No One Will Back Down

Loach Street, Wang Residence.

Inside the secluded cultivation chamber.

"No wonder the ancient body-tempering methods were not continued into the present age. They actually have the flaw of shortening one's lifespan!"

Wang Sheng had spent half a day merely understanding the beginning of the ancient body-tempering method, yet the panel had already successfully displayed that he had entered the beginner stage.

After discovering how vastly different it was from modern methods, he spent several days interpreting the Eight-Line Body Tempering Breathing Technique along with several ancient books.

Through the original meaning of the technique and the annotations left by several generations of the He family, Wang Sheng roughly understood the specific cultivation method of ancient body tempering.

"The eight lines refer to skin, flesh, tendons, bones, blood, the five viscera, the skull, and finally the intangible, ethereal soul."

"Beginning with tempering the skin and flesh, then eventually refining the five viscera, the skull, and even tempering the soul, all in hopes of gradually obtaining pure physical strength."

"However, this method relies far too heavily on cultivation resources. It uses medicine to stimulate the body's potential. If one breaks through, that is fine—every improvement is akin to shedding one's mortal shell and exchanging one's bones, and one's lifespan will not decrease. But if the breakthrough fails, one's potential evaporates completely, the body deteriorates, and one loses a great deal of lifespan. The martial path is almost directly severed. Its margin for error is far too low."

From this body-tempering method, Wang Sheng saw the leopard through the tube and realized that modern body-tempering methods possessed quite a few advantages over ancient ones.

Modern body-tempering methods had a high tolerance for failure. A failed breakthrough would not drastically shorten one's lifespan.

Moreover, modern methods cultivated force. In the early stages, force might not be as tyrannical as the pure strength cultivated by the ancients, but once one reached the Transforming Energy stage, force could stretch and change in unfathomable ways, offering far more methods than simply cultivating strength.

"Still, isn't this ancient cultivation method perfectly suited to me!"

"I have my own talent and diligence. I won't fail a breakthrough, so there is no risk of losing lifespan."

"Although ancient body-tempering methods cultivate pure strength and lack the variety of force, I currently do not have a Transforming Energy method. Besides, the strength produced by ancient body methods is basically a whole cut stronger than force at the same level!"

"Ancient body-tempering methods cultivate pure flesh. Modern force is more like a protective shield when used for defense. But what if I encounter true damage?"

As Wang Sheng thought, he recalled a game from his previous life. True damage ignored protective shields outright. Pure flesh still feared it, but at least it could endure for a little longer.

"Master, Master. It's time to rest!"

At that moment,

Outside the secluded cultivation chamber,

Li Xuan wore a hazy, thin gauze dress and vivid makeup. Her exquisite figure was faintly visible beneath the fabric, while her delicate skin trembled from the cold as she softly called for Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng and the mother-daughter pair, Li Xuan and Wang Qinshi, lived in the courtyard next to the Wang family's old residence. Though the two properties had been opened up and connected after purchase, Father Wang and Mother Wang would not come here at night. Thus, Li Xuan dressed somewhat more boldly.

Hearing her call, Wang Sheng woke from his thoughts.

This had been his request. He had asked Li Xuan to remind him of the time over the past two days, telling him when he should rest.

On the day after the Governor's Mansion banquet, Wang Sheng noticed that Yu Cheng had been secretly monitoring him. Thus, he played along and deliberately gave Yu Cheng an opportunity. For the past two nights, he had rolled among the clouds and rain with the two beauties before falling into a deep sleep.

After all, if he could resolve the matter on his own turf, and the enemy was delivering himself to Wang Sheng's door to die, why should Wang Sheng waste time seeking out Yu Cheng and specially find an isolated place to kill him?

However,

Wang Sheng had now changed his mind.

He no longer wanted to waste time on women's bellies, deliberately exposing flaws and waiting for Yu Cheng to come deliver himself to death.

This ancient body-tempering method had truly captivated Wang Sheng. It could provide him with tremendous assistance and might very well be the key to his combat strength breaking through into the Transforming Energy stage.

Therefore, Wang Sheng decided to formally enter seclusion in the cultivation chamber and see no one.

If Yu Cheng truly came to kill him, then they would meet inside the cultivation chamber.

"Master, my chest hurts a little. It feels so heavy. Could you come help massage it?"

