"Ha ha ha..."
Xu Qing laughed aloud. He reached out and took the five-hundred-tael banknote from Ye Langtian's hand. "Senior Brother Ye, you're far too polite. How could I possibly take such a trivial matter to heart?"
"And besides."
"How could I let Senior Brother Ye spend so much? Don't do this again next time."
"..."
Ye Langtian watched Xu Qing naturally tuck his five-hundred-tael banknote into his pocket, as though it had belonged to Xu Qing from the start.
"Ahem..."
Ye Langtian gave a light cough. Looking at the smile on Xu Qing's face, he suddenly felt that this Junior Brother Xu was quite an interesting fellow. He invited him, "Junior Brother Xu, tomorrow I'll hold a banquet on the seventh floor of Kaiyuan Tower and invite some friends to celebrate. I wonder if Junior Brother Xu has time tomorrow?"
"This..."
Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then could only shake his head. "Senior Brother Ye, I'm truly sorry, but I really don't have the time. I'm afraid I can't attend."
"Besides."
"Your junior brother has only just mastered the first volume of Azure Hawk Force and only just condensed Bright Force. At a time like this, I should consolidate my strength and train even harder in martial arts."
"So Junior Brother Xu is actually such a diligent person."
Ye Langtian sighed. "I have misunderstood Junior Brother Xu all along. Junior Brother Xu must have extraordinary talent—you completely mastered the first volume of Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill after only three days. That must be why you did not come to Azure Hawk Martial Arts School to train, but instead practiced day and night by yourself at home, achieving what you have today."
"Compared to you, Senior Brother has clearly had better resources, yet has not worked hard enough. Meanwhile, Junior Brother has such great talent and still trains so diligently."
"Senior Brother is ashamed beyond measure."
"I've decided."
"Tomorrow's banquet is canceled."
"..."
Xu Qing was also stunned for a moment.
"Junior Brother."
Ye Langtian patted Xu Qing's shoulder. "Keep working hard. Although you surpassed me this time, that may not be the case next time."
As soon as he finished speaking.
Ye Langtian left directly.
"Interesting."
Xu Qing watched Ye Langtian's departing back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He had thought that because of this incident, he would most likely become enemies with Ye Langtian, perhaps even erupt into a fiercer conflict.
Yet.
Ye Langtian was far broader-minded than he had expected. If everything Ye Langtian had just said had been an act, then Ye Langtian's scheming ran even deeper.
No matter which it was.
Ye Langtian was no ordinary man.
"Forget it."
Xu Qing shrugged and stopped dwelling on it. "Getting five hundred taels for nothing is naturally a good thing. Besides, the money in my hands is almost gone."
"Also."
"I want to go to the Martial Arts Pavilion and choose a sword technique. The iron sword has reached level ten and is already a Divine Sharp Artifact rarely seen in the mortal world. If I don't master a sword technique, I'll truly be letting this treasured sword down."
Hongye Street.
Xu Qing's residence.
At this moment.
Xu Qing had already returned.
Sizzle, sizzle...
Xu Qing was pan-frying a chunk of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. Once it was three-tenths cooked, an enticing aroma of meat drifted into his nose, and he began to feast heartily.
Very soon.
Xu Qing finished the entire pound of Tai Sui Spirit Meat.
"Eight Extremities Fist."
After eating his fill.
Xu Qing began practicing Eight Extremities Fist. His fist technique was exquisite and imposing, fist winds sweeping out as every move carried a fierce and powerful aura.
In the blink of an eye.
Three hours passed.
"Hoo..."
Xu Qing slowly withdrew his stance.
Eight Extremities Fist LV6:15/320.
"Today, I hadn't practiced Eight Extremities Fist at all. When I was at the martial arts school, though, under Du Cangying's guidance, I practiced Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill several times."
Xu Qing said, "Eight Extremities Fist still has a long way to go before it can level up. But Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill..."
Azure Hawk Force Level 1:12/10(Can level up!)
Eagle Claw Skill Level 1:13/10(Can level up!)
"Level up Azure Hawk Force."
Xu Qing said.
Buzz!
Countless tiny figures seemed to appear before Xu Qing's eyes and surge into his mind. His consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space, where he continuously practiced the first volume of Azure Hawk Force.
Boom!
At last.
The first volume of Azure Hawk Force became even stronger in Xu Qing's hands, and the Bright Force it unleashed grew sharper and sharper.
Azure Hawk Force LV2:2/20(...)
"Hoo..."
Xu Qing opened his eyes. It was as though enlightenment had been poured directly into his head; Azure Hawk Force had become even more powerful in his hands, and the Bright Force he could condense had also grown stronger.
"Not bad."
Xu Qing nodded in satisfaction.
"Level up Eagle Claw Skill."
Xu Qing said again.
Buzz!
It was the same scene once more.
Not long after.
Boom!
Xu Qing opened his eyes. His understanding of Eagle Claw Skill had become even deeper, and Eagle Claw Skill had also formed a kind of fusion with Azure Hawk Force.
The combat technique and cultivation method fused together.
Azure Hawk Claw Force Level 1:0/20(The combat technique Eagle Claw Skill and the cultivation method Azure Hawk Force have fused. The essences of the two martial arts have merged together, forming an entirely new martial art that possesses the essence of both combat technique and cultivation method.)
