The One and Only?

"Open the panel!"

With a thought, Wang Sheng summoned it.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence: Study must yield achievement.]

[Cultivation: Great Perfection of Bright Force]

[Great Tablet Shattering Hand: Minor Accomplishment (999/1000)]

[Forging Gold Technique: Minor Accomplishment (2/1000)]

[Blood Stacking Technique: First Layer]

[Stone Stance Technique: Minor Accomplishment (998/1000)]

"Just as my Forging Gold Body tempering has reached Minor Accomplishment, another measure of force has been born within me."

Wang Sheng sensed the tremendous power hidden beneath his taut flesh, and he felt quite satisfied and expectant.

Once one cultivated to the Great Perfection of Bright Force, it was no longer possible to increase one's force. At that point, one either rushed toward Dark Force to grow stronger, or cultivated a new method to stack more force.

Yet most people could not even thoroughly study and master a single method. How could they divide their attention to cultivate a second?

Only some old fellows, after encountering a bottleneck, dared not charge into advancement for fear of failing and suffering grave injuries. They would turn to cultivating more methods to stack their force, ensuring that their strength would not decline.

"After my body tempering reached Minor Accomplishment, this body of mine can nearly offset half the force of an ordinary Bright Force attack. If I put on heavy armor as well, the strikes of Bright Force Martial Artists would be little more than scratching an itch."

"There is still a vast difference between having armor and not having it. My strength is not enough to let me gain a foothold among the chaotic armies to come. I cannot grow complacent."

"The second layer of the Blood Stacking Technique can be cultivated now. If I succeed, activating its second layer will multiply my strength severalfold, and my physical defense will soar for a short time. By then, it should not be much different from wearing heavy armor."

Wang Sheng silently assessed his own strength.

He needed to judge the gap between himself and the martial arts experts in either the imperial army or the rebel forces, remaining prepared at all times for the sudden descent of troubled times.

At that moment,

Shouts suddenly came from outside the door.

Wang Sheng stepped outside and saw that it was a maid from the Li family.

"Fourth Madam wants you. Hurry and come with me."

The maid spoke with considerable urgency.

Wang Sheng frowned slightly. That slut was either itching for it, or wanted his "milk" again.

But he was no longer the son of a servant who could be kneaded and squeezed at will.

Even if there was to be play, he should be the one calling the shots.

He would not be treated like some plaything, summoned at a whim and dismissed at a wave.

"Tell Fourth Madam that I have no time right now. Wait a month, then we can talk."

Wang Sheng said indifferently.

What mattered to him now was revenge and charging toward Dark Force.

Before that, he needed to keep his energy well stocked.

Moreover, Wang Sheng vaguely felt that Fourth Madam truly possessed extraordinary gifts. He had already become a Bright Force Martial Artist, yet he still could not fill Fourth Madam's appetite.

That plot of land truly had more than enough fertilizer!

Wang Sheng intended to wait until his Forging Gold Body had achieved some success and he had entered Dark Force, then properly put that slut in her place.

"You dare!"

"If Madam gets angry, you'll be in for a disaster."

The maid was Fourth Madam's personal attendant and knew these secrets. She snapped angrily.

"Tell Fourth Madam this. If she wants my heart, then she can endure for a month. Otherwise, she can find someone else."

Wang Sheng said.

"You ungrateful wretch! Madam truly misjudged you."

The maid glared hatefully at Wang Sheng. After throwing down that threat, she hurried away.

If Wang Sheng would not go, then it would be up to her, the maid, to ease Fourth Madam's needs.

As for finding someone else, Fourth Madam was not truly a whore. Besides, this matter could not see the light of day. How could she casually find someone?

Wang Sheng shook his head.

Fourth Madam had indeed helped him, but what she demanded was ruthless enough. The previous owner of this body had even lost his life because of Fourth Madam.

If Wang Sheng had not practiced martial arts, he would likely have met the same end—perhaps an even worse one.

Wang Sheng left the courtyard. After walking along Loach Street for a while, he saw Golden Bull Gang members out on patrol.

Wang Sheng took the Golden Bull Gang Protector token from his robes and hung it at his waist.

When the two gang members saw it, they immediately bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Protector."

"Mm. Kill someone for me—a steward from an ordinary wealthy household. Whatever you gain from killing him is yours. I'll handle the aftermath."

