The oil lamp cast a dim yellow glow over Qin An's face, shadows flickering across it.
The book was damp, but Qin An could still read it.
He needed to practice the Dancer Profession, but first he wanted to finish this palm technique manual and see whether he could gain anything from it.
With the Scholar Profession to rely on, Qin An finished the entire book in the time it took half an incense stick to burn.
The Blazing Palm Technique was an unarmed martial art. When used, it made both palms hard as iron. Qi collided ceaselessly within them, and each strike released heat that could burn an enemy.
Qin An thought, I have no talent for unarmed techniques. I don't know if this will work.
He had only three talents at present, and none was suited to unarmed techniques.
Still, not knowing whether it would work did not stop him from trying.
Following the moves in the Blazing Palm Technique, Qin An circulated the Qi within his body and channeled it into his palms.
Just then, a line of mist appeared before his eyes and condensed into words.
[You practiced the Blazing Palm Technique, triggering mastery-level comprehension of Qi Concealment Realm cultivation methods.]
Qin An froze for a moment.
When the Golden Finger appeared, he had expected it to be his Blacksmith Profession talent. After all, that talent had helped him bring the Mountain-Lifting Fist to perfection.
Instead, it was his Scholar Profession talent.
Puzzled though he was, Qin An kept reading.
[You drew inspiration from the Ice-Fire Dual Cultivation Method and infused your palms with Blazing Flame Aura, beginning to improve the Blazing Palm Technique.] [Your vital energy was greatly depleted.]
Qin An felt the Blood Crystal he had stored draining away rapidly.
[You sat in contemplation for years without understanding. Then, one day, inspiration struck: you practiced the Mountain-Lifting Fist.] [Your vital energy was greatly depleted.] [You gained insight from the Mountain-Lifting Fist and the Ice-Fire Dual Cultivation Method, fusing them with the Blazing Flame Palm Technique to create a new Body Infusion Realm technique.] [Named: Crimson Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand.] [Crimson Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand (beginner).]
A flood of information poured into Qin An's mind.
Once he had absorbed it, his eyes lit up.
The Golden Finger could be developed even further!
He had never imagined it could use his existing techniques and talents together to derive a new one.
The Blazing Palm Technique had first triggered his Scholar Profession talent because of its similarities to the Ice-Fire Dual Cultivation Method. Then, thanks to his Blacksmith Profession talent, they had merged with the Mountain-Lifting Fist.
Qin An felt the connections were complicated, likely involving all sorts of details.
But in another sense, they were simple.
Whenever he acquired a technique, he would try it. If it triggered his talent, there was a connection. That was all there was to it.
With his vital energy depleted, Qin An felt unsteady on his feet.
After such a long process of derivation, the vital energy he had stored from Second Master Eagle was long gone, and some of his own had been consumed as well.
"Blood Crystals really are treasures. If I run into any monsters in the future, I can't let them get away."
Having made up his mind, Qin An raised his hands. They immediately turned a vivid crimson.
The Crimson Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand combined the strengths of both techniques: the force of the Mountain-Lifting Fist and the scorching heat of the Blazing Flame Palm Technique.
When he threw a punch, the Ice-Fire Dual Cultivation Method added to it. He could kill with sheer force while searing an enemy's entire body with heat.
That night, every technique Qin An had learned reached the Body Infusion Realm. Though each was only at the beginner stage, his strength had risen greatly.
"Rest first."
Feeling hollowed out, Qin An hung up the Bell and collapsed onto the bed.
Qi from the Ice-Fire Dual Cultivation Method cycled through his body, slowly restoring his depleted vital energy...
Time passed. Several days went by in the blink of an eye.
Ding County remained calm and peaceful throughout those days.
Only the Yamen lay under a dark cloud.
In the Yamen courtyard, a headless corpse lay on the ground.
It had been soaking in water for so long that it was pale and bloated, a nauseating sight.
But the head beside it and the token at the corpse's waist revealed its identity.
After examining the body, the coroner cupped his fists respectfully toward the middle-aged man to his left. "Lord Wang died by a swift blade."
The middle-aged man wore a blue-green official robe and cut an imposing figure, with long whiskers hanging from his temples.
At the coroner's words, his expression darkened like still water.
The constables around him fell silent, not daring to move.
After a long silence, County Magistrate Zhang said, "Bury him."
Only then did several constables breathe easier. They hastily gathered Clerk Wang's remains and quietly left the Yamen.
The coroner cupped his fists and withdrew.
Only a few constables remained. All kept their heads down, afraid to meet the magistrate's eyes.
County Magistrate Zhang flicked his sleeve and turned. "Come inside."
The constables trembled slightly as they followed him into the main hall.
County Magistrate Zhang sat down, his gaze calm. "Tell me everything he's been up to lately. If a single detail is false, I'll skin you."
The lead constable dropped to his knees, trembling. "My lord, this likely has something to do with Qin An."
"Qin An?" County Magistrate Zhang frowned. "Who is he?"
The constable immediately recounted everything, then added one more thing.
"We've also recently learned more about Captain Zheng's death. There was Cold Qi on his body, seemingly connected to the Cold Source Cultivation Method. The River Blade Sect lost that method not long ago..."
County Magistrate Zhang pondered for a moment, then beckoned to the constable. "Come here."
The constable shuddered and walked over cautiously. He was just about to speak.
County Magistrate Zhang picked up the inkstone beside him, pinned the constable's head down, and smashed it with all his strength.
Blood sprayed across County Magistrate Zhang's forehead.
The constable struggled desperately, but he could not break free of the magistrate's grip. His screams went on and on.
Expressionless, County Magistrate Zhang struck him again and again.
Only when the constable stopped twitching did he throw the inkstone to the floor.
It broke in two. The remaining constables' legs shook, and none dared speak.
County Magistrate Zhang wiped the blood from his face. "This man hated Clerk Wang. He lured him to the Clear Spring River and killed him. Justice has been served."
The constables nodded repeatedly.
The sharper ones already understood what County Magistrate Zhang intended.
It was a warning to them.
They had dared conspire with Clerk Wang to hide something so important. County Magistrate Zhang had to make an example of someone.
Would any of them dare say otherwise?
County Magistrate Zhang took out a handkerchief and wiped away the blood with graceful movements. "You said the Cold Source Cultivation Method was likely taken by Qin An?"
The constables nodded again.
County Magistrate Zhang rose. "Go to the River Blade Sect, Cangyuan Mountain, and Green Snake Valley. Summon Sect Leader Liu and the leaders of the other two factions to the Yamen."
"The spy must die, and Qin An must die too. The Yamen cannot tolerate anything that might upset its stability."
"Ding County will develop only as I see fit."
A constable blurted out, "If they all act in the county town, what if they fail to erase their tracks and the Evil Extermination Division finds out..."
County Magistrate Zhang glanced at him. "Who said they would act in the county town?"
The constable let out a startled sound.
County Magistrate Zhang's voice turned cold. "Do you know the difference between me and Clerk Wang?"
The constable quickly shook his head.
County Magistrate Zhang's eyes were icy. "I like to stake everything on one throw of the dice. Especially now. With my back against the wall, I might as well break the cauldrons and sink the boats."
"Flying Cloud Gorge is just a local faction. It doesn't count for shit!"
"The other three factions have roots in Ling Prefecture. I'd welcome Qin An slaughtering them."
"Once he offends the powers of Ling Prefecture, Qin An won't escape even if he grows wings!"
Before you continue