"Martial arts can fuse too?"
Xu Qing said in surprise.
In truth.
Xu Qing had no idea that both Azure Hawk Force and Eagle Claw Skill originated from the Azure Hawk Martial Arts School's Fundamental Method. They shared the same origin and came from the same source, so naturally they could fuse.
That night.
Xu Qing slept while wearing the Ghost Mask, because as long as the Ghost Mask was worn for one minute, it could gain one point of experience.
Therefore.
In order to level up the Ghost Mask as quickly as possible, Xu Qing simply wore it while sleeping at night. That way, he could gain experience while asleep.
Experience +1
Experience +1
Experience +1
After he fell asleep.
The Ghost Mask's experience continued to rise steadily.
Elsewhere.
At the outer-city yamen of Qingbei Town.
"Stop investigating."
At this moment.
Xu Weiran spoke, making his subordinates put down their work. "Today's news is that Xu Qing has become an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. And not just any official disciple—he is a disciple acknowledged by Du Cangying, and he has already taken Du Cangying as his master."
"This..."
"Constable Chief, we've investigated almost everything over the past few days. After questioning the nearby neighbors, they personally saw Xu Qing return home around dusk, and they did not see him leave again until night."
"The madam of Spring Breeze Pavilion also said that Xu Qing went there very late that night and did not stay long, yet he did not spend a single coin."
"There are other firsthand clues as well, all proving that Xu Qing did not tell us the truth."
Several constables spoke up in quick succession.
"That's enough."
Xu Weiran shook his head. "Then what do you intend to do? Send people charging into Azure Hawk Martial Arts School, seize Xu Qing, and bring him here for interrogation?"
"First."
"Xu Qing has not done anything illegal. Even if Xu Qing truly did kill that corpse ghoul, that would be something worthy of commendation."
"Lastly."
"Since that expert is unwilling to reveal himself, we should not continue investigating."
"Yes."
"Understood, Constable Chief."
"We understand."
"..."
The several constables nodded one after another.
However.
One constable's gaze flickered as he contemplated something.
"Could it really have been Xu Qing?"
After Xu Weiran left, he fell into deep thought. "If it really was him, then it would be far too terrifying. When he first entered the city, he was merely a beggar. Yet in just a few days, he became a Great Accomplishment of Bright Force expert? If that is true, then Xu Qing must be hiding some enormous secret."
"Hoo..."
Xu Weiran drew a deep breath. "It probably wasn't him. There must have been someone else. And Xu Qing is already an official disciple of Azure Hawk Martial Arts School. Given his current status, he is no longer someone I can interrogate at will."
One had to know.
Throughout all of Qingbei Town.
No one was unaware of Du Cangying's fiercely protective nature.
Perhaps if it were the head of another martial arts school, or someone else, it might merely be empty words. But Du Cangying truly would take action—and he dared to take action.
The night passed without incident.
The next day.
Morning.
Xu Qing woke early. He removed the Ghost Mask from his face and checked how much experience it had gained after being worn all night.
Ghost Mask LV2:542/20(Can level up!)
"Not bad."
Xu Qing nodded. "After one night, it gained five hundred and forty experience points. That much experience is enough to level it up several times."
"Level up."
Xu Qing said.
Buzz!
A flash of white light flickered across the Ghost Mask in Xu Qing's hand.
The next moment.
Xu Qing seemed to witness the Ghost Mask being reforged. Inside a room, an elderly craftsman painstakingly made the Ghost Mask with meticulous care.
Calling it heart-wrenching toil would not be an exaggeration.
At last, it was complete.
The Ghost Mask underwent subtle changes. Its overall color became a bluish-black, as though it glimmered with a bluish-black fluorescence, carrying a trace of mystery.
Ghost Mask LV3:522/40(This is a mask made from clay by a skilled artisan. Its creation was a labor of heart and soul, exhausting a lifetime of thought. The mask can conceal one's face and hide one's aura.)(Can level up!)
"Level up."
Xu Qing said.
It was the same situation again.
Buzz!
Vaguely.
Xu Qing once again saw the process of the Ghost Mask being reforged.
Ghost Mask LV4:482/80(This is a mask made from clay by a skilled artisan. Its creation was a labor of heart and soul, exhausting a lifetime of thought and pouring in all of his effort. This mask can conceal one's face and hide one's aura.)(Can level up!)
"Upgrade."
Xu Qing said again.
Buzz!
The same scene appeared once more.
Only this time,
it was different.
First,
the one making the mask was no longer a craftsman, but a shaman-like figure resembling a witch. The materials had changed from clay to animal skin and flesh.
The scene became chilling and bizarre.
At last,
it was finished.
Ghost Mask LV5: 402/160 (This was a mask made from animal skin and flesh by a shaman who worshipped ghosts and gods. It could alter one's appearance and aura, but because it had been crudely made, it was easily seen through.) (Upgradeable!)
A flash of white light flickered.
The Ghost Mask in Xu Qing's hand had changed. It no longer looked as it had before, but had become a leather mask with the texture of real skin to the touch, its surface marked with several unusual patterns.
"Continue upgrading."
Xu Qing said.
Before you continue