Wang Sheng led the two men into a secluded corner and spoke.

The two gang members exchanged glances, then immediately agreed.

They were no fools. They knew this was an opportunity to curry favor with a Protector.

Using a borrowed knife to kill was something the Golden Bull Gang did more often than not.

Sometimes, when the authorities deliberately pressed the issue and pursued the Golden Bull Gang for murder, gang members would voluntarily enter prison and take the blame for the gang leader or Protectors. The gang would compensate those members afterward.

Although Wang Sheng had not mentioned payment, merely saying that he would handle the aftermath meant that once they killed that steward, Wang Sheng would settle all the trouble that followed.

"Good. Do you know the Li family? The wealthy Li family a few streets away, the one that runs a silk shop."

"Yes, yes. So their steward offended Protector? What nerve. Rest assured, Protector, we'll make sure he dies horribly. However you want him to die, that is how he'll die!"

The two gang members thumped their chests in assurance.

If Wang Sheng had asked them to kill the Li family head, they definitely would not have dared. They would have assumed he was looking for scapegoats. The Li family was wealthy, and the authorities would have to catch the culprit to pacify the other wealthy households.

But a mere steward was not much of a risk.

"Just stab him to death."

Wang Sheng nodded.

He was only killing a steward who did not cultivate. He did not want to act personally; sending two men would suffice. If something went wrong, he would still have a chance to remedy it.

"That's Wang Sheng!"

"It really is Wang Sheng! Golden Bull Gang people are fawning over him!"

"So what happened that day was true!"

Du Suo was walking down Loach Street with a pole across his shoulders, selling pickled mustard tuber. He had been looking around in hopes that someone might buy some when he spotted Wang Sheng. His expression changed at once, and his shocked eyes carried a complicated, incredulous look.

After giving his instructions, Wang Sheng stepped out of the corner and happened to meet Du Suo's vacant stare.

Wang Sheng nodded to Du Suo. After a brief pause, he was about to walk over and exchange a few words.

But Du Suo suddenly turned his head away, lowered it, and ran off with his carrying pole.

Wang Sheng found it somewhat surprising, but did not take it to heart. He headed toward the Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy.

Along the way, Wang Sheng noticed far more beggars by the roadside. Every passerby wore a face full of sorrow, and now and then, sighs drifted from groups that had stopped to talk.

Some people vaguely said that Great Jing was finished, that the little emperor of the court understood nothing, and that the rebel army of Southern Ridge Prefecture had set its sights on Jiangling Prefecture.

Others spoke of the northern barbarians of Han Country. After resting and reorganizing for several months, they seemed ready to head south and launch war once more.

Rustle...

Dead leaves were swept up by the cold wind. The beggars on the ground shivered all over and curled themselves tighter.

Wang Sheng's body was like a furnace. This chill merely made him feel cool.

But he knew winter had arrived.

War might not come, but once it did, more people would only die from the bitter cold and the fighting.

Zhao Family Martial Arts Academy.

Before Wang Sheng even entered, he heard Wu An's laughter.

"It will happen within these next few days. Once I give birth to force and achieve Bright Force, I'll definitely set several tables at Thousand Cranes Tower and treat Master and all my fellow brothers."

Wu An said with a hearty laugh.

"Senior Brother is generous!"

"With the Dan Family helping Junior Brother Wu, you truly are about to soar into the sky in a single bound!"

"It seems that Bone Strengthening Pill is destined to be yours, Senior Brother."

"I heard that although such pills are worth fifty taels of silver each, few people sell them. Everyone hoards them like treasures. Even when one does go up for sale, the price is outrageously high."

The crowd congratulated Wu An. The atmosphere was lively and joyous.

Wang Sheng stepped into the martial arts academy and glanced at Wu An. The one and only? You're celebrating too early.

That thought merely passed through Wang Sheng's mind, and he continued warming up and practicing martial arts on his own.

He had heard that Master would announce something important today, which was why he had hurried over.

Otherwise, he had originally planned to ask the gang leader when they would wipe out the White Tiger Gang.

After all, in order to advance to Bright Force quickly, he had borrowed usurious loans from the White Tiger Gang. It looked like the White Tiger Gang could barely wait any longer.