Chen Ling's Scheme

Lin Changsheng hurriedly circulated the Sun-Moon Breathing Method, absorbing the surging inner force born within his meridians.

As the Sun-Moon Breathing Method absorbed it, this inner force continuously entered his dantian, nourishing his eight extraordinary meridians, muscles, and bones. Lin Changsheng felt his aura steadily climbing!

If Lin Changsheng's inner force had previously been a river, then now, the inner force within him was the Grand Canal!

With a thought, Lin Changsheng opened the panel.

[Great Dao Made Simple: Level 1]

[Lin Changsheng: 16/55]

[Cultivation: First-Class Realm (0/12500)]

[Technique: Sun-Moon Breathing Method (Mastery 14298/25000)]

[Martial Arts: Arrow Technique (Grand Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Grand Perfection), Flying Eaves Lightness Skill (Grand Perfection), Azure Snake Sword Technique (43003/62500), Heavenly Maiden Scatters Flowers, Incomplete (Proficient 487/500)]

[Alchemy: Qi-Replenishing Pill (367/500)]

[Spend a certain amount of silver to simplify techniques, martial skills, and more.]

[Status: Yin Energy Invasion (Weakened)]

"I wonder how strong I am now?"

Lin Changsheng clenched his fists and circulated the Sun-Moon Breathing Method. Inner force surged wildly through his entire body, giving him the feeling that he could pull up mountains and overshadow the world with his might. He was ready to test the destructive power of the First-Class Realm.

As far as he knew,

there had been four Second-Rate Expert Realms in all of Pasture City on the surface. No, Ma Zhankui was dead, so only three remained. Now that he had advanced to the First-Class Realm, he was already equivalent to Pasture City's foremost expert.

Boom!

Lin Changsheng circulated the Sun-Moon Breathing Method and faced the cliff wall behind him, throwing a punch. At once, he felt the inner force in his dantian follow the blow, its force shooting half a zhang out through his fist!

Air-Splitting Fist!

Rumble!

A thunderous crash rang out. The force struck, shattered rocks flew everywhere, and the cliff wall instantly cracked apart. A section of stone wall five zhang wide collapsed in an instant, kicking up billowing dust!

Whoosh!

Lin Changsheng unleashed the Flying Eaves Lightness Skill, tapping off the ground several times. Like a nimble swallow, he appeared more than ten zhang away!

"Worthy of the First-Class Realm!"

Lin Changsheng looked at the large section of collapsed cliff wall, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

Upon reaching the First-Rate Expert Realm,

one could project inner force half a zhang outward, unleashing half-zhang fist force, blade qi, sword qi, Air-Splitting Palm, and more. Even one's eyesight, hearing, physical strength, and overall capabilities underwent earth-shaking improvement!

Now that inner force could be projected outward, even plucking leaves and scattering flowers could kill a man several zhang away!

With my current realm, why would I need four arrows to kill a Second-Rate Expert Realm like Ma Zhankui? One arrow alone would take his life!

Lin Changsheng thought to himself.

Iron Hand Martial School.

Training grounds.

"Old Zhang, has Lin Changsheng come by lately to practice the Iron Sand Palm?"

Technique instructor Liu Zhengming arrived at the training grounds and found Instructor Zhang, who was teaching newly recruited disciples the Iron Sand Palm.

"No. I thought he had gone to your place to cultivate the breathing method. There have been quite a few new disciples lately, so I didn't pay much attention."

Instructor Zhang shook his head.

"That kid has good talent. If properly nurtured, he could enter the Third-Rate Realm in the future. He can't keep fishing for three days and drying the nets for two!"

Liu Zhengming frowned.

"Do you think something happened at home and held him up? How about we send a disciple to check on his house?"

Instructor Zhang suggested.

"Mm, fine. I'll send someone over to take a look."

Liu Zhengming nodded.

Just then, an elderly man with unusually large hands, a tall and sturdy build, and a deep, steady aura passed by with two young men whose auras were not weak.

"School Master!"

"School Master!"

Instructor Zhang and Liu Zhengming both cupped their fists respectfully in greeting.

"Mm. I have something to take care of outside. Carry on with your work."

The old man nodded at them, then turned and left with the two young men.

Pasture County yamen.

Rear hall.

Inside a reception room with folding screens.

