The Little Constable of Black Mountain City

Great Xia Dynasty, Qing Province, Black Mountain City.

As evening approached, dark clouds hung low, and the stifling air, thick with the stench of dust and animal dung, made it hard to breathe. In a grimy alley on the west side of the city, Li Yifan walked with a deep, unsteady gait, his hand on the saber at his waist. The faded Constable Uniform he wore was already soaked through with sweat.

He had transmigrated to this world three days ago.

From an elite in modern society to a mediocre, impoverished constable in this world where martial arts reigned supreme. The original owner had been ambushed by a Petty Thief during a pursuit, hitting his head on a rock and dying, which had conveniently opened the door for him.

The immense shift in status and the ever-present danger of this world had kept Li Yifan on edge for the past three days. He had inherited the original owner's fragmented memories and meager martial arts foundation, along with this precarious job.

"Damn heavens..." Li Yifan cursed under his breath, rubbing his still-aching back of the head. In his past life, he hadn't been wealthy, but at least he had been safe. Here, Monster Beasts devoured people outside the city, gangs ran rampant within, and the government was corrupt. He, a mere constable, was no different from cannon fodder.

Just then, a semi-transparent panel, resembling a game interface, appeared before his eyes:

[Name: Li Yifan]
[Realm: Body Tempering · Skin Refining (Initial Stage)]
[Cultivation Method: None]
[Skills: Basic Breathing Technique (Novice: 12/100), Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber (Novice: 8/100), Basic Tracking Technique (Novice: 5/100)]
[Status: Minor Injury (Bruised back of head), Weak, Hungry]

"A proficiency panel?" Li Yifan thought. Was this a perk of transmigration? He tried to focus his mind, and the text on the panel flickered slightly as information about the skills flowed into his mind.

Basic Breathing Technique: Yellow Grade (Low), the most rudimentary breathing method, which can slightly strengthen the physique and speed up cultivation in the Skin Refining stage.

Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber: Yellow Grade (Low), the most widespread saber technique, with fierce moves that are easy to learn but difficult to master.

Basic Tracking Technique: Yellow Grade (Low), includes basic track identification and scent tracking techniques.

There was no stat-boosting function, but it seemed that as long as he practiced accordingly, proficiency would increase. And it stated, "No bottleneck for learning skills," meaning as long as he had time and effort, he could cultivate any skill to its theoretical maximum?

This was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope in this dark era!

As he was studying the panel, the urgent sound of gongs and shouts came from the alley entrance.

"This is bad! Butcher Zhang's wife has been dragged away by a monster!"

"Quick! Report it to the County Government!"

"Gather the men, chase them!"

The crowd stirred, panic spreading like a plague. Li Yifan's heart tightened. Black Mountain City was adjacent to the vast mountain range, and incidents of Monster Beasts straying into the city to harm people were not uncommon, but they mostly occurred at night. For one to dare enter the city and abduct someone at dusk was rare!

He instinctively tightened his grip on his saber. As a constable, he couldn't back down in such a situation. But with his Skin Refining initial stage cultivation and a few novice saber techniques, he could handle Petty Thieves, but facing a Monster Beast capable of abducting people...

"Li Yifan! What are you standing around for!" a rough shout interrupted his thoughts. Constable Zhao Hu, leading a few other constables, rushed over with grim expressions. "There's a monster incident on the west side, capable of abducting people, likely one that's gained some power. Everyone who can move, follow me! You, take the lead, scout ahead!"

Zhao Hu pointed at Li Yifan, his gaze cold. The original owner had been a punching bag in the yamen, so this dangerous scouting duty naturally fell to him.

Li Yifan cursed inwardly. This was clearly sending him to his death, but he was no match for Zhao Hu.

"Yes, Head Constable Zhao!" He could only suppress his anger, respond, take a deep breath, and adjust his breathing according to the Basic Breathing Technique. He felt a slight clarity in his mind, and at the same time, the proficiency of Basic Breathing Technique on the panel flickered, changing to (13/100).

Effective!

His spirits lifted, and he no longer hesitated. He utilized the meager movement techniques he possessed and sprinted towards the direction indicated by the citizens. At the same time, he fully activated Basic Tracking Technique, his gaze sharply scanning the ground and the vegetation along the way.

On the muddy ground, besides the chaotic human footprints, he indeed found a set of non-human claw prints, deeply embedded in the mud, mixed with a few coarse black hairs and specks of dark red blood. A faint, pungent odor permeated the air.

