"Good!" Qin Meng felt the surging power within him. His body had been enhanced yet again, and he couldn't help letting out a low shout. He focused on the panel, only to find the sub-interface for the Eight Blade Breaking Techniques had been completely transformed.
[Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber · Profound Tier, Low Grade]
[Martial Skill, Progress: 2%]
[Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber - Dengtang (35/200)]
[Effects: Physique Enhancement, Sharpness]
[Special State · Evil-Slaying (Newly Manifested)]
Effect · Physique Enhancement: Greatly enhances physical attributes
Effect · Sharpness: Killing Intent coats the blade, doubling its sharpness. It can cut through armor and increases damage to solid targets by 30%.
Special State · Evil-Slaying: Automatically condenses murderous Killing Intent, which can ward off evil, suppress and slay demons and filthy monsters, and increases damage to souls by 40%.
The saber technique's sub-interface clearly displayed its name and grade, proficiency, effects, and more.
Though the saber technique's rank had fallen to mastery, it had leaped from 'unranked' to 'Profound Tier, Low Grade.' There was no doubt about the change: the technique was several times more powerful, and its passive enhancements had only increased.
Qin Meng reined in his aura and turned toward Wang Gan. With a sincere smile, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Old Master, for passing on the saber."
Only then did Wang Gan recover from his shock. He gave a wry smile and waved his hand. "That's your exceptional talent... No, talent alone can't explain this. You've truly become a different person since you woke up. You're something else, lad."
His gaze at Qin Meng was immensely complicated, filled with astonishment and pride, along with a faint trace of jealousy. Qin Meng was his own grandson, but compared with him, this kind of comprehension and speed of progress were simply unheard of.
"Brother Mengzi, you're incredible! It took me three days just to memorize the moves." Wang Tieniu chimed in admiringly, his face full of shame at how far he fell short.
He was honest and good-natured, without a trace of jealousy. That made Old Man Wang's cheeks flush faintly.
"Tieniu, Heaven rewards diligence. Talent matters, but hard work is the foundation." Qin Meng patted Wang Tieniu on the shoulder, then chatted with the grandfather and grandson.
Wang Gan went on to tell Qin Meng in detail about the situation beyond the passes, the grudges between the Yanhan Dynasty and the nonhuman tribes, and several of the most important taboos in Martial Path cultivation.
"Remember this: before joining the Border Army, never cultivate crooked or forbidden arts. The army has all kinds of ways to inspect you. If they discover a problem, you'll be executed on the spot at best. At worst... at worst, your family—and even the whole village—will be dragged down with you."
Wang Gan's expression turned exceptionally grave as he spoke. "Martial culture flourishes throughout the dynasty, but there's no room for compromise when it comes to heretical and demonic ways."
Qin Meng nodded solemnly. "I understand."
As the sun sank westward, he slung his bow and saber over his back and took his leave.
First, he went to the carpenter in the fort and paid a deposit for a set of tables, chairs, and cabinets. Then he found a mason he knew and arranged for him to bring workers the next day to repair the old house. By the time he left the foreman Yang's home, the sun was already low in the west.
With his bow and saber on his back, Qin Meng walked along the dirt road, his attention sinking once more into the panel deep within his mind. As usual, it displayed his personal information.
[Name: Qin Meng]
[Realm: Mortal Body.]
[Innate Talent: Divine Valor]
[Talents: Wild Instinct - High Grade (3%), Environmental Integration - Mid Grade (11%), Ironback - Mid Grade (3%), Thick Skin and Fleshy - Low Grade (5%)]
[Core Cultivation Method: None]
[Martial Skills: Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber - Dengtang (35/200) Black Dragon Eighteen Hands - Mastery (9/500) Chain Arrow - Minor Accomplishment (18/1000)]
Qin Meng pondered.
He carefully recalled the strange events from his saber practice that day. For the three martial skills he had comprehended on his own—the "Blade-Breaking Saber" among them—the panel had only recorded their proficiency. It hadn't triggered the miraculous effect of the transparent little figures demonstrating the moves.
But fusing the Evil-Slaying Saber Technique had been completely different.
It seems the system only activates that "deduction and completion" ability when I come into contact with this world's orthodox martial skills. It's helping me merge my own combat techniques with this world's Martial Path system...
Qin Meng's eyes brightened. This wasn't simple practice; it was a way to transform and advance the abilities he already possessed, and to carve out his own path.
As he was thinking, a faint sense of being watched suddenly came from behind and to one side.
He abruptly stopped and turned to look.
A dozen or so paces away, seven or eight people were coming along a fork in the road.
