Cultivation Progress

Jiang Xinglan transmitted a voice message, instructing, "That's good. Remember one thing: if you encounter a Missionary, leave immediately! Don't ask why. At your current level, you can't resist a Missionary's methods. Your life is the priority, understand?"

"Okay, I understand!" Chen Xia replied.

Jiang Xinglan continued, "Yes, the Headquarters' Criminal Investigation Unit is also investigating this, but most of them are Grade 1 Martial Warriors, not as strong as you. And that Missionary keeps changing hideouts. We need to capture them alive to expose the higher-ups of the Night God Sect behind them and take them all down at once, so it's relatively difficult. We can't alert them."

"I'll give you fifteen days. If you can't find anything, I'll mobilize the entire Yijiang City Patrol Inspection Office and impose a city-wide lockdown for a thorough search. Although it will disrupt Yijiang City's normal operations, it's the fastest way to stop the cult from persecuting residents."

"Fifteen days..."

"Any problems?"

"No problems, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"Good, I'll await your good news!"...

...After ending the call, Chen Xia pondered.

Since a Missionary is comparable to a Grade 2 expert, he also needs to reach Grade 2 Martial Warrior. With the Seven Injuries Fist, he shouldn't lose in terms of martial force.

Furthermore, the Missionary's strength lies in their mental techniques, such as Blood Shadow Bat, Blood Soul Bewildering Heart, and the ultimate Blood Demon Illusion God, all of which can inflict powerful damage.

Blood Shadow provides reconnaissance and multi-angle vision, giving an advantage in combat and confusing the opponent's sight. The stronger the blood qi, the more bats can be condensed. As for Blood Soul, the illusionary techniques under Edel's command were quite effective before. If Edel were to use them, they would undoubtedly be more terrifying.

However, once Chen Xia advances to Grade 2, with the Seven Injuries Fist's counter to dark arts and its effect on mental clarity, combined with the mental amplification from the Eternal Night Blood Scripture, he won't have to fear.

Everyone cultivates the Eternal Night Blood Scripture. Chen Xia has physical strength. Who wins and who loses is yet to be determined. He has this confidence. As long as Jiang Xinglan's intelligence is accurate and the opponent is indeed comparable to a Grade 2 Martial Warrior, he won't be afraid. At least, he'll be able to protect himself.

As for the ultimate Blood Demon Illusion God, Chen Xia doesn't need to worry. He believes such a powerful mental technique isn't easy to execute.

"During this period, I'll advance to Grade 2 Martial Warrior and then obtain the Missionary's mental techniques!" After analyzing, Chen Xia had already decided on his plan. He was determined to obtain those three mental techniques, otherwise, the Eternal Night Blood Scripture would lose much of its advantage for him.

Moreover, even if he found Edel's hideout, Chen Xia would decide whether to inform them based on the specific situation. If conditions permitted, it would be better to obtain the mental techniques first.

With this in mind, Chen Xia rode his bike back to the Patrol Inspection Office. He hadn't stayed in the training room today. As soon as he returned, he received news from the reporting center that many people had died in Alley 12 and they needed to investigate.

Chen Xia, along with Xiao Qiang and others, drove a patrol car to the location. He hadn't intended to go, but he decided to take a look. It was best if there were no flaws. If there were, he could help conceal them.

Before he could display his strength, he didn't want to expose that he was responsible. Of course, it wouldn't be a big deal if it was exposed; it might even be a meritorious deed, but it would be a bit troublesome. Edel wasn't dead yet.

"Many people died. How tragic!"

"The person who killed them is very strong!"

"Did you see? With this one slash, the bricks on the wall cracked open, a gap eight meters long..."

When everyone arrived in the alley and saw the bodies lying on the ground, after a brief inspection, Deputy Captain Xiao Qiang's expression changed.

Xiao Qiang crouched by the wall, touching the deep, meter-long fissure with his right hand. A flicker of shock crossed his pupils. "There's such a master in our Xingou Street. If it's someone from a mercenary group, then the Gathering of Righteousness people will be in trouble!"

"Heh, karma's a bitch... The Gathering of Righteousness people are starting to get eliminated by their enemies." a team member said.

"It might not be a mercenary group. It could be someone else."

"Who?"

"How would I know?..."

The team conducted their investigation. They had seen many such bloody scenes and could adapt. Based on the traces at the scene, they only thought the perpetrator was very powerful and didn't suspect Chen Xia.

