Of Course, I Have Nothing to Fear

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

The world was a blur of grey and white, the cold wind whistling, and a sudden chill and sense of grimness filled the air.

Wang Sheng, dressed in a grey short outfit, arrived at the Martial Academy as usual to train, still pounding away at the wooden dummies.

He didn't want to reveal that he had already advanced to Bright Energy.

Firstly, his ability to enter the Martial Path could barely be explained away by the term "desperate effort."

But if the time it took him to advance to Bright Energy was even shorter than the time it took to enter the Martial Path, then he truly wouldn't be able to explain it.

Secondly, Lin Shu's death couldn't be hidden. If a thorough investigation were to occur, and they discovered Wang Sheng had recently reached Bright Energy, he would undoubtedly be the prime suspect due to his conflict with Lin Shu.

"Junior Brother Wang is already up and training again!"

Lin Qing, a formal disciple who had joined the Martial Academy half a year before Wang Sheng, saw Wang Sheng, who was silently and diligently practicing, as soon as he walked into the academy grounds.

Looking at Wang Sheng, who was diligently sweating, Lin Qing felt a surge of jealousy and disdain.

A Low-grade Physique, and who knows what kind of luck he had to barely enter the Martial Path within the time limit through sheer effort. Now he thinks he can cultivate Bright Energy with just that sweat?

Dream on!

They said each level was a world apart.

Entering the Martial Path was one hurdle, and reaching minor accomplishment to achieve Bright Energy was another. Each hurdle eliminated too many people; it was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Lin Qing was jealous that Wang Sheng seemed to have gained the favor of Senior Brother Luo Zhengwen, a disciple at the Bright Energy level.

Wang Sheng's Low-grade Physique was evident, and his potential had reached its limit.

Yet he, Lin Qing, with a mid-to-high grade physique, had been in the Martial Path for half a year and still couldn't achieve Bright Energy.

For someone with a Low-grade Physique to be diligently sweating and cultivating there seemed to make him a spectacle, drawing cold stares and dissatisfaction from many.

Lin Qing uttered a sarcastic remark and said no more.

After all, Wang Sheng's record of crippling Meng Xu with a few punches was well-known. He didn't want to provoke Wang Sheng too much.

As time gradually passed, more and more disciples arrived at the Martial Academy.

However, it was almost noon, and Lin Shu's shadow was still nowhere to be seen.

This caused confusion among those who were friendly with Lin Shu.

Wang Sheng sat on a stone stool, resting with his eyes closed, and heard the hushed whispers of some disciples.

After becoming a Bright Energy martial artist, his strength, senses, and reaction speed had all been enhanced.

Moreover, before stepping into Bright Energy, the pressure in his heart was immense, and he had no mind to listen to others' idle chatter.

Now, after reaching Bright Energy, the pressure had significantly reduced, so his attention was indeed more scattered.

"These grains are rising in price so fast, and meat is astronomically expensive. If this continues, we'll only be able to drink thin porridge."

A disciple who had entered the Martial Path but not yet achieved Bright Energy said helplessly.

"Who isn't? We can only hope we become Bright Energy martial artists as soon as possible!"

"Having enough to eat with thin porridge is already a problem, and you still want to cultivate Bright Energy?"

"I heard the martial artists from Han Country are all impossibly tall, like giants."

"Recently, many experts from Southern Ridge Prefecture have come to Ershui City, and they've already had a lot of fights. Even a strong dragon can't suppress local snakes; these people will be dealt with sooner or later!"

"Sigh, I just hope the war ends soon. Otherwise, my family will have to prepare to move."

Many people were paying attention to Southern Ridge Prefecture, Han Country, and the matters of the martial world. These were life-and-death issues that directly concerned them, and no one could ignore them.

Just as Wang Sheng had rested for a while and was preparing to continue his training, a black-clothed bailiff suddenly arrived.

Soon, a disciple announced that after receiving Master Zhao's permission, the black-clothed bailiff was allowed to enter the inner courtyard.

Without waiting long, Master Zhao left the Martial Academy with the black-clothed bailiff, his face full of anger.

"What happened? Could it be that Han Country or the rebel army attacked?"

"I don't think so; it's more like someone offended the Master."

"Alright, stop guessing. Continue your training."

