One Punch per Force Transformation

"A late-stage Dark Force warrior was killed in one move. Could he really be a Force Transformation warrior? Force Transformation at sixteen... Hiss..." Chu Qingwen sucked in a cold breath.

"A sixteen-year-old who can cultivate to Force Transformation is either a true disciple prodigy of a great sect, the direct heir of a thousand-year ancient martial lineage, or someone with heaven-defying cultivation talent."

Chu Qingwen swiftly considered Zhang Yu's background.

"He is desperately short of money and wants a first-rate cultivation method. If he came from a great sect or a thousand-year ancient martial lineage, he could not possibly lack cultivation methods. Then he is most likely..."

The answer was ready to leap from the page.

Chu Qingwen's heart surged with excitement, and her eyes shone as she looked at Zhang Yu.

A sixteen-year-old Force Transformation warrior represented limitless possibilities. This was his most difficult hour. If she could befriend him now, the future returns would be immeasurable.

Born into a merchant family, Chu Qingwen weighed the gains and losses in her heart.

The next moment, she made up her mind. She would support Zhang Yu with everything she had and bind the Chu Family to him completely while he was still insignificant.

After killing the man in black, Zhang Yu began searching the corpse. Unfortunately, he found no cultivation methods, and only a few dozen taels of loose silver.

"What kind of dogshit guard are you? You only had this little money on you, yet you were the city lord's son's bodyguard. Aren't you ashamed? You deserved to die." Having found nothing worthwhile, Zhang Yu cursed at the corpse.

A moment later, he returned to the carriage and glanced at Chu Qingwen. "I killed him for you. Remember, one hundred-year blood ginseng."

"Young Master is truly mighty. The Chu Family is willing to add another hundred-year blood ginseng," Chu Qingwen said.

Zhang Yu's expression froze. Someone was actually willing to raise the payment voluntarily? Strange. Of course, he would not refuse something offered for free. Besides, that man had been at late-stage Dark Force. If he had not happened to encounter Zhang Yu, Chu Qingwen would most likely have been kidnapped.

"Then I shall accept without undue modesty." Zhang Yu cupped his fists.

"May I ask where Young Master is headed? Where is your home? Are you..." Chu Qingwen lost her composure somewhat, her gaze far too fervent.

Seeing her burning gaze, Zhang Yu muttered inwardly, Is she lovesick?

"Miss!" Only when her maid Xiang Ju gently tugged at her did Chu Qingwen come back to herself. Her face reddened slightly. "Please forgive me, Young Master. I was somewhat improper after witnessing your heroic bearing."

Zhang Yu nodded faintly without speaking, continuing to maintain his aloof demeanor.

Over the next few days, Chu Qingwen constantly spoke with Zhang Yu, praising him in every way. Zhang Yu even sensed a hint of flattery in her attitude.

Through his conversations with Chu Qingwen, Zhang Yu gained a rough understanding of the Western Desolate Continent.

The Western Desolate Continent had three great empires: the Great Qi Empire, the Great Xia Empire, and the Great Chu Empire.

Their current location belonged to the Great Chu Empire, while Boundless City lay at the intersection of the three empires. It was a lawless place beyond anyone's control, where fish and dragons mingled together. According to Chu Qingwen, all those who went to Boundless City were vicious men.

Behind each of the three great empires stood an exalted great sect.

The Great Qi Empire was backed by the Azure Cloud Sect.

The Great Xia Empire was backed by the Golden Sword Sect.

The sect behind their Great Chu Empire was Cloudveil Academy.

One did not need to enter a sect to cultivate through the lower three realms—Bright Force, Dark Force, and Force Transformation. However, to reach the True Qi Realm, one had to join a sect, because there were simply no advancement methods outside.

"Young Master will have to go to Cloudveil Academy sooner or later if you wish to enter the True Qi Realm. Our Chu Family is willing to support you," Chu Qingwen said, staring at Zhang Yu.

"Support me? How?" Zhang Yu asked.

"With the strength of our entire lineage," Chu Qingwen answered decisively.

Hiss...

What boldness!

Zhang Yu thought to himself.

Other than a lousy Saint Teacher System, he had nothing at all—no foundation and no territory. Thus, hearing Chu Qingwen's words, he felt somewhat tempted.