County Magistrate Chen Ling held a teacup in his hand and looked gravely at the three men before him. "I invited the three school masters here today because there is an important matter in which I would like to ask for your assistance!"

Before Chen Ling,

on the left sat a man with unusually large hands, a tall and sturdy frame, and a deep, steady aura. He was nearly sixty years old, and he was none other than He Tieshou, master of the Iron Hand Martial School.

On the right sat a square-faced middle-aged man with an unyielding bearing. His arm muscles bulged, his body was powerfully built, and he radiated formidable strength. This man was Liao Jinzhong, master of the Golden Bell Martial School.

The man in the middle was lean and thin, around fifty years old, fair-skinned and beardless, with a kindly appearance. He was Ji Liuyun, master of the Flowing Cloud Martial School.

These three were Pasture City's current three greatest experts!

"Since Magistrate Chen has spoken, he thinks highly of us. We will brave boiling water and tread through fire without hesitation!"

Liao Jinzhong, master of the Golden Bell Martial School, patted his chest as he spoke.

"Please tell us, sir. What matter requires the three of us to act?"

"..."

Ji Liuyun and He Tieshou spoke as well.

"You three should know about Ma Zhankui's family being wiped out."

Chen Ling looked at the three men, his gaze flickering.

"Your meaning is that you want us to join forces and kill the murderer who killed Chief Ma?"

Hearing Chen Ling's words, He Tieshou and the other two exchanged glances.

"Correct!"

"To speak frankly, Ma Zhankui was my brother-in-law. The murderer was able to kill Ma Zhankui, which means his strength is at least in the Second-Rate Realm. The constables cannot possibly kill him, so I need the full assistance of you three!"

"If the three of you help with this matter, I will offer each of you three hundred taels of silver! As for other conveniences, I am sure you understand!"

Chen Ling nodded.

He had already discovered where the murderer who had killed his brother-in-law was hiding. He had summoned these three Second-Rate Expert Realm school masters with the intention of killing the man in one blow!

"Good, I accept!"

Liao Jinzhong nodded.

"My lord, when do we act?"

He Tieshou and Ji Liuyun nodded in agreement as well.

Three hundred taels of silver was no small amount, but the greater prize was the magistrate's promise to make things convenient!

For those running martial schools, if the magistrate made things convenient for them, the benefits would be beyond imagination!

"Wait for my notice!"

Chen Ling said after a moment's thought.

He already knew that the murderer went running beneath Lone Wolf Mountain every day. Killing him there would be best!

"Good!"

He Tieshou and the other two nodded.

Beneath Lone Wolf Mountain.

Within the woods.

A lean, agile youth dressed in faded blue clothes tapped the ground with the tip of his foot and leaped more than a zhang high. He moved through the forest like a swallow, incredibly swift!

It was Lin Changsheng, who had advanced to the First-Class Realm.

At this moment,

Lin Changsheng truly wanted to let out a long howl toward the sky, but he did not.

"I should head back. Wen Jing should be cooking by now."

Lin Changsheng's gaze flickered, and he turned to race toward home.

With the Flying Eaves Lightness Skill at Perfect Stage and his advancement to the First-Class Realm, Lin Changsheng found that his speed had increased severalfold. As he darted through the woods, only a fleeting shadow could be seen.

Before long,

Lin Changsheng arrived beside the bamboo grove at his doorstep. Seeing wisps of cooking smoke rising behind the house, he could not help but smile.

"Li Yun?"

Suddenly, Lin Changsheng saw a young man of seventeen or eighteen standing at his door, watching the curling smoke as though preparing to knock. He immediately called out.

Lin Changsheng recognized Li Yun.

He was a disciple of the Iron Hand Martial School who practiced the Reflecting Sun Breathing Method alongside Lin Changsheng.

"Changsheng, you're back! Instructor Liu Zhengming was looking for you and sent me to check on you!"

Hearing Lin Changsheng call out, Li Yun's eyes immediately lit up, and he stepped forward.

"Instructor Liu Zhengming was looking for me?"

Lin Changsheng's heart stirred. He had not expected Instructor Liu to pay him such close attention.

"Mm. Instructor Liu said you have talent and can't keep fishing for three days and drying the nets for two. He sent me to see whether something had delayed you and told you to return early to cultivate."

Li Yun said.