At their head were Qin Lai and a brawny man who bore some resemblance to her. Liu San, Wang Laizi, and the other hangers-on followed behind them, all showing the man obsequious respect.
Memories surged through Qin Meng's mind, and he recognized the man.
Qin Wang. Qin Lai's older brother—and the source of her swaggering arrogance.
He had been a notorious bully in the fort in his younger days, but he did have some ability. It was said that ten years ago, he had accidentally saved an official from Tieling County.
To repay him for saving his life, the official not only promoted and favored him, but also secured him a post as a county yamen constable and married his daughter to him.
After that, Qin Wang's family moved to the county seat. Rumors had spread a few years ago that he had already reached the Bone Refining Stage of the Body Forging Realm.
So she's brought in reinforcements. Qin Meng sneered inwardly, but his face remained impassive.
Qin Lai was grinning as she said something to her brother. When she looked up and saw Qin Meng, a flash of smugness crossed her eyes before she replaced it with a spiteful expression. She was obviously embellishing her tale as she complained about him.
But when Qin Wang met Qin Meng's eyes, he actually gave him a slight nod.
Qin Meng's expression remained calm. He nodded back, then continued toward home.
"Brother, look at him! He acts like he doesn't give a damn about anyone." Qin Lai spat after Qin Meng's retreating back, her voice full of resentment.
"He even dared to lay hands on me the other day. If I hadn't dodged in time—"
"Enough." Qin Wang cut off her rambling, but kept watching Qin Meng's distant figure, a thoughtful look on his face.
"That kid... He's not quite the same as before."
"What's different about him? He's still a useless—"
"Shut up." Qin Wang shot Qin Lai a cold glance. "Let's go home first. We'll talk tonight."
Intimidated by her brother's glare, Qin Lai didn't dare say another word and could only follow sullenly.
Meanwhile, when Qin Meng returned to his little courtyard, smoke was already curling from the chimney.
Qiu Yue was busy at the stove. Hearing the gate, she poked her head out. "Mengzi, dinner will be ready soon."
"Yip, yip!" Little Fox came scampering out of the kitchen and circled happily around Qin Meng's feet.
Qin Meng smiled and answered her, then hung his bow and saber on the wall of the main room.
Before long, Shen Qiuyue brought out stewed deer meat, snake soup, and two small dishes. She served up steaming rice as well.
"Eat while it's hot." Qiu Yue sat across from Qin Meng and spoke softly.
Qin Meng nodded and put a piece of deer meat in his mouth, but his thoughts had already returned to the panel.
The Golden Finger's deduction ability can only be triggered through contact with this world's orthodox martial skills.
What about core cultivation methods? If I can get a cultivation method—even an incomplete one—could the panel optimize and complete it too?
He furrowed his brow slightly, lost in thought.
"Yip, yip!" Little Fox saw that Qin Meng was distracted and chirped a few times. It came over and rubbed its little head against his cheek, as if urging him to focus on his meal.
Qiu Yue smiled behind her hand at the sight. "This little fellow really knows how to care about people."
"Yeah." Qin Meng snapped back to himself and reached out to rub Little Fox's head. It felt soft and warm to the touch.
He looked at Qiu Yue and suddenly asked, "Sister Qiu Yue, let's give it a name, all right? We can't keep calling it 'little fellow' or 'Little Fox.'"
Qiu Yue had clearly already thought about it. At once, she replied, "Its fur is as white as snow, and it always has a faint fragrance about it... How about 'Xiao Xue' or 'Fragrant'?"
"Xiao Xue?" Qin Meng considered it. "That's good. Simple and nice-sounding."
"Then Xiao Xue it is." Qiu Yue nodded and called to the little fox, "Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue?"
"Yip!" The little fox's bright eyes darted around. It yipped several times, its tail wagging happily. It was clearly pleased with the name.
The two of them and the fox finished dinner by the dim, yellow lamplight, chatting and laughing.
After dinner, they cleared away the dishes. Qiu Yue started with the most basic fitness exercises as usual—squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. She was becoming more practiced, and performed each one with great care.
Qin Meng watched for a while and nodded to himself. Then he went to the other side of the courtyard, took out the two remaining Blood-Scaled Deer hearts, set them on the stone stool, and raised his saber into position.
He performed the Evil-Slaying Blade-Breaking Saber. Its light carved fierce arcs through the dusk, while the blood and qi within him surged naturally with every stroke.
As night deepened, at Qin Lai's home in a blue-brick courtyard at the eastern end of the fort, she was busy slaughtering pigs and sheep to welcome her older brother Qin Wang, who had returned from the city.
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