The sky was cloudless, and the sun blazed fiercely.
Outside Qingzhou City.
With a long, narrow bundle strapped to his back, Qin Shuang raced toward the distant Xuan Yin Mountain Range, accompanied by Chen Qinglang and more than a dozen elite members of the Azure Dragon Society.
"Hall Master Chen, where in the Xuan Yin Mountain Range are we likely to find Strange Beasts?"
Qin Shuang stopped on a hillside and looked at Chen Qinglang beside him as he asked.
"Reporting to the Hall Master, Strange Beasts are scarce. We might find them only if we venture deep into the Xuan Yin Mountain Range. But a Strange Beast King with strength comparable to someone in the Divine Wheel Realm lurks in the depths. If we encounter one, we won't be able to escape!"
"Last year, I ventured deep into the mountains and once came across a Strange Beast evolving into a Strange Beast King. If it hadn't gone after someone else, and if it hadn't just evolved, I would probably be dead by now!"
Remembering that encounter a year ago, Chen Qinglang still felt a lingering fear.
If he had to do it again, nothing could make him go back.
"The depths of the Xuan Yin Mountain Range are actually that terrifying!"
Qin Shuang's gaze flickered. Then a thought struck him, and he asked, "Where did you get that Silver Slip?"
"That Silver Slip... I picked it up in the Strange Beast King's cave that very time."
Hearing Qin Shuang ask, Chen Qinglang cupped his fists and replied.
"You found it in a Strange Beast's cave?!"
"When the time comes, take me to the area around the Strange Beast King's lair!"
A thought struck Qin Shuang, and he said this as he heard the answer.
He had a feeling that good things were always guarded by Strange Beasts. He decided that once he was strong enough, he would go see this Strange Beast for himself and check whether anything else remained in its cave.
"Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!"
Just then, a series of terrifying blasts of force erupted in the distant forest!
The explosions drew nearer, heading toward Qin Shuang and the others.
Qin Shuang looked over and discovered that the blasts came from a battle between two graceful women!
Both women were around twenty. One wore purple and wielded a long silk sash.
The other wore white, had her face veiled in white gauze, and held a longsword. Behind each of them appeared a Light Wheel about a zhang across, its edges layered with halos.
The Light Wheel behind the woman in purple was crimson, while the one behind the woman in white was cyan!
The two women had utterly opposite auras. One was like a bewitching enchantress who could beguile the world; the other was like a Fairy who had descended from heaven to the mortal realm!
Their toes skimmed the treetops as they glided through the air. Each clash between the force radiating from the sash and the sword's energy unleashed terrifying destructive power, pulverizing every tree within a ten-zhang radius!
"Th-this is a battle between people in the Divine Wheel Realm?"
Watching the two women fight their way toward him, Qin Shuang was shocked. He immediately shouted at Chen Qinglang and the others, "Get out of the way!"
Qin Shuang knew all too well:
If they didn't move,
even he would be doomed beneath that terrifying force!
Qin Shuang used Grass on Flying and instantly dodged to one side.
Chen Qinglang and the dozen-plus Azure Dragon Society elites dodged as well.
The two women fighting noticed the people there and glanced at Qin Shuang and the others. Then, one ahead of the other, they raced over their heads and vanished in an instant.
"Hall Master, those two women... their strength is terrifying!"
Chen Qinglang looked away, his eyes filled with shock.
"Mm!"
Qin Shuang nodded, his eyes gleaming.
The two women seemed evenly matched, but there was no doubt that both of them were far stronger than Nangong Wan'er!
Nangong Wan'er's Divine Wheel had only two white halos, and Situ Rui's had two as well!
But the Divine Wheels behind the two women fighting had at least seven or eight halos!
"They can't be much older than me, yet their cultivation is so terrifying!"
"But I have the Simplification System. It won't be long before I can stand shoulder to shoulder with them—or even surpass them!"
Watching the women disappear, Qin Shuang thought to himself.
Qin Shuang fell silent for a while, then collected himself and spoke to Chen Qinglang, who was still stunned beside him. "Let's go."
At that moment,
Qin Shuang only wanted to enter the Xuan Yin Mountain Range as soon as possible, grind his martial arts skills, and find more Strange Beasts to increase his Qi and Blood.
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Chen Qinglang nodded and led his subordinates toward the Xuan Yin Mountain Range.
Each of them carried a large bundle. Inside were Alchemy Furnaces, ingredients for making Tiger Blood Pills, salt, and seasonings. Qin Shuang planned to hunt tigers in the mountains and make Tiger Blood Pills right there, hoping to simplify his Tiger Roar Divine Intent Skill to perfection as soon as possible.
Five days later.
A hundred li into the Xuan Yin Mountain Range, below a cliff smooth as a mirror, Qin Shuang had people dig out a cave. He sent Chen Qinglang and the others to catch boars and tigers, then stayed in the cave to imitate tiger roars, make Tiger Blood Pills, step on grass, catch dragonflies... and simplify his martial arts.
[Blood Rage Saber Art (Major Completion)]
[Simplification: Kill over a hundred enemies and consume a thousand Tiger Blood Pills to reach perfection]
Just then, as Qin Shuang swallowed his hundredth Tiger Blood Pill, a system notification rang in his mind.
A stream of information poured into his Sea of Consciousness. It was none other than the techniques and insights for using the Blood Rage Saber Art at the major-completion stage!
At that moment,
Qin Shuang felt as if he had spent half his life—twenty years—training in the Blood Rage Saber Art!
Scene after scene of the Blood Rage Saber Art flashed through his mind!
At the same time,
a terrifying surge of hot Qi and Blood appeared in Qin Shuang's Dantian and swept through his entire body, nourishing his flesh and bones!
It was the Qi and Blood boost that came with the Blood Rage Saber Art reaching major completion, strengthening his body.
The surge of Qi and Blood was immense. Qin Shuang circulated the Tiger Roar Divine Intent Skill, guiding it to the golden bone in his chest and continually nourishing it!
The Tiger Roar Divine Intent Skill moved Qi and Blood quickly!
Time passed.
A quarter of an hour later,
Qin Shuang had used all the Qi and Blood from the Blood Rage Saber Art's breakthrough to nourish his bones. He discovered that the golden bone in his chest had grown a full size larger than before, when it had been about as big as a pigeon's egg!
"Not bad!"
"Next, I'll break through the Tiger Roar Divine Intent Skill!"
A satisfied look appeared in Qin Shuang's eyes.
"Hall Master, Hall Master Jin sent a message by Divine Eagle!"
Just then, footsteps sounded outside, followed by Chen Qinglang's voice.
"Come in," Qin Shuang said gravely.
Chen Qinglang hurried in with a wax-sealed scroll in his hand and respectfully handed it to Qin Shuang.
Qin Shuang took the scroll, broke the seal, and unrolled it. After reading for a while, he frowned and said, "Pass the word. We're moving to a different location."
"Yes!"
Hearing this, Chen Qinglang said no more. He turned and went to carry out the order.
As he watched Chen Qinglang leave, Qin Shuang's expression darkened.
The message had come from Jin Shisan.
Since yesterday, several unfamiliar faces had arrived in Qingzhou City. One was an imposing young man carrying a saber. He had searched Fusheng Restaurant and asked about Qin Shuang. A veiled girl in white, carrying an ancient sword, had also been asking about him.
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