Leaving! Hope for Divine Strength

At noon the next day, after eating and drinking his fill, Chen Mo sorted through the things at home, tucked away the huge sum of one hundred taels of silver funded by the village, and left the home he had lived in for over half a month.

Once he left, he had no idea when he would be able to return.

Before leaving, Chen Mo could not help using today's Epiphany opportunity on the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique. To his surprise, it had failed to raise the technique from the entry level to the Proficient level. Rather than becoming angry, he was delighted.

With his current Quite Potential aptitude, even a single Epiphany had failed to raise it to the Proficient level. By contrast, aside from Tiger Fist advancing from the Great Accomplishment level to the Perfection Level, every previous Epiphany had raised it by one level. This showed that the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique was of a higher grade than Tiger Fist.

"Divine Strength Realm is within reach..."

A glimmer of delight flashed through his eyes. The strength bottleneck that had plagued him for more than ten days finally had hope of being broken through. Chen Mo remained extremely calm, thinking that once he reached the County Town today, he needed to keep as low a profile as possible.

Being too reckless when one lacked strength was simply courting death.

The strongest people in the County Town were certainly not limited to the Divine Strength Realm. Divine Might Realm martial artists, or even Qi and Blood Realm martial artists, might exist there. With this little strength of his, it was not yet time for him to throw his weight around.

He sniffed himself and found no strange odor. Without lingering any longer, Chen Mo headed toward the village entrance.

Before he had gone far, he spotted Chen Chao waiting for him at the Training Ground.

Chen Chao had clearly been waiting there specifically for him. The moment he saw Chen Mo, he immediately came forward to greet him.

As for Village Chief Chen Qun, he was most likely leading the villagers in trading with the merchant caravan at the village entrance.

Chen Family Village was no less than a hundred li from Hequ County. The merchant caravan came once every three months, and if they missed it, they would have to wait another three months.

Of course, they could choose to go to the County Town themselves. Setting aside the distance, safety along the way could not be guaranteed, and the journey was both time-consuming and exhausting. It was simply not worth it.

For the sake of safety, even if it meant accepting lower prices, Chen Family Village still chose to trade with the visiting merchant caravan and rarely went to the County Town themselves.

It was a choice born of necessity.

"Are you ready?" Chen Chao asked with a smile.

At forty-three years old, he looked at Chen Mo, whose face was still somewhat youthful yet whose demeanor was exceptionally steady and whose strength was formidable. His eyes were full of what he himself had been like at fifteen.

Back then, he... well, forget it. Back then, he had not even begun practicing martial arts, had never even left the village, much less gone hunting in the mountains. He could only trail after his mother and help with a few odd chores.

A fifteen-year-old Inner Strength Realm martial artist, especially in a place like Chen Family Village—there would probably never be another one in the future.

"I've been ready for a while." Chen Mo smiled as well.

Chen Chao nodded slightly. "Since you're ready, come with me. The Village Chief has already spoken to the merchant caravan. When they leave later, just follow them. You should reach the County Town by evening."

"Thank you." Chen Mo spoke sincerely.

Though there had been an element of exchange between them, they had truly helped him greatly. Not only had they taught him cultivation techniques for free, given him plenty of food, and taught him many hunting skills, they had also provided him with financial support.

One hundred taels was a huge sum for Chen Family Village.

His predecessor's family had not even been able to scrape together one tael of silver.

Even in the County Town, one hundred taels could accomplish many things. It was enough for Chen Mo to live on for some time.

"If you truly want to thank us, then once you've grown stronger, help the village more," Chen Chao said seriously.

They had truly spared no expense to support Chen Mo this time.

Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi, who had gone to the County Town before him, had not received such treatment.

There was no reason to refuse. Chen Mo nodded.

"I will."

Chen Chao smiled in satisfaction.

They had already said more or less everything that needed to be said, so Chen Chao did not speak further. He led Chen Mo to the village entrance, where they met the merchant caravan that had come to the village.

Chen Family Village was the final stop on this merchant caravan's current collection trip. More than ten horse-drawn carts were already loaded with all kinds of goods, and the trade here was nearly finished as well. When Chen Qun saw them approach, he smiled and waved.

"Captain Wang, Chen Mo is in your care!" Chen Qun solemnly entrusted Chen Mo to the Zhuang Han beside him.

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Hearing this, Captain Wang patted his chest and laughed. "Don't worry. I'll definitely deliver this young fellow safely to the County Town."