[Skill: Basic Tracking Technique Proficiency +1... +1...]

[Skill: Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1...]

The numbers on the panel began to tick slowly but steadily. Li Yifan's heartbeat also gradually quickened, not from fear, but from a peculiar excitement. This cheat, it was really useful!

Following the tracks, he soon left the city and entered a sparse woodland on the outskirts. The sky rapidly darkened, and the light in the forest grew dim, the howling wind sounding like ghostly wails.

The tracks led into a dense thicket. Li Yifan stopped, gripping his saber hilt, and held his breath. He could smell the pungent odor at its strongest.

Suddenly!

"Roar!"

A black shadow lunged out of the thicket with a gust of foul wind! It was a demonic wolf, as strong as a calf, its eyes blood-red, fangs bared, and fragments of torn clothing still hanging from its mouth!

Its speed was astonishing!

At the moment of life and death, Li Yifan instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the fatal pounce. The demonic wolf missed, its claws gouging deep furrows in the ground.

Before the demonic wolf could turn, the moves of Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber automatically appeared in Li Yifan's mind. He let out a loud shout and used his most practiced move, "Leaping Tiger Descends the Mountain," slashing with all his might at the wolf's hindquarters!

"Clang!"

A crisp sound. The saber seemed to strike iron or stone, only penetrating a little before being caught by the muscle! The wolf's fur was incredibly tough!

The demonic wolf yelped in pain, let out an enraged roar, turned, and lunged again.

Li Yifan's tiger mouth split, and he was horrified. The strength of the Skin Refining stage and this ordinary saber were simply incapable of breaking its defenses!

He could only rely on his agile footwork to constantly dodge, narrowly escaping death. The demonic wolf's strength, speed, and defense far surpassed his. If this continued, he was doomed!

[Skill: Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber Proficiency +2... +3... In the life-and-death struggle, your comprehension of saber techniques deepens!]

[Skill: Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +2... During intense exercise, your breathing technique circulates faster!]

The panel information ticked by rapidly. Under immense pressure, Li Yifan's saber techniques became increasingly sharp, and his dodges more precise. He noticed that the demonic wolf seemed to have some difficulty moving its waist each time it lunged; there was an old wound there!

Opportunity!

The moment the demon wolf reared up again and its pounce missed, Li Yifan didn't try to clash with his saber again. Instead, he poured all his strength into his legs, executing a movement not found in the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber. He lunged fiercely towards the demon wolf's underside! This was a self-devised variation he'd come up with while dodging.

"Die!"

He abandoned his saber, forming his right hand into a spearhead. He concentrated the strength of his entire Skin Refining realm into a single point, stabbing viciously at the demon wolf's old wound!

"Pfft!"

A dull thud. His fingers sank deep! The demon wolf let out an ear-splitting howl, its massive body crashing to the ground, twitching uncontrollably.

Li Yifan gasped for breath, pulled out his bloodied fingers, and stumbled back a few steps. He watched the struggling demon wolf, his heart filled with lingering fear. He immediately rushed forward and delivered a finishing blow.

Just then, the panel reappeared, its text shimmering with a faint glow:

[Experienced life-and-death struggle, potential unleashed. Skill 'Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber' has advanced to: Minor Accomplishment (1/500)]

[Skill 'Basic Breathing Technique' has advanced to: Minor Accomplishment (5/500)]

[Skill 'Basic Tracking Technique' has advanced to: Minor Accomplishment (2/500)]

A flow of energy, far warmer than during his practice, rose from his dantian, circulating through his limbs and bones. The fatigue and pain in his body immediately lessened by more than half, and his muscles seemed to have firmed up slightly. He could clearly feel that his strength, speed, and reaction time had all significantly improved!

[Realm: Body Tempering · Skin Refining (Intermediate)]

He broke through!

Li Yifan clenched his fist, feeling the newfound strength within him. He looked at the demon wolf's corpse on the ground, and for the first time, the flame of ambition ignited in his eyes.

This proficiency panel was his greatest reliance for surviving in this chaotic world, and even... for reaching the pinnacle!

Black Mountain City was just the beginning.

In the distance, the shouts and yells of Zhao Hu and the others could be heard. They had finally "arrived."

A faint, cold smile played on Li Yifan's lips. He tidied his clothes and stood his ground, waiting for them. From today onwards, he was no longer the petty constable who could be pushed around.