Return to Simplicity, Invisible Blade, Emergency Mission

After his fourth return, Chu Wen decided to rest for a few days.

First, his body truly needed several days of rest; the fatigue was close to draining all his potential dry.

Second, his potential points had finally accumulated to 20.

So far, he had not used a single potential point. He had been waiting for this moment.

Having just finished showering, droplets of water still clinging to his body, Chu Wen sat cross-legged on the bed and slowly exhaled a breath of hot air.

A panel visible only to him emerged once more.

[Blood Qi: 7/100 (Blood Qi limit broken once)]

[Potential Points: 30]

[Burning Blade Technique Mastery (7%)]

[Shadow Follows Form Great Mastery (99%)]

['Blood Demon State' can increase combat power by 400%.]

[Current strength assessment: Beginner Warrior. After Blood Qi eruption: Advanced Warrior]

After who knew how many swings of his blade, Burning Blade Technique had risen from 1% Mastery to 7%. Chu Wen's own comprehension was not lacking either.

It was only that Shadow Follows Form had remained unable to break through its bottleneck. He could only rely on potential points.

"Let's try ten in a row first..."

With a thought, a warm current roaming beneath his skin began to dart about, surging into his acupoints.

His entire body felt scorching hot.

[After encountering the bottleneck of Shadow Follows Form last time, you did not give up and continued practicing diligently, day after day for decades. Unfortunately, you failed to grasp its true meaning... Again and again, during one meditation, you finally thought of the relationship between man and shadow. To follow like a shadow is to be everywhere, yet nowhere...]

Shadow Follows Form Mastery (16%)

"Ten in a row only got it to 16% Mastery?"

Looking at it this way, this movement technique taught by Jiangnan Martial University was clearly stronger than Burning Blade Technique. Its difficulty was far from ordinary.

Yet in actual combat, the movement technique was likewise terrifying. The reason Chu Wen could remain so calm was entirely because Shadow Follows Form had reached Great Mastery—those beast soldiers simply could not touch him!

Once this movement technique reached Mastery, it would probably become even more heaven-defying.

Previously, only those two beginner beast generals had posed any threat to him. With Shadow Follows Form protecting him, they could not touch him at all.

His current strength already allowed him to explore more dangerous county towns, such as the deeper regions of Ancient Huizhou, City No. 0017, where the canal had once originated.

The lower a city's number, the more terrifying the strength of the demonic beasts within it.

The most terrifying was City No. 0001, once known as Demon City. It even possessed a strictly stratified demonic beast system. Several intelligent demonic beasts had joined forces there to establish a city-state of their own!

The main force attacking Jiangnan Base City this time had come from City No. 0001!

"If I can grow to the level of a beginner warlord, then with the power of the Primordial Source Pearl, perhaps I could explore Demon City alone. Unfortunately, I'm still too weak right now."

With Shadow Follows Form at Mastery, further improvement would consume too much. With his current blade technique, he could not injure demonic beasts at the demon king level. No matter how swift his movement technique was, it would only be for show; he would exhaust himself first.

He turned his focus back to Burning Blade Technique.

"Ten in a row!"

[After Burning Blade Technique reached Mastery, you were not satisfied with your current realm. Subconsciously, you felt there should be a higher level, but you could never find the key, and your progress was slow. Dripping water pierced stone; year after year, you gained a little.]

Burning Blade Technique Mastery (77%)

Previously, a single potential point could advance his comprehension by a great deal. But now, even ten in a row had barely any effect.

Fortunately, Chu Wen could clearly feel that countless experiences of swinging a blade had appeared in his mind. His blade technique was now more exquisite than before, carrying an extraordinary depth.

"Again!"

If the last ten potential points were not enough, he would go out hunting again!

[A bottleneck could not obstruct your will to climb the peak. You continued striving, even forgetting how many springs and autumns had passed. At last, you comprehended the final layer and reached the realm of Return to Simplicity. From this point on, Burning Blade Technique held no more secrets before you.]

Burning Blade Technique Return to Simplicity (limits broken 0 times)

Boom!

Heat waves rolled around Chu Wen, and beads of sweat the size of broad beans emerged across his body.