As he spoke, his gaze sized Chen Mo up. He was a little over 1.7 meters tall and had an ordinary build. Compared to Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi, whom they had previously sent to the County Town, there was nothing outstanding about him.

Yet when his gaze met Chen Mo's calm eyes, for some reason, he, an Inner Strength Realm martial artist, actually felt a sense of threat.

He gently shook his head, throwing this unrealistic notion out of his mind. What threat could a fifteen-year-old Youth possibly pose? Captain Wang smiled.

"You're Chen Mo, right? Can you ride a horse?"

"No." Chen Mo answered truthfully.

Neither in his previous life nor this one had he ever ridden a horse.

"Then stay in one of the carts."

"Mm."

"..."

Captain Wang did not mind Chen Mo's attitude. He was merely escorting someone to the County Town. It was not only Chen Family Village; several other villages would occasionally ask him to bring people there as well.

The first time was unfamiliar, the second time familiar. He had long grown used to it.

After chatting with Chen Qun and Chen Chao for a while longer, Captain Wang left. Before setting off back to the County Town, he still had matters to handle. The entire merchant caravan required his coordination and management, so he had no time to stand around chatting.

"Chen Mo, the County Town is not like this place. You must think thrice before acting in all things," Chen Qun said earnestly.

Chen Mo nodded and replied seriously, "I understand."

Chen Qun was greatly satisfied with Chen Mo's attitude. Perhaps because Chen Mo had lost both parents at a young age, Chen Qun saw in him a maturity and steadiness that a fifteen-year-old should not possess.

Compared to him, the other youths in the village fell far short in temperament alone.

"Once you reach the County Town, go to the Zheng Family Martial Arts School in the Outer City. Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi are studying martial arts there. You can meet up with them, and you can look after one another."

At this point, remembering that Chen Mo had already become an Inner Strength Realm martial artist, Chen Qun added, "Of course, it's fine if you do not want to join the Zheng Family Martial Arts School. It all depends on what you want."

"Mm." Chen Mo nodded slightly.

According to Chen Chao, the School Master of the Zheng Family Martial Arts School was only at the Inner Strength Realm. Too weak. Chen Mo planned to first see whether he could obtain cultivation techniques elsewhere. If he could not, then he would consider joining a martial arts school.

Unaware of Chen Mo's thoughts, Chen Qun merely assumed that Chen Mo did not think much of the Zheng Family Martial Arts School and intended to join a martial arts school in the Inner City.

Compared to the martial arts schools in the Outer City, those in the Inner City were undoubtedly much stronger. It was said that their School Masters were all in the Divine Strength Realm, and the School Masters of the two strongest martial arts schools had even surpassed the Divine Strength Realm.

Being able to join a martial arts school in the Inner City would undoubtedly be more beneficial for Chen Mo.

They certainly would have no objections to that.

Afterward, Chen Qun and Chen Chao explained some more about the County Town to Chen Mo. Then they watched Chen Mo board one of the merchant caravan's carts and gradually travel farther away until he finally disappeared from their sight, each lost in different thoughts.

Chen Chao was incomparably optimistic about Chen Mo's future. With such outstanding talent, he would probably rise to prominence very soon.

Though Chen Qun also thought highly of Chen Mo, he was somewhat worried. The County Town was unlike Chen Family Village. It held too many temptations and too many dangers. Though Chen Mo had reached the Inner Strength Realm and could be considered an expert in the County Town, many people were stronger than him. He also lacked experience in dealing with people. If he offended some powerful noble, the consequences would be grave.

But there was no use thinking too much now. Chen Mo had already left.

Having departed Chen Family Village, Chen Mo could only rely on himself.

Meanwhile, Chen Mo sat in the cart, watching the scenery around him while seemingly casually chatting with the driver beside him. He learned much about the County Town that Chen Qun and the others had not mentioned.

The driver was not stingy with information toward the Youth who shared dried meat with him. He could be said to know everything and tell everything.

Through their conversation, Chen Mo gained a deeper understanding of the County Town. He also learned that the merchant caravan he was currently traveling with belonged to the Shi Quan Merchant Association in the county. Its main business was gathering animal pelts, medicinal herbs, ores, and other goods from the surrounding villages.

They bought nearly everything of value, then transported it to the County Town for processing and sale. Their business covered an extremely wide range.

Upon learning this, delight appeared in Chen Mo's eyes.

"Since the Shi Quan Merchant Association sells everything, does that mean it sells cultivation techniques too?"