"There's a basement here. Let's check it out."

Everyone entered the basement. Many things inside had already been burned. The symbols on the walls were charred black, and the blood on the stone platform was long gone.

"The traces of evil techniques have been erased?"

Seeing this, Chen Xia felt that the Gathering of Righteousness people had acted quickly.

Perhaps they were reluctant to part with the blood.

Blood is the source of life for humans. When practicing evil techniques, blood is even more important. It can not only quench thirst and stabilize bloodlust but also replenish what the practitioner consumes. Therefore, those who practice the Eternal Night Blood Scripture are basically blood slaves, unable to live without blood.

This is the price paid for power. But many people are willing to pay this price, especially in the current High Martial Era with its chaotic situation. Having more strength can also save one's life.

It's said that people in outdoor mercenary groups often deal with exotic beasts and some practice similar techniques because exotic beasts also have blood, not necessarily human blood.

After confirming that no traces were discovered, Chen Xia said sternly, "Xiao Qiang, I'm going back. I'll leave this here to you! Handle it properly, and report any clues to me immediately!"

"Yes, Captain Chen!"...

Chen Xia walked out of the alley. Dressed in his dark black uniform, no one would have suspected him.

Back at the Patrol Inspection Office, he opened his computer in his office and investigated the suburbs of South City for villages with the character "Tong" in their names. A quick search revealed at least five.

The suburbs of South City are vast, with villages like Tongxin, Tongyi, Tongfu, and several others. Chen Xia couldn't pinpoint which one it was, but he could go and investigate.

However, the priority was to increase his strength.

Only with sufficient strength could he undertake such dangerous missions.

Next, Chen Xia sent a series of messages to the members of Team Five and the street business owners who had given him gifts in the past, intending to mobilize them all.

"Keep a close watch on the movements of the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group these few days and report them at any time."

Those who received Chen Xia's messages did not dare to delay. They would secretly monitor the Gathering Justice Mercenary Group's movements and report any intelligence to Chen Xia immediately.

As for the "Tong" villages, Chen Xia planned to check them himself later, as cult hideouts were dangerous, and he could go alone.

"Edel is holding some kind of ritual. The Gathering Justice Mercenary Group will definitely make a move then, and I can use this stage to advance to a Grade 2 Martial Warrior!"

Chen Xia temporarily put aside those thoughts.

That night.

At home, he soaked in a bathtub and took out a tube of white Moon Spirit Essence. He dripped a bit into the tub, causing the entire water to seem to boil and emit a large amount of steam.

"This feels a bit uncomfortable..."

Chen Xia also opened a tube of green Life Source Liquid and drank it all in one gulp. He then felt as if thousands of ants were biting him all over. The medicinal liquid in the bathwater also washed over his skin, bringing a cool sensation. The two medicinal energies continuously stimulated his body, causing Chen Xia to groan involuntarily.

In fact, medicinal baths were also very important. Although Martial Warriors strengthened their entire bodies in the early stages, most of the enhancement was to their muscles, increasing their strength.

With Moon Spirit Essence, Chen Xia's skin and muscles would undoubtedly absorb more nutrients, becoming more solid and increasing his defense.

Some exotic beasts in the wild had hides so tough that even bullets couldn't penetrate them, simply because they were born with thick fur, and some were covered in scales like steel, forming a natural armor that made them difficult to deal with.

Humans, through cultivation, could also make their skin and muscles tense up during movement, stopping ordinary bullets within their muscles, preventing penetration. Generally speaking, Martial Warriors who reached Grade 2 and above already possessed this preliminary defensive ability!

Their entire muscles and skin would act as a natural protective layer, resisting damage from blades and spears.

Sizzle...

At this moment, Chen Xia closed his eyes and circulated the Eternal Night Blood Scripture. He felt his skin, muscles, body, and the Blood Sun within him constantly improving.

As time passed, Chen Xia returned home for his cultivation at a fixed time every day. Twelve days passed like this. He replenished his body with two tubes of Life Source Liquid and one tube of Moon Spirit Essence, including three Lingpo Pills and ten Qianyang Pills.

In addition to the Seven Injuries Fist and the Eternal Night Blood Scripture, which he practiced daily without fail, he was like being tempered in a furnace, refined both internally and externally. His strength changed daily, leading to Chen Xia's recent astonishingly rapid cultivation progress!