Ways to Grind Experience

Xu Qing had arrived at the real estate agency and found a merchant. After stating his needs, he selected a suitable courtyard house through the merchant.

Of course.

Xu Qing only bought a courtyard house, spending five hundred and eighty taels of silver. According to the prices in the Great Zhou Martial Kingdom, it wasn't an expensive price, especially since it was a house within Qingbei Town.

You must know.

When Xu Qing rented a place before, it cost five taels of silver a month, and that was for an ordinary wooden house. This, however, was a courtyard house.

Furthermore.

As Xu Qing was leaving the real estate agency, he happened to run into Yu Chen. They greeted each other, and after asking, Xu Qing learned why Yu Chen was at the agency.

"Brother Xu, you've moved again."

Yu Chen said.

"Yes."

Xu Qing nodded. "Last time, I still had to thank you for the introduction, Brother Yu, but that place was too small and the location wasn't good, so I decided to find a new place to live."

"Ahem..."

Yu Chen coughed lightly and said directly, "Brother Xu, it's like this, because Hu Zi goes to your place to practice his martial arts every night, we were thinking of finding a place closer to you."

"That's fine."

Xu Qing smiled.

Immediately.

Xu Qing and Yu Chen discussed it, and they confirmed the location of Xu Qing's new house. Yu Chen rented another place not far away.

You must know.

When Yu Chen last became his disciple, he gave Xu Qing one thousand taels of silver, which was most of his life's savings. He didn't have much silver left.

Next.

Xu Qing went to see his new courtyard house. It was quite clean and tidy. In the courtyard, there was a well and a jujube tree about as thick as a small arm.

"It's alright."

Xu Qing nodded. After confirming there were no issues, he finalized the deal. They signed a new deed, had it notarized at the yamen, paid a tax, and the matter was settled.

In fact.

After finishing this, it was already noon.

"In a courtyard like this, with just me, it feels a bit lonely."

Xu Qing sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard. The jujube tree provided shade, blocking the sunlight, and he enjoyed the quiet time with some comfort.

At noon.

Xu Qing had lunch, which was a pan-fried piece of Tai Sui Spirit Meat. After filling his stomach, he left the courtyard. He was going to try the method he had thought of last night.

Unknowingly.

Xu Qing had already left the city.

Outside the city.

Xu Qing saw a desolate scene, as if the city and the outside were two different worlds. The people within the city, though poor, at least had a place to shelter from the wind and rain, and could at least afford to eat.

However.

Just outside the city.

Xu Qing saw many refugees by the roadside, many beggars, and desolate corpses, giving off a sense of desolation.

Instinctively.

Xu Qing recalled his sixteen years of wandering. He had followed his Grandpa Nine Fingers to many counties and encountered many things.

Xu Qing didn't know why.

But.

The Great Zhou Martial Kingdom was becoming more and more desolate, and the people were becoming increasingly impoverished. In recent years, for some unknown reason, the crops in the fields grew slowly and were often plagued by various pests. The heavens rarely sent down light rain, or else they would send down heavy rain for many consecutive days.

Therefore.

The crops in the fields either died of drought or were flooded.

"What a pity."

Xu Qing shook his head and mused, "This is not a feudal dynasty on Earth, after all. In this world, there is extremely terrifying personal martial power."

"Therefore."

"Beings in high positions, relying on their own extremely powerful personal martial strength, are enough to suppress the entire world. The common people at the bottom have an even harder time rising up than in Earth's feudal dynasties."

"On Earth, the common people of ancient feudal dynasties could still have a chance to revolt. In this world, facing terrifying personal martial power, even with a large number of ordinary people, it would be of no avail."

Under these circumstances.

There was only one possibility.

This means that among these poor common folk, a so-called 'Child of Destiny' would be born, experiencing continuous fortuitous encounters and possessing profound talent. He would grow rapidly within a short period, developing extremely powerful personal martial prowess, and only then could he potentially lead the people of the world in an uprising.

At that time.

It might evolve into a struggle for dominance among various heroes.

Of course.

These were all just Xu Qing's guesses and deductions.

The scene shifted.

White Dwarf Mountain.

Xu Qing revisited the old place. He saw the still dilapidated Mountain God Temple. The mountain god statue inside had long been damaged and had become a resting place for many beggars.

Afterward.

Xu Qing arrived before his Grandpa Nine Fingers' tombstone.

"Grandpa, I'm back."

Xu Qing cleared the weeds from the grave, murmuring, "I've encountered many things these past few days, many events have transpired, but I've overcome all the difficulties."

"Last time I said I would get you a golden-thread nanmu coffin. I didn't bring it this time because if I replaced it and you were still buried here, your grave would probably be dug up."

"I'll build you a new one later."

Next.

Xu Qing left. He began searching on White Dwarf Mountain. About half an hour later, he found an anthill.

