Glimmering Realm, Second Tier!

After returning to the Chuan Family, Zhang Qing immediately sat cross-legged on his bed.

He put 4 Attribute Points into his constitution.

Congratulations, you have met the requirements to break through. Would you like to break through?

"Break through!"

Breakthrough successful. You have successfully advanced to the second tier of the Glimmering Realm!

Reward obtained: Constitution +1!

Nice!

He had 5 Attribute Points left.

After thinking it over, Zhang Qing put 1 Attribute Point into his constitution.

He used the other 4 to upgrade his Cultivation Techniques once.

From proficient to masterful.

There was a reason for doing this.

He had to carefully consider the pace of his breakthroughs.

There were countless spies in Zi City. For someone as insignificant as him, his information was practically public.

Therefore, to maintain his persona—

Every breakthrough needed a reason!

It had to seem reasonable.

Now that he had Razor's token, he could use spirit pills as a cover in the future.

He could even break through one tier every time he exchanged for spirit pills without any issue.

But exchanging for spirit pills required 5 Military Merit.

By the time he gathered 5 Military Merit, the Attribute Points he got from Specters would already be enough to advance a tier.

So—

There was no need to invest in constitution so quickly for now.

At present, he had to improve his hidden combat strength.

Cultivation Techniques were the best choice.

On top of that, players could plunder health bars.

That meant he would have high blood volume, high attack, high speed, high defense...

Don't let his second-tier Glimmering Realm cultivation fool you.

If a real fight broke out—

Killing someone above his tier would not be much of a problem!

He opened his panel.

Zhang Qing!

Martial Arts: Second Tier Glimmering Realm!

Blood Volume: 840/840!

Constitution: 22!

Intelligence: 1!

Cultivation Techniques: Kaiyuan Art (Low-grade Glimmer, masterful!) Sky-Opening Slash (Low-grade Glimmer, masterful!) Chuan Shattering Steps (Low-grade Glimmer, masterful!) Ox-Barbarian Strength (Low-grade Glimmer, masterful!)

Attribute Points: None!

Power surged through him again.

This time, it was even more intense.

In terms of strength—

Zhang Qing had made an enormous leap this time.

Though he was only at the second tier of the Glimmering Realm—

As far as combat strength went, even Guan Yutian at the fourth tier of the Glimmering Realm probably could not compare.

Because—

Zhang Qing had high blood volume.

And his Cultivation Techniques were at a high level.

One more step, and his Cultivation Techniques would reach perfection.

For natives, cultivating a Cultivation Technique to the masterful level was no easy task.

What could Guan Yutian use to fight Zhang Qing?

Huff...

Everything had gone smoothly!

Zhang Qing opened his eyes.

In the Dark Realm—

His persona had already been established.

And he had completely integrated into it.

Both the Chuan Family and Razor offered room for development.

Moreover—

His path to becoming stronger had become increasingly clear.

He would use the players' traits to accumulate Attribute Points and expand his blood volume.

Then, he would use spirit pills bought with Military Merit to advance quickly while concealing his progress.

There was practically no logical flaw in the plan.

He would develop quietly until he could no longer stay hidden.

In this life, I will definitely go farther!

Zhang Qing thought to himself.

In reality, Suzhou-Hangzhou, night had fallen.

Zhang Qing logged off.

He quickly ate and showered.

Then he walked onto the balcony and glanced at the bustling world.

He clenched his fist, feeling the faint change in his strength.

Huff. He let out a long breath.

He returned to his bedroom and logged back in!

Zhang Qing spent nearly all his time in the Dark Realm.

But it was worth it!

He woke after logging in.

He had not been in his room for long—

Before someone knocked on the door.

Zhang Qing opened it.

Chuan Chao: 362/362!

It was that guy.

"Brother Chao, what brings you here...?" Zhang Qing asked.

"Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" Chuan Chao asked, his tone much gentler than before.

"Please come in..." Zhang Qing said, pretending to have just realized it.

After closing the door, the two sat down.

Chuan Chao spoke.

"There's no need to call me sir. You and I are both from First-grade Hall, so there aren't that many formalities."