"The conditions? And can you represent the Chu Family?"

"I can. As for conditions? There are none. Our Chu Family is gambling that Young Master's future will be limitless," Chu Qingwen answered shrewdly.

Super geniuses were unwilling to be restrained, and she understood that well.

"Aren't you afraid of losing everything?" Zhang Yu stared into Chu Qingwen's eyes.

"A gamble is a gamble. Win or lose, I accept it."

"What boldness! Let me consider it," Zhang Yu said.

He knew that her claim of having no conditions meant she wanted even more in the future. Still, he did not mind, because he currently had nothing.

Chu Qingwen said nothing further. In truth, she had wanted to say that the condition was for him to marry her, even marry into the Chu Family.

But after thinking it over, she ultimately said nothing.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Yu took out a sheet of paper and handed it to Chu Qingwen. "Can you gather the medicinal ingredients in this formula?"

Parting Fire Vine, Crimson Dragon Grass, Fire Jade Marrow, three-hundred-year Crimson Blood Ginseng, and Fire Spirit Crystal.

This was the formula for awakening Niu Mancang's Feral Ox Physique, produced by the system.

Chu Qingwen looked at the formula. "Our Chu Family has the first four medicinal ingredients. As for the Fire Spirit Crystal... it will not be easy. It is something used by mid-grade warriors and is basically controlled by the great sects. Even if one appears on the market, it is worth a city and beyond."

"Gather this formula, and I can consider what you proposed," Zhang Yu said.

He had asked about this formula at medicine shops in several counties before. Most could only provide one or two ingredients at best. The Chu Family could actually gather four, and judging by Chu Qingwen's tone, even the final Fire Spirit Crystal might be obtainable if they were willing to pay a huge price.

The two were still speaking.

Whoosh...

A sharp sound tore through the air from afar.

Zhang Yu's expression turned cold. The steel blade in his hand flew from its sheath. With a clang, he knocked away a flying dart aimed at him, but his blade shattered as well.

The attacker was no simple opponent.

"Boy, you truly do have some skill. You killed Ma Liu, didn't you?" An old man in blue, more than sixty years old, emerged from the nearby woods.

When Chu Qingwen saw the old man in blue, her face changed drastically. She whispered to Zhang Yu, "He is Zhou Jingyuan's personal guard, known as Old Chen. He is a Power Dissolution warrior. I never expected Zhou Jingyuan to send even him."

Zhang Yu sized up the old man in blue, then turned to Chu Qingwen. "Gather the formula, and I will deal with this man for you."

A thoughtful look appeared on Chu Qingwen's face, because Fire Spirit Crystals were indeed extremely difficult to find and scarce on the market.

"Finding a Fire Spirit Crystal requires luck. Give me one year," Chu Qingwen said.

"Half a year at most."

"Fine!" Chu Qingwen gritted her teeth and agreed.

Zhang Yu leaped down from the carriage and walked toward the old man in blue.

"Boy, judging by the force behind your blade just now, your true strength is not the peak Bright Force you have shown. If I am not mistaken, you should be at peak Dark Force. Tsk, tsk. Such a young peak Dark Force warrior is about to die at this old man's hands. I can hardly bear it," the old man in blue said with an expression that showed he had Zhang Yu completely under control.

"Kneel now and beg this old man to take you as a slave. Perhaps this old man's heart will soften, and I will spare your life," he said.

"You sure talk a lot, old bastard. Your lifespan ends today. How about you kneel and beg me instead? Maybe my heart will soften and spare your life?"

Before the other man could reply, Zhang Yu attacked first, throwing a punch at the old man in blue.

Facing a Power Dissolution warrior, he only had one chance, so he struck with all his strength.

Martial Dao True Intent—Shattering Intent Realm.

It was an utterly ordinary punch, with not a trace of force leaking out.

"You have some nerve, attacking this old man! In a moment, I will break every bone in your body and see whether that mouth of yours remains so hard."

The old man in blue flew into a rage. Meeting Zhang Yu's punch, he threw one of his own. "Little bastard, I will show you what Power Dissolution is!"

Bang!

Boom!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft...

"No! What is this? You..." Terror filled the old man's eyes.

