment.

Having lived three lives, he was able to control his emotions.

"Since I can't continue refining Qi and Blood to improve my cultivation realm, I'll temporarily study the Blade Path will contained within that fragment. Sigh, I originally planned to study it after breaking through the Viscera Refining Realm..."

Yang Qingyun let out a long sigh, having to adjust his future plans accordingly.

After Wang Xiaoshi left, Yang Qingyun returned to his study, took out the jade box stored in the cabinet under his desk, and went to the practice room where he meditated.

Yang Qingyun sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the practice room, placing the jade box in front of him.

He slowly opened it, revealing a black fragment covered by a long silk cloth.

The moment Yang Qingyun lifted the silk cloth, it was as if a white light flashed, projecting outwards like a tangible entity!

In the air, it seemed as though brilliant blade light was blooming, and the air was filled with countless tiny needle-like pricks, causing Yang Qingyun's skin to feel a tangible sting!

"Every time I see it, I find it incredible!"

Yang Qingyun sat on the cushion, gazing at the black remnant in front of him, feeling the sharp will lingering in the air, and couldn't help but exclaim.

Then, he closed his eyes and rested for a moment, bringing his mind to its peak.

Immediately, his gaze focused on the patterns within the fragment.

As he stared, the inexplicable lines on the black fragment seemed to come alive at this moment, twisting and turning, evoking endless imagination and profound mystery!

In a daze, a brilliant blade light suddenly ignited in his field of vision, violently cleaving through heaven and earth, leaping out from an boundless illusion, and slashing towards him with the power to destroy everything!

A great fear surged within Yang Qingyun's mind, as if death itself was about to arrive!

His entire body involuntarily retreated.

He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Yang Qingyun instantly jolted awake, his clothes already soaked with cold sweat.

The surrounding illusions vanished, and the familiar scenery came back into view.

Where was the blade light that had shattered the world?

Only that black shard lay quietly upon the jade box, seeming to mock Yang Qingyun's cowardice.

Yang Qingyun paid it no mind.

Instead, he closed his eyes, carefully savoring the vision of the world-shattering blade light he had just experienced.

"Such a terrifying Blade Path. Just a wisp of its residual aura possesses such fearsome power."

"However, you are merely a trace of corrupted energy, a rootless duckweed. Become the whetstone for my Blade Path's future!"

Yang Qingyun gritted his teeth, his expression firming.

He closed his eyes completely, his mind sinking deep within, summoning the blade intent he had nurtured through his practice of the Drawing Sword Technique to confront it!

Although Yang Qingyun's blade intent, which had gathered his own forward-thrusting momentum, was incredibly weak compared to the residual phantom of the Blade Path expert's aura left on the shard.

In just one exchange, the former was utterly defeated!

But Yang Qingyun felt no despair whatsoever.

He closed his eyes, and began to carefully sense.

After a quarter of an hour, he once again gathered his inner momentum in his mind, re-condensing his blade, and even incorporated the insights gained from his previous defeat.

He then challenged the opponent again.

The result was, as expected, foregone.

In an instant, he was defeated.

Yet Yang Qingyun remained undiscouraged.

Having endured a difficult life for thirty years in his previous existence, what he lacked least was the perseverance to grit his teeth and train repeatedly, even without seeing any progress!

Yang Qingyun once again condensed his Blade in the Heart to confront it!

Time and time again, they clashed, and time and time again, he was shattered and defeated!

But in this process, Yang Qingyun's Blade Path cultivation

was rapidly advancing!

Through these repeated trials of tempering his edge, he gradually gained complete mastery over the blade intent he had nurtured deep within his mind. Using it as a bridge, he began to step into the next realm of the Blade Path.