At that moment, Wang Qinshi walked over without a stitch on, speaking coquettishly.

For ordinary women, being half-concealed and half-revealed was the most alluring.

But for a woman with an exceptionally fine figure, full in front and rounded behind, with breasts like watermelons, truly walking about completely naked meant that every step stirred surging waves and rolling white billows, enough to leave one breathless.

Wang Sheng did not see it, but Li Xuan truly watched with gritted teeth. She cursed that shameless slut in her heart, yet inwardly envied those nearly two pounds of flesh beyond measure.

Ever since Li Xuan had decided to compete with her mother, Wang Qinshi, for Wang Sheng's favor and refuse to let Wang Qinshi's little schemes succeed, the two had begun a contest of female rivalry centered around Wang Sheng.

Unfortunately,

Wang Qinshi had too many tricks and was far too skilled at seducing people. Time and again, Li Xuan fell into a disadvantage, only to compete even harder each time.

Just as Li Xuan glared furiously at Wang Qinshi, Wang Sheng's voice came from the secluded cultivation chamber. "From today onward, I am formally entering seclusion. Bring me food every day. Every meal must contain at least ten jin of meat."

Ancient body-tempering methods required one to eat meat like mad.

Disappointment filled Li Xuan's eyes, but she was also relieved. Wang Sheng had not come out today; otherwise, she definitely would have lost again.

"Yes, Master. Master, I would like to buy another maidservant."

Wang Qinshi spoke respectfully.

"Granted."

"You may add maidservants and cooks as well. You decide."

Wang Sheng replied.

"Master, I do not want anything. I want to save money for Master!"

Li Xuan suddenly said in a soft, coquettish voice.

"Get lost."

Wang Sheng uttered the single word blandly.

Now was not the time to watch this little bitch perform her affected tea-sipping act.

"Women will only affect the extent of my efforts."

"Let me see just how formidable this ancient body-tempering method can be!"

Looking at the beast-hide book in his hand, Wang Sheng lowered his head and began cultivating the Eight-Line Body Tempering Breathing Technique.

While Wang Sheng was in seclusion,

Yu Cheng, on the other side, also began his own seclusion.

After gathering Wang Sheng's daily routine, Yu Cheng had planned to take advantage of Wang Sheng's revelry and use a potent aphrodisiac to make Wang Sheng die on a woman's belly.

That way, he could eliminate Wang Sheng without anyone noticing, killing without spilling blood. Even if someone discovered something was wrong, they would not know where to begin investigating.

Yet what Yu Cheng had not expected was that after fighting desperately against the disciples of Cangshan Martial Academy, the bottleneck at the peak of his Mid Dark Energy stage had loosened. It was clearly a sign that he was about to enter Late Dark Energy.

Yu Cheng could not help but rejoice. He immediately tossed the matter of killing Wang Sheng aside and hurried into seclusion.

Thus,

Time gradually passed.

Half a month went by. The weather grew increasingly cold, and the eighteen-month winter was about to descend.

Yet the fighting showed no signs of stopping. Instead, more and more commoners who could no longer survive joined the rebel army of Southern Ridge Prefecture.

The Son of Heaven's Army near Ershui City also grew stronger by the day. They broke through two towns in succession, enraging Governor He, who sent people to suppress this band of rebels. Yet they returned in crushing defeat, suffering grievous casualties.

In an instant, the situation in Ershui City became unclear.

Seeing the government weak and powerless, all manner of demons and monsters came crawling out. Demonic men who fed on blood essence reappeared, while flower-plucking thieves succeeded several times in succession.

A few days later, another small faction that had been severely damaged during its earlier pursuit of the Demonic Cult was exterminated.

The Divine Incense Cult began disregarding Governor He's orders, wantonly recruiting commoners and collecting protection fees.

The Divine Incense Cult encroached upon the interests of martial halls and martial academies, provoking many people into furious fights and creating utter chaos.

At times, those rebels of the Son of Heaven's Army even dared to appear beneath Ershui City's walls, frightening Ershui City into closing its gates.

The many problems that had accumulated within Ershui City erupted all at once at such a time. This chaos was even worse than when the Demonic Cult had run rampant last time.

The Divine Incense Cult, the martial halls and martial academies, demonic men, the Son of Heaven's Army, and other major forces refused to yield to one another.