The last sentence was Li Hu sternly urging the junior brothers.

If you find this book to your liking, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

"Lin Shu's body has been found."

Wang Sheng had already prepared himself mentally.

Speaking of Lin Shu, Wang Sheng thought of the Blood Stacking Technique he had found on Lin Shu last night. It was truly an extraordinary treasure and secret art.

The Blood Stacking Technique had three layers.

Each layer could unleash power beyond imagination.

The principle of the Blood Stacking Technique is to stimulate acupoints and blood with internal energy, causing a surge in all attributes.

The first layer of the Blood Stacking Technique can unleash double the strength.

The second layer of the Blood Stacking Technique triples strength while also reinforcing the skin. A note advises caution for those not naturally endowed with a powerful physique.

The third layer of the Blood Stacking Technique quadruples strength and enhances all senses. Note: Forbidden for those who haven't undergone body refinement!

If the Blood Stacking Technique were truly mastered to the third layer, Wang Sheng, even in the early stage of Bright Energy, could exchange blows with an expert at the early stage of Dark Energy.

However, currently, only the first layer of the Blood Stacking Technique is usable, and it comes with a period of weakness afterward. This weakness typically appears about a day later.

The latter two layers, one with a caution and the other a prohibition, made him hesitant to even consider learning them.

"Lin Shu truly lives up to his genius reputation! The Blood Stacking Technique can only be used with Bright Energy, yet he hasn't even produced Bright Energy, and he's already trying to stimulate acupoints with external forces to gain immense power.

Wang Sheng muttered to himself, feeling relieved. It was good he had killed Lin Shu early. Otherwise, if Lin Shu had developed further and caused him even a little trouble, it would have been quite vexing.

Another half a day passed.

When it reached the afternoon.

Zhao Jie, with an extremely grim expression, gathered all his disciples.

"Lin Shu is dead."

"He was ambushed and killed by a Martial Artist at least at the Bright Energy stage."

Zhao Jie's words stunned everyone.

Many disciples couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves.

Some disciples showed pity, regret, or even sadness, but inwardly, they were secretly excited.

After all, no one likes to see their peers succeed; they prefer to see others' towers crumble!

"Which of you knows if Lin Shu recently made an enemy of any Bright Energy Martial Artist? Report it to me quickly. My disciples cannot die so meaninglessly!"

Zhao Jie finished speaking and waited for a moment. Seeing no reaction, he turned and walked towards the inner courtyard with a cold expression.

Zhao Feipeng, Li Hu, and a few other senior disciples instructed everyone to continue their cultivation before entering the inner courtyard to comfort Zhao Jie.

"Fortunately, I didn't expose my Bright Energy strength!"

Wang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, feeling it was better to continue lying low.

A few days later, Wang Sheng felt the situation gradually stabilize. The yamen runners investigating the case no longer came around, so he began looking for ways to earn money.

Any Martial Artist at the Bright Energy stage could earn money if they wanted to.

Wang Sheng needed to leave ample time for his daily cultivation, so he couldn't take on full-time work.

After discreetly inquiring for a few days, Wang Sheng found a small gang called the Golden Bull Gang.

This gang had just established itself on a street, and its leader, known as Ox Cyclone, was an expert at the late stage of Dark Energy.

The Golden Bull Gang was in a period of expansion, spending lavishly to recruit members, and they were generous even to part-time Martial Artists.

After meeting and conversing with Ox Cyclone twice, Wang Sheng settled on a deal: fifteen taels of silver per month, two Blood Replenishing Pills, and a finely forged long saber gifted for free.

Next, Wang Sheng took on part-time positions in three other small factions: the White Dog Gang, the Azure Cloud Wine Shop, and the Lin Nan Grocery Store. In total, he received seventy taels of silver, three Blood Replenishing Pills, and a pot of Sweet Medicine Wine each month.

Taking on a position meant he only went when needed, without having to stay with the small faction constantly. Normally, many people would take on multiple positions to earn more money.

However, most people, for better development and to show loyalty, wouldn't easily take on a second position.

Doing what Wang Sheng was doing, gaining short-term profits, would lead to suspicion, isolation, or even immediate dismissal if exposed over time.

Of course, Wang Sheng had nothing to fear. He wasn't planning on truly joining any of these small factions formally.