"Let's try."

Xu Qing's expression showed a hint of joy. He took a deep breath, took out a fine needle from his bosom, and gently pricked his fingertip, drawing out a bead of blood.

"Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique."

The blood dripped.

Xu Qing formed hand seals and cast the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique, integrating his consciousness into a trace of his blood. The blood landed on an ant.

The ant quickly absorbed the drop of blood.

Buzz!

In the unseen world.

Xu Qing felt a connection. His Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique had succeeded, and he had controlled an ordinary ant.

"Success!"

Xu Qing's expression brightened. "I thought I wouldn't be able to control ants."

[Experience +1]

"Good."

Xu Qing nodded with satisfaction.

[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV1: 1/10.]

Next.

Xu Qing stomped down.

"Hiss..."

Xu Qing's mind jolted. He felt a sharp prick in his brain, like being poked by a needle, causing his scalp to tingle slightly.

At the same time.

The ant Xu Qing had just controlled was crushed under his foot.

"Hoo..."

Xu Qing took a deep breath, a smile appearing on his face. "It's just as I expected. Ants are very small creatures. Because of the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique, even if they die, there's a backlash. But because they are so small, the backlash is extremely minor."

"If I controlled a different beast, especially one with a larger body mass, a single backlash might leave me feeling weak and dispirited for a long time."

"My idea can indeed work."

Without hesitation.

Xu Qing rubbed his forehead. He squeezed another drop of blood from the wound on his fingertip and cast the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique again, using the blood as a medium to control another ant.

[Experience +1]

"Good."

Xu Qing nodded with satisfaction.

Then.

He stomped on the ant again, and he felt that faint needle-prick sensation in his head once more, but it gradually recovered.

"Not bad."

Xu Qing said.

[Experience +1]

[Experience +1]

[Experience +1]

After the tenth time.

"Hiss..."

Xu Qing took a sharp breath. After this round, he felt dizzy. He knew he had reached his limit; ten times was his maximum.

"I can't anymore."

Xu Qing shook his head, rubbing his temples and the area around his eyes with both hands. "I've reached my limit. If I continue, I feel like I'll damage my foundation. I can't gain any more experience."

Fortunately.

After ten times.

Xu Qing had accumulated ten experience points.

[Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique LV1: 10/10 (Can upgrade!)]

"Let's head back first,"

Xu Qing said.

In a flash.

Xu Qing had descended the mountain and returned to Qingbei Town, back to his residence. He noticed it was already nearing evening without him realizing it.

"Time passes so quickly."

Xu Qing sighed, still feeling a slight grogginess in his head as the backlash from the Blood Curse Beast Taming Technique hadn't fully subsided.

Evening.

Yu Hu arrived at Xu Qing's residence early.

"Master."

Yu Hu scratched the back of his head, revealing a rather simple smile.

"You're here."

Xu Qing glanced at Yu Hu.

"Mhm, mhm."

Yu Hu nodded.

"Then let's begin."

Xu Qing said.

Following that.

Xu Qing began teaching Yu Hu the Eight Extremities Fist. While teaching him, a slight tremor occurred within the evil ghost mask Xu Qing held.

"Hm?"

Xu Qing frowned, pondering for a moment. "What's going on? Why is the evil ghost mask reacting? And it's the 'Shaman Evil Ghost' that's dormant within it."

Clearly.

Yu Hu must have encountered something.

However.

Xu Qing wasn't sure what it was yet.

Unknowingly.

Over an hour had passed.

It was getting late.

"Hu Zi, you should head back now."

Xu Qing said.

"Okay, Master."

Yu Hu nodded and left, very obedient and well-behaved.

"Summon."

Buzz!

Xu Qing took out the evil ghost mask, placed it on his face, and with a thought, unleashed its power, summoning the 'Shaman Evil Ghost'.

The evil ghost mask clearly released a mass of grayish-black dense fog. Under the moonlight, the fog churned continuously, as if countless ferocious faces and heads were appearing within it.

Finally.

It condensed into a hunched-over shaman. The Shaman Evil Ghost lowered its head, melting into the darkness and exuding a chill that seemed capable of freezing the soul.

"Master."

The Shaman Evil Ghost's voice was hoarse.

"Go follow Yu Hu and find out what exactly happened to him," Xu Qing commanded.

"Yes."

The Shaman Evil Ghost nodded respectfully.

"Don't get too close. Ordinary people can't handle the ghost energy you emit, let alone Yu Hu, who is just a child. Just observe from a distance," Xu Qing said gravely.

"As you command."

The Shaman Evil Ghost replied.

Buzzz!

The next moment.

The Shaman Evil Ghost transformed into gray mist and vanished, disappearing as it tracked Yu Hu's aura. In the unseen depths, Xu Qing and the Shaman Evil Ghost shared a subtle sense of connection.