The pointed blade still had its original shape. Qin An found it comfortable to use, so he had not changed it.
A red glow spread across the blade, like a blood-red moon.
Qin An channeled his qi into the blade and swung it forward along the circulation path of the Wind-Splitting Blade Technique.
The blade tore through the air, and a violent sonic boom split the night sky.
As his qi flowed into the blade, Qin An felt it move with extraordinary ease.
"Quenching the blade with my blood reduces its resistance. It feels even more like an extension of my arm."
Qin An immediately understood why.
The Golden Finger offered far more than talents.
As with the Butcher and the Scholar, there were other gains besides talent.
The Butcher made slaughtered livestock more delicious, while the Scholar increased his reading speed and even let him remember everything he saw.
The Blacksmith Profession improved the quality of the tools he forged. This pointed blade was proof.
As the profession reached higher levels, its earlier effects might change too, alongside the new talents it granted.
Qin An put away the blade, and a line of text appeared before his eyes.
He had met the conditions to advance. The Blacksmith Profession's talent appeared before him.
[Blacksmith lv.3 (0/400): The quality of what you forge increases] [Talent: Mastery of Qi Concealment Realm strength-based techniques]
A new level, a new talent.
A vast flood of information turned to mist and flowed into Qin An's body.
Qin An clenched his fist and felt waves of strength surge through it.
His build had not changed, but his qi could slowly increase his strength.
"Mountain-Lifting Fist."
Without another word, Qin An began practicing the moves of the Mountain-Lifting Fist.
The Blacksmith Profession's talent description could hardly have been simpler. This time, Qin An's gamble had paid off: the talent was a perfect match for the Mountain-Lifting Fist.
Firelight filled the room, making Qin An's figure flicker in and out of view.
Qin An swung his fists as the qi within him surged like overturning rivers and seas.
The Mountain-Lifting Fist's moves were simple and unadorned.
Yet every move and every stance used qi to temper his strength.
His blood and qi boiled without cease, rapidly turning into strength. Each punch looked plain, but bursts of explosive sound rang out.
Mist twisted before Qin An's eyes, forming line after line of text.
[You practiced the Mountain-Lifting Fist, activating your talent for mastery of Qi Concealment Realm strength-based techniques] [Mountain-Lifting Fist perfected]
Once the text had formed, shadowy figures appeared before Qin An's eyes.
The figures swung their fists, each movement ringing out with a sound like a dragon's roar.
Moments later, the figures vanished. Qin An had completely mastered the Mountain-Lifting Fist.
He had used up all the blood and qi stored by the Blood Crystal on the Mountain-Lifting Fist.
Only that reserve had kept him from being drained. Otherwise, he might not have withstood the blood and qi the Mountain-Lifting Fist consumed.
To lift a mountain was to have the strength to bear one.
Qin An threw a casual punch. The muscles across his body swelled, and the blow carried a thousand catties of force.
Driven through his fist and concentrated on a single point, that force struck with power comparable to the Wind-Splitting Blade Technique.
[Qin An] [Core method: Cold Source Cultivation Method (perfected)] [Techniques: Wind-Splitting Blade Technique (perfected), Mountain-Lifting Fist (perfected)] [Talents: Mastery of Qi Concealment Realm blade techniques, mastery of comprehension of Qi Concealment Realm core methods, mastery of Qi Concealment Realm strength-based techniques]
The mist before his eyes dispersed.
Qin An lowered his fists, slid the pointed blade back into his belt, and walked outside.
The moonlight washed over the ground, spilling a sheet of silver.
"Let's see what the Yamen is up to tomorrow."
With the Mountain-Lifting Fist mastered, Qin An felt far more at ease and headed back into the house.
As for whether he would unlock a new profession next or train an old one, Qin An gave it no thought for now.
First, he would deal with tomorrow.
The next day.
Captain Zheng arrived at Qin An's place with a dozen or so constables, all ready to set out.
Today was the day of their departure, and Captain Zheng was more eager than anyone.
He knew the Eagle Demons of Flying Cloud Gorge were already lying in wait. All they needed was for him to lure Qin An out.
The door was shut tight. Captain Zheng gave the constable beside him a look.
The constable smiled bitterly, stepped forward, and knocked gently.
Footsteps sounded inside. The constable hurried back a good six yards, as though some ravenous beast lurked behind the door.
Qin An opened it and said calmly, "Let's go."
No unnecessary words. Not even a change of expression.
With that, Qin An strode outside.
Captain Zheng tightened his grip on his saber hilt and sneered inwardly. Enjoy your arrogance while you can. Once we reach the Eagle Demons, I'll watch them flay you and tear out your sinews with my own eyes.
Rage burned in him, but he dared not show it.
He imagined the Eagle Demons tearing Qin An apart and eating him, and the thought made him feel much better.
"Move out!"
The constables followed Captain Zheng out of Ding County.
Beyond Ding County lay a plain thick with wild grass, known as the Wild Grass Plain.
The common folk had named it. They had no need for anything elegant; a name only had to tell whoever heard it where the place was.
Qin An and Captain Zheng walked for about an hour before stopping.
Something was amiss a short distance ahead.
At the far end of the Wild Grass Plain, several demons were slowly approaching with a carriage on their shoulders.
The demons stood over six yards tall, their bodies covered in feathers like iron spikes.
Their bodies were human, but their heads were those of eagles.
Their hooked beaks in particular gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
The Eagle Demon at their head wore silk and carried a wine jug, smacking his lips as he drank.
What poured from the jug was not fine wine, but blood that reeked of gore.
Captain Zheng felt Qin An's gaze on him and went cold all over. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I thought you'd at least make it look convincing," Qin An said slowly. "Why such a hurry?"
Captain Zheng shuddered. He felt as though a wild beast had fixed its eyes on him.
Realizing Qin An had understood everything, he fled toward the Eagle Demons with his constables, shouting, "Eighth Master Eagle, save me!"
The Eagle Demon at their head lowered his jug, a cold smile on his lips.
Qin An made no move to stop Captain Zheng. He simply held the Eagle Demon's gaze.
He waited until Captain Zheng reached them.
The Eagle Demon spoke slowly, a chill in his eyes. "We're late today. We caught a spy hiding among the common folk. Good thing we found him. Eighth Master made wine out of the rest. We saved the spy to enjoy with this one."
As he finished speaking, more than a dozen Eagle Demons rummaged through the carriage and hauled out a blood-soaked man with a thin strip of mustache on either side of his mouth.
The man was still conscious. "You feathered beasts! If you've got the guts, give your grandpa a quick death!"
Captain Zheng looked on, puzzled.
Eighth Master Eagle kicked him in the chest. "What the hell is that Wang doing? An Undercover Agent from the Evil Extermination Division slipped into the county, and he didn't even know. Good thing the spy didn't get away, or the Division would have razed Ding County."
Captain Zheng froze for a moment.
Just then, the man who had been shouting spotted Qin An and went still as a wooden statue.
"Old Qin, they caught you too?"
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