When their fists collided, the elder, who had been brimming with confidence, suddenly felt as if his soul were being torn apart. At the same time, an unfathomable force of intent surged from where their fists met.

Then his flesh, tendons, and bones shattered inch by inch. Blood began spraying from all over his body, and in the end, he broke apart into a pile of mangled flesh.

Martial Dao True Intent.

How could he possibly grasp a warrior's True Intent?

Who exactly was he?

What kind of existence had he provoked?

Before dying, the old man in blue's mind was filled with questions.

Chu Qingwen stood on the carriage with her mouth wide open, utterly dumbfounded.

Before this, she had believed she had estimated Zhang Yu's potential and strength to the highest possible degree. Now, it seemed she had still underestimated him.

"Miss, Young Master Zhang killed a Power Dissolution warrior with one punch. Am I seeing things?" Xiang Ju, the maid beside her, swallowed hard, equally stunned.

Chu Qingwen ignored Xiang Ju. She climbed down from the carriage and walked up to Zhang Yu, who was rummaging through the mangled flesh.

At that moment, Zhang Yu was muttering, "Damn it. I should have held back a little. Everything on that old man got smashed to pieces."

Once again, he felt as though he had lost a hundred million.

"One month. Young Master Zhang, our Chu Family will stop at nothing to gather the formula for you within one month." Chu Qingwen decided to stake everything the Chu Family had on Zhang Yu.

Their Chu Family had been merchants for three hundred years, always a piece of meat in the mouths of warriors. She wanted to change all that.

If the Chu Family had been a martial lineage, Zhou Jingyuan would never have dared repeatedly send men to kidnap her.

"The conditions?" Zhang Yu looked at Chu Qingwen.

"There are no conditions. I only ask that Young Master allow Qingwen to serve at your side." Chu Qingwen bent her knees slightly in a salute.

"Miss..." Xiang Ju was shocked.

"Silence!" Chu Qingwen glared at her.

Naturally, Zhang Yu understood what Chu Qingwen meant. His brows furrowed slightly, but he did not speak. Instead, he activated the Eye of Truth-Piercing.

[Name: Chu Qingwen]

[Age: 17]

[Cultivation Aptitude: Low]

[Comprehension: Excellent]

[Fate: Soul Enlightenment from Birth]

Soul Enlightenment from Birth: An innate understanding of soul power and soul arts.

"Not bad. She actually has a fate, and one related to soul power. Her comprehension is excellent too. But her cultivation aptitude is low. Otherwise, taking her as a disciple would not be bad," Zhang Yu thought to himself.

"Unfortunately, I only have one slot left at this stage. Still, keeping her by my side is not bad. Perhaps there will be a surprise in the future."

After considering it, he nodded at Chu Qingwen. "Stay by my side and become a registered disciple first."

Chu Qingwen was delighted at first, but when she heard that she was to become a registered disciple, her expression froze on the spot. I want to be the master's wife, not the master's disciple.

Though she thought this, she kept a solemn face. "Disciple Chu Qingwen greets Master!"

The pavilion nearest the water catches the moonlight first; affection grows over time. Sooner or later, she would win him over. That was the unspoken meaning in Chu Qingwen's heart.

"Mm. Hurry and get moving." Zhang Yu resumed his aloof demeanor.

For some time afterward, they did not encounter anyone else sent by Zhou Jingyuan.

In Jiangzhou City, Force Transformation was already the highest level of combat power.

After becoming a registered disciple, Chu Qingwen completely put aside her young miss airs and became a fangirl, clinging to Zhang Yu every day.

She served him tea and poured him water, constantly tending to his every need.

It made Li Yue extremely depressed. These had originally been her duties.

"Second Senior Sister, let me handle these things. Master wants you to cultivate properly. Do not let trivial matters distract you," Chu Qingwen said lightly, effortlessly taking over the task of looking after Zhang Yu's daily life.

Li Yue was only thirteen. How could she possibly compete with Chu Qingwen, who had grown up in a merchant family? She could only puff out her cheeks in anger and call the thirteen children to eat.

From initially not understanding, the maid Xiang Ju had now begun fantasizing about her future life.

I am Miss's bedchamber maid. If Miss marries Young Master Zhang in the future, will I also be with Young Master Zhang...

Young Master Zhang is so valiant, so handsome.

How embarrassing!