The Evil-Slaying Blade is Forged, Encountering Qin Lai on the Road

"Good!" Qin Meng felt the surging power within his body; his physique had been enhanced once again. He couldn't help but let out a low shout, his mind sinking into the panel. He saw that the original sub-interface for the Eight Blade Breaking Techniques had been completely renewed.

[Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber · Profound Grade Low Tier]

[Martial Skill, Progress: 2%]

[Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber - Dengtang (35/200)]

[Special Effects: Physique Enhancement, Sharpness]

[Special Status · Evil-Slaying (Initial Manifestation)]

Special Effect · Physique Enhancement: Significantly enhances physical fitness.

Special Effect · Sharpness: Infuses the blade with baleful aura, doubling sharpness. Capable of piercing through armor, with a 30% increase in damage to physical entities.

Special Status · Evil-Slaying: Automatically condenses baleful killing aura, capable of warding off yin evil, suppressing and killing demons and filthy entities, with a 40% increase in damage to soul-based entities.

The saber technique sub-interface, the martial skill's name, grade, proficiency, and special effects were all clearly displayed.

Although the saber technique's rank had slipped to proficiency, it had leaped from 'unranked' to 'Profound Grade Low Tier.' This change was undeniable; not only had the power of the saber technique increased several times over, but the passive bonuses had also increased rather than diminished.

Qin Meng restrained his aura, turned to face Wang Gan, and wore a sincere smile. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply. "Thank you, old man, for the grace of teaching me this blade technique."

Only then did Wang Gan snap out of his shock. He waved his hand with a wry smile. "This is due to your remarkable talent... No, this can no longer be explained by talent alone. You lad, after waking up, you've truly opened your mind. You are not simple at all."

The look he gave Qin Meng was incredibly complex—filled with amazement, gratification, and a faint trace of jealousy. Compared to his own grandson, this level of comprehension and speed of progress were simply unheard of.

"Brother Meng, you're truly amazing. It took me three days just to memorize the moves of this saber technique." Wang Tieniu also praised him, his face full of self-reproach.

He had an honest and simple nature, without a shred of jealousy, which made old man Wang's cheeks flush slightly.

"Tieniu, heaven rewards the diligent. Talent is one thing, but effort is the foundation." Qin Meng patted Wang Tieniu on the shoulder and began chatting with the grandfather and grandson.

Wang Gan simply laid out the situation beyond the pass, the grievances between the Yanhan Dynasty and the foreign tribes, and the few most taboo rules in martial path cultivation, explaining them all in detail to Qin Meng.

"Remember, before joining the border army, you must never practice any devilish heresy. The military has numerous detection methods. Once a problem is discovered, the light punishment is immediate execution, and the heavy punishment... the heavy punishment involves implicating your family, or even the entire village."

When Wang Gan said this, his expression was exceptionally serious. "The martial atmosphere is prevalent within the dynasty, but there is no room for compromise when it comes to devilish heresy."

Qin Meng nodded solemnly. "I understand."

When the sun tilted to the west, he shouldered his bow and saber and took his leave.

First, he went to the carpenter's house in the fort to pay a deposit, ordering a set of tables, chairs, and cabinets. Then, he found a mason he was familiar with and arranged for him to bring people to repair his old house tomorrow. By the time he left the master mason Old Yang's house, the setting sun was already slanting westward.

Qin Meng walked along the dirt road with his bow and saber on his back, his mind sinking once again into the panel deep within his consciousness, displaying his personal information as usual.

[Name: Qin Meng]

[Realm: Mortal Body.]

[Innate Talent: Divine Valor]

[Talents: Wild Instinct-High Tier (3%), Environmental Integration-Mid Tier (11%), Iron Back-Mid Tier (3%), Thick Skin and Fleshy-Low Tier (5%)]

[Core Cultivation Method: None]

[Martial Skills: Evil-slaying Blade-breaking Saber-Dengtang (35/200), Black Dragon Eighteen Hands-Proficient (9/500), Chain Arrow-Minor Accomplishment (18/1000)]

Qin Meng pondered in his heart.

He carefully recalled the strange phenomenon that occurred while practicing the saber today. For the three martial skills he had comprehended on his own, such as the "Blade-breaking Saber," the interface merely recorded his proficiency and did not trigger the magical effect of the transparent figure demonstrating the techniques.

However, it was completely different when he integrated the Evil-slaying Saber Technique.

It seems that only when I come into contact with the orthodox martial skills of this world will the system activate that "deduction and completion" ability. It is helping me fuse my own combat techniques with the martial path system of this world...

Qin Meng's eyes gradually brightened. This was not simple practice, but a transformation and advancement of his mastered abilities, allowing him to carve out his own path.

While he was lost in thought, a faint sense of being watched suddenly came from behind him to the side.

He abruptly stopped his footsteps and turned his head to look.

