Level 4 Blood Sword Dance, Swordsman's Visit

Before his eyes, the mist twisted and condensed, finally forming a line of text that floated in mid-air.

Blood Sword Dance Lv. 4 (Swordsmanship +8, Demon Break +8, Concussion +8, Sword Qi +8): 0/10000

Level four.

When Blood Sword Dance reached level four, in addition to its original attributes doubling, Shen Bai also gained the Sword Qi attribute.

In Shen Bai's mind, a phantom, seemingly real yet illusory, appeared.

As the phantom emerged, it held a longsword in its hand.

The longsword was ordinary, but when held by the phantom, it seemed like a divine weapon, capable of dispelling clouds and mist.

A hazy bloody light materialized on the longsword, and as it did, streaks of Sword Qi swirled around the phantom.

The phantom began to dance with the sword.

As the phantom moved, each sword strike was accompanied by a surge of blood-red Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi tore through the heavens and earth, imbued with a majestic righteousness, like the very first sword stroke that cleaved the primordial chaos, completely shattering the void before it.

Moments later, everything returned to normal.

"Sword Qi forms lines, controlled at will."

Shen Bai drew the longsword from his waist and circulated the Qi within him.

The next moment, a blood-red Sword Qi enveloped the longsword.

The Sword Qi was drawn but not released, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, radiating a dangerous glow.

"This is my ranged ability now," Shen Bai thought, overjoyed.

From the moment he acquired the Cheat System until now, Shen Bai had always been a close-quarters fighter.

But now, with the qualitative change in Blood Sword Dance, it completely compensated for Shen Bai's lack of ranged capabilities.

Every streak of Sword Qi could carry the attributes of Blood Sword Dance, and could even be enhanced with the Profound Heart Incantation.

"This is what you call well-rounded, a true hexagon."

Shen Bai sheathed his longsword, feeling the Qi within his body.

By now, both his kidneys were more than half full, not far from the completion of the first treasure within the Three Treasures Realm.

"I only need two more level four Divine Abilities, and I'll successfully reach the first treasure of complete essence."

By this time, the sky was already faintly lit.

Shen Bai felt an empty sensation in his stomach.

Although he had newly purchased vital energy elixirs, constantly practicing Blood Sword Dance inevitably consumed vital energy.

Shen Bai's original plan was to grind Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist, but it was still early. He turned and left the house, heading towards the nearest breakfast stall.

Ascending Cloud County was as bustling as ever.

Even though a tragic massacre had occurred in Huaixi Village, the common folk, after this period of time, had long forgotten all about it.

Sometimes, memory is the most stubborn thing, but more often, it's fleeting.

The massacre could serve as fodder for after-dinner conversation, but it couldn't disrupt daily life.

After breakfast, Shen Bai let out a satisfied burp and leisurely returned to the Shen Family Pawnshop.

Zhang Chaofeng wasn't around; he still had to open for business.

One had to eat, after all.

The daytime at the pawnshop passed very leisurely.

Around noon, Shen Bai went out for another meal, bought some oranges, and ate them while returning to the pawnshop to continue slacking off.

Shen Bai originally thought that the day would simply pass this way.

Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, someone came to the pawnshop.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this worth?"

Hearing the voice, Shen Bai turned to see an ordinary-looking middle-aged man placing a longsword on the counter.

"A martial artist?"

Although the middle-aged man's attire was plain, he exuded a sense of having lived long in the mundane world, an air of hardship that made it impossible to underestimate him.

Shen Bai picked up the longsword, examined it carefully for a moment, then said, "Five taels of silver."

In the past, the pawnshop had occasionally dealt with martial artists, so Shen Bai was accustomed to it.

None of these individuals, who lived by the sword, were easy to deal with.

This sword was indeed good, at least much better than the one Shen Bai currently possessed.

But the pawnshop needed to make a profit, so Shen Bai wouldn't quote too high a price.

The middle-aged man was silent for a moment, then looked up and said, "Give me five taels. If I succeed, I'll return ten taels to you. If not, this sword, along with my corpse, will be sent to Ascending Cloud County."

Shen Bai raised an eyebrow at the words.

Among martial artists, only a very small number of those without any real strength would end up in dire straits.

After all, most of them possessed unique skills; at the very least, they could find work as guards for powerful factions and never have to worry about food or shelter.

Although the middle-aged man in front of him looked down and out, Shen Bai perceived him as a master.

It was a feeling, the feeling of a master swordsman.

Level 4 Blood Sword Dance had already made Shen Bai an outstanding swordsman, and he could sense it.

"If you don't want to, then don't."

The middle-aged man thought Shen Bai wouldn't agree and, picking up his long sword, prepared to leave.

Shen Bai asked, "How are you so sure you can pay me back ten taels?"

The middle-aged man shook his head, "Shopkeeper, some things are better left unknown."

With that, the middle-aged man, carrying his long sword, left the pawnshop.

Shen Bai yawned and didn't bother with the matter.

Actually, according to how TV dramas usually unfold, the protagonist would generously give five taels of silver and choose to believe.

But in reality, five taels of silver was still money.

The entire day passed uneventfully.

It wasn't until night fell that Shen Bai closed the pawnshop and began grinding the proficiency of Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist.

The night passed without a word.

When dawn broke the next day, Shen Bai let out a long breath.

Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist +300

After an entire night of non-stop grinding, Shen Bai gained three hundred points of proficiency.

Adding the thousand points he had previously converted, Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist now had 1300 points of proficiency, which was a significant breakthrough.

"Time for some sleep."

Even with the assistance of Qi, Shen Bai felt physically and mentally exhausted from the long hours of non-stop grinding.

Lying on the bed, it wasn't long before Shen Bai fell into a deep sleep.

Shen Bai didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

After resting, Shen Bai felt invigorated, and his stomach began to rumble again.

After quickly tidying up, Shen Bai slung his long sword and went out to find an eatery, ordering a heap of food.

While eating, Shen Bai pondered his future plans.

"Once I get Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist to Level 4, and then Jade Evil Body to Level 4, I'll reach the realm of the Second Treasure."

"After that, I'll grind Profound Heart Incantation."

The proficiency needed to go from Level 4 to Level 5 was much greater, and Shen Bai didn't want to specialize too much, deciding to develop in a balanced way.

It would be quite awkward if he encountered danger before raising Blood Sword Dance to Level 5, and his other Divine Abilities hadn't improved either.

Having made up his mind, Shen Bai quickly finished his food and got up, preparing to return to the pawnshop.

But just then, a loud commotion suddenly erupted.

Shen Bai turned his head, looking in the direction of the sound, and saw Zhou Qing leading a group of constables, carrying a person, rushing towards the county yamen.

Because they had to pass by this eatery, Zhou Qing and his group got closer and closer to Shen Bai.

When Shen Bai saw the person Zhou Qing and his group were carrying, he was slightly stunned.

The middle-aged man's eyes were closed, his long sword still in his hand, and his body was covered in wounds, clearly on the verge of death.

The deep wounds all over his body looked like they had been inflicted by an animal.

From the wounds, Shen Bai sensed an unusual aura.

"A Bizarre Entity!"