"Yes, Brother Chao. May I ask what this is about today...?" Zhang Qing replied.

"You received Razor's identity token?"

"Yes!"

Damn!

He really was public information.

He had only received it that afternoon, yet First-grade Hall already knew.

"Mm, you advanced to the second tier of the Glimmering Realm, right?"

"Yes!"

"By relying on spirit pills?"

"Yes!"

"Very good. Keep these!"

As he spoke, Chuan Chao handed over three bottles. When he set them on the table, Zhang Qing could clearly sense there was something inside.

"These are...?"

"These are spirit pills unique to the Chuan Family, bestowed upon you by the main family!"

Chuan Chao said.

Zhang Qing froze.

He had just exchanged for two spirit pills from Razor today.

And the Chuan Family had sent him three more?

Hmm...?

Were they telling him that whatever Razor could give him, the Chuan Family could also provide—and even provide more?

Fine by him!

Free loot!

Wonderful!

"Please thank the main family for me, Brother Chao." Zhang Qing stood and bowed happily.

"Mm. Zhang Qing, the main family has treated you well. Never forget that you are a man of the Chuan Family!"

"Rest assured, Brother Chao. I, Zhang Qing, will forever be a man of the Chuan Family!"

Zhang Qing declared solemnly.

It was just playing along. No need to take it seriously.

Just a little trick.

"The main family has more rewards!" Chuan Chao continued.

"Tomorrow, while you are on patrol, the main family will arrange Specters for you to kill."

"Razor's Military Merit all comes from killing Specters."

"Only by killing Specters will you have room for promotion."

Mm-hm.

He understood.

The Chuan Family wanted to push him upward.

Damn it.

It was so obvious. They were treating him like a living target again.

Just wait until I rise up.

I'll make sure to stab you in the back hard!

"Thank you to the main family for nurturing me. In life, I am a man of Chuan Prefecture; in death, I am a soul of Chuan Prefecture!"

Zhang Qing expressed his loyalty with excitement.

"Good! The fact that you can say that proves the main family has not nurtured you in vain!"

Chuan Chao said happily.

Blah blah blah...

What followed was another long string of nonsense.

Zhang Qing simply humored him.

He made it clear that he was absolutely loyal to Chuan Prefecture and would absolutely obey Chuan Prefecture's commands.

He bluffed Chuan Chao so thoroughly that the man was left dazed.

He felt that Zhang Qing's loyalty was as clear as the sun and moon!

Saying a few nice words—

Cost him nothing!

An hour passed.

Chuan Chao and Zhang Qing had a pleasant conversation.

Then Chuan Chao left in satisfaction.

Zhang Qing let out a long breath.

He really wanted to split that bastard in half with a single slash.

He talked way too much!

His face was numb from smiling.

After the man left.

Zhang Qing looked at the spirit pills on the table.

In the Dark Realm, there was no concept of poison.

Or rather,

no poisonous Spirit Medicine had ever been discovered.

In any case, any Spirit Medicine could be eaten.

Once refined into spirit pills,

there was only the matter of their medicinal properties being greatly reduced—there was no concept of extreme toxicity.

So,

Zhang Qing consumed them directly.

Congratulations on consuming a Chuan Blood Pill; Attribute Points +3!

Congratulations on consuming a Chuan Bone Pill; Attribute Points +3!

Congratulations on consuming a Chuan Spirit Pill; Attribute Points +3!

Nine Attribute Points, acquired.

That was already enough to reach the third tier of Glimmer.

But for the sake of his persona, he had to wait.

He was a martial arts prodigy.

If he wanted to break through tiers without restraint,

he needed to establish the persona of a cultivation prodigy.

But the prerequisite was having a stable and abundant source of Attribute Points.

Otherwise, that persona would not hold up.

His cultivation could not suddenly soar, then stop advancing, only to suddenly soar again.

That was abnormal!

And if something was abnormal, then there was a Specter!

That was the logic of the Dark Tier.

Night fell.

Zhang Qing began to rest.

Sleeping in the Dark Tier allowed for equally good rest.

That was why Zhang Qing dared to spend all his time in the Dark Realm.