A dozen steps away, seven or eight people were walking over from a fork in the road.

Leading them was Qin Lai, along with a burly man who looked somewhat similar to her. Following behind were Liu San, Wang Laizi, and other lackeys; these ruffians and idlers were all acting respectfully toward this man.

Memories surged in Qin Meng's mind, and he recognized the man.

Qin Wang. Qin Lai's older brother, the source of her arrogance and bullying.

This man had been a notorious local bully in the fort in his early years, but he happened to have some ability. It was said that ten years ago, he had inadvertently saved an official from Tieling County.

To repay the life-saving favor, that official not only promoted him and gave him a position as a county yamen runner, but even married his daughter to him.

Since then, Qin Wang's family had moved to the county seat. A few years ago, there were rumors that he had already stepped into the Bone Refining stage of the Body Forging realm.

So, she's brought in reinforcements. Qin Meng sneered inwardly, though his face remained calm.

Qin Lai was currently smiling broadly, saying something to her brother. When she looked up and saw Qin Meng, a flash of triumph crossed her eyes, immediately followed by a look of resentment; she was clearly adding fuel to the fire as she complained.

However, when Qin Wang's gaze met Qin Meng's, he actually nodded slightly.

Qin Meng's expression remained calm, and he returned the nod before continuing to walk toward his home.

"Brother, look at his attitude. He doesn't put anyone in his eyes at all." Qin Lai spat at Qin Meng's retreating back, saying resentfully.

"He even dared to lay a hand on me two days ago. If I hadn't dodged quickly—"

"Enough." Qin Wang interrupted his brother's chatter, though his gaze remained fixed on the retreating back of Qin Meng, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"That kid... he's different than before."

"What's different? He's still just a piece of trash..."

"Shut up." Qin Wang cast a cold glance at Qin Lai. "Let's go home first. We'll talk about everything else tonight."

Stunned by his brother's glare, Qin Lai dared not say another word and could only follow along, feeling disgruntled.

Meanwhile, when Qin Meng returned to his small courtyard, smoke was already curling up from the chimney.

Shen Qiuyue was busy at the stove. Hearing the gate creak, she poked her head out. "Mengzi, dinner is almost ready."

"Ying ying!" The little fox also scurried out from the kitchen, happily circling around Qin Meng's feet.

Qin Meng responded with a smile and hung his bow and saber on the wall of the main room.

Soon, Shen Qiuyue brought out a bowl of stewed blood-scaled deer, snake soup, and two small side dishes, along with a steaming bowl of rice.

"Eat while it's hot," Qiuyue said softly, sitting down across from Qin Meng.

Qin Meng nodded and picked up a piece of deer meat, placing it in his mouth, but his mind sank back into his system panel.

The deduction ability of my golden finger must be triggered by coming into contact with the orthodox martial skills of this world.

What about core cultivation techniques? If I could obtain a cultivation manual, even a fragmented one, could I use the panel to optimize and complete it?

He frowned slightly, lost in thought.

"Ying ying!" Seeing Qin Meng distracted, the little fox let out a few cries and nudged its small head against his cheek, seemingly urging him to focus on his meal.

Seeing this, Qiuyue pursed her lips and smiled. "This little one really knows how to care for people."

"It does." Qin Meng came back to his senses and reached out to rub the little fox's head; it felt soft and warm to the touch.

He looked at Qiuyue and suddenly asked, "Sister Qiuyue, why don't you give it a name? We can't keep calling it 'little one' or 'little fox' forever."

Qiuyue had clearly thought about this before. She answered immediately, "Its fur is as white as snow, and there's always a faint fragrance about it... How about 'Xiao Xue' or 'Xiangxiang'?"

"Xiao Xue?" Qin Meng thought for a moment. "That's good. Simple and pleasant to hear."

"Then it's Xiao Xue." Qiuyue nodded and called out to the little fox, "Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue?"

"Ying!" The little fox rolled its intelligent eyes, let out a few cries, and wagged its tail happily, clearly very satisfied with the name.

The two of them and the fox finished their dinner, chatting and laughing by the dim light of an oil lamp.

After the meal, once the dishes were cleared, Qiuyue began her routine, starting with basic physical exercises—squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. Her movements were becoming more proficient, and she performed each one with great focus.

Qin Meng watched for a moment and nodded to himself before walking to the other side of the courtyard. He took out the two remaining blood-scaled deer hearts, placed them on a stone bench, and gripped his saber to begin his stance.

As he unleashed the evil-slaying blade-breaking saber, the blade light carved sharp arcs through the twilight, and the blood and qi within his body surged naturally with the momentum of the blade.

As the night deepened, in a brick house on the east side of the fortress—Qin Lai's home—he was busy slaughtering pigs and sheep to entertain his brother, Qin Wang, who had just returned from the city.