With a thought, the scorching current throughout his body gathered in his palm, spiraling continuously until it formed a sharp blade visible only to him!

Even without a blade, this palm alone could slice apart everything around him!

Buzz!

Without the aid of any medium, blade light formed by itself!

The glass cup on the bedside table turned into glittering fragments—

Neat and exquisite! The Invisible Blade!

Chu Wen had a feeling that even an advanced beast general could be dismembered barehanded by his Burning Blade Technique!

Of course, none of this came without a price. The drops of blood falling from his fingertips explained everything.

"My physical strength isn't enough... My current realm can't control this kind of ability..."

At a glance, he analyzed his condition. He would still have to improve his strength and realm himself!

After so many days of high-intensity hunting, an ordinary martial artist might already have been able to kill beast soldier-level demonic beasts with a single slash. The proficiency piled up purely through sheer quantity was an utterly terrifying figure!

Chu Wen could feel the improvement in his strength. He should not be far from becoming an intermediate warrior.

He glanced at his bank balance. A full set of A-grade equipment was still a long way off.

"I'm still too poor... If I could kill beast generals with one slash, the speed of making money would double."

Just as he was about to close his eyes and get some sleep—

"Beep, beep, beep."

An emergency communication came through on his optical computer. It was from his superior at his post.

"Chu Wen, there are two suspicious points among the scouting locations you previously uploaded. Please reorganize the intelligence and send it back."

There was no way to stay connected to the internet at all times in the wilderness. Among the demonic beasts were demon kings capable of emitting special frequencies, rendering human communication unusable. They could only rely on manual recording.

"Understood."

Chu Wen selected several photographs taken while the network had been disconnected and uploaded them, but instinctively caught a faintly unusual atmosphere.

Only after a long while did new instructions come from the other end of the optical computer.

"Comrade Chu Wen, four kilometers north of County Town 0617, which you uploaded, is County Town 0618. Please proceed there to investigate. Based on the image data you provided, the optical computer's analysis indicates traces of an insect nest."

"Two martial artist squads lost contact in County Town 0618 tonight. Remain alert to your surroundings at all times. If anything seems wrong, retreat immediately. At the same time, Galloping Martial Hall will dispatch a special-class martial artist squad based on the results of your exploration."

A special-class martial artist squad! They could instantly kill demon kings and confront demon emperors!

Losing contact in the wilderness was commonplace. After all, the deeper one entered demonic beast territory, the stronger the communication interference became.

"You have the right to refuse this mission due to its danger. However, Fortress No. 033 is currently the closest to County Town 0618. After analysis, the optical computer has determined that you are the optimal candidate."

"If you complete the reconnaissance, Chaos Martial Arts Hall will reward you with a corresponding breathing technique and record a merit for you. You may apply to become a full member at any time."

Chu Wen could sense the urgency from the other side of the optical computer.

Special-class martial artist squads generally carried out dangerous missions. Temporarily dispatching one was extremely difficult.

If it turned out to be a false alarm, it could cause losses elsewhere. The optical computer's conclusion had likely also factored in his ability to instantly kill beast soldier-level demonic beasts.

"I accept."

After receiving the coordinates, Chu Wen flipped out of bed and left the martial artist fortress without stopping.

"Insect nest."

He did not possess much knowledge about insect nests. He only knew that once an insect nest formed, it would give birth to an endless swarm of insects. Those insects felt no pain whatsoever; they were ruthless machines of destruction. They would gnaw every surrounding thing clean, leaving neither humans nor weaker demonic beasts alive!

The birth of an insect nest would also attract beast king-level demonic beasts. It was a prime opportunity for them to break through further. Devouring a mature insect nest could transform their intelligence!

Once a beast king transformed again, it would become a demon king!

Once they possessed intelligence, they were no longer beasts, but demons—truly entering the intelligent ranks of demonic beasts.

Beast king and demon king—only one word apart, yet as different as heaven and earth.

Conflicts surrounding insect nests often spread over vast areas and trigger battles between beast kings. Naturally, humanity had to seize the opportunity to kill more beast kings and prevent the birth of demon kings!

Therefore, intelligence was especially important. Only by knowing the situation around an insect nest could they strike first and reap the fisherman's profit.