I Want Ten at Once! (Silver Alliance Bonus Chapter)

"The knack of using a saber boils down to six words: keep your hand steady, keep your eye true. Fix your sight on the head, bring the saber down in one stroke, and if it doesn't fly from your hand, you've already won half the battle."

"Look at that pathetic excuse for saberplay of yours."

"Your eyes can't aim straight, your grip can't hold steady, and not a single move looks proper."

"Start over!"

By the time the sun stood three poles high, the county yamen's training ground was already roaring with activity. Unlike usual, however, many of the veteran constables were nowhere to be seen.

"They all went to catch those White Lotus Bandits."

Liu Ye smoked as he continued correcting Wang Ping's movements, saying irritably, "It's a windfall dropped from heaven, after all. What constable wouldn't be tempted?"

"That rebel broke into the county yamen last night and got shot clean through by my lord's arrow. Before everyone's eyes, his flesh, skin, tendons, and bones were torn apart. He lost more than half his blood, and his marrow can't be in much better shape. Even if he had External Arts Perfection, he probably can't retain even a tenth of his strength now. This is the perfect chance to beat a drowning dog."

Hearing this, Wang Ping could not help asking, "Master Liu, aren't you tempted?"

"Of course not."

Liu Ye's tone was calm. "Little Wang, I think you're a promising talent, so today I'll teach you something. Do you know what matters most when you're a constable?"

"What is it?" Wang Ping asked curiously.

"Endurance!"

Liu Ye stressed the word. "Even if heaven collapses and earth caves in, I endure and do not move. And if heaven falls, it crushes the tall ones first—it won't land on your or my head."

"Kid, remember this: this world belongs to powerful men. If little people like us want to survive, we need to learn how to seek life in the cracks... To put it more plainly, only do things far beneath your actual capabilities. That way, you can accomplish them and still leave yourself plenty of room for error."

"Take me as an example."

"Throughout the entire county yamen, nearly all the constables collect protection money in the city and rake it in by the bowlful. Only I go to the Grass Market outside the city and earn a little pocket money."

"Why?"

At this point, Liu Ye looked quite pleased with himself. "Because it's safe outside the city! The truly powerful people are all in the city. Collecting protection money carries risks."

"After all, that sort of thing is disgraceful. It's eating blood-soaked steamed buns."

"If you're unlucky and some hotheaded young hero comes out to uphold justice, his youthful hands might not know restraint. He could beat you to death!"

"Don't you doubt it. The county yamen has precedents!"

"But the Grass Market outside the city doesn't have so much trouble. There are basically no formidable figures there, and I don't collect much. I earn less, but it's safe."

"Take this time, for example."

Liu Ye seemed to have opened a floodgate, speaking in an endless stream:

"Without question, what happened last night was that White Lotus Sect leader and Lord Chen fighting from afar. Is that something we can casually involve ourselves in?"

"What if, on the way to catch that rebel, you run into the White Lotus Sect leader coming to rescue him?"

"If you're lucky, Lord Chen might have time to save you, and at worst you'll end up permanently crippled. If you're unlucky, they'll probably only be able to send compensation to your Household."

Wang Ping immediately understood.

"Bait..."

Liu Ye nodded slightly. "It's enough that you understand. In any case, I'm not wading into this muddy water. You too, kid, should settle down and practice your saber properly."

Wang Ping nodded, then let out a long breath.

As that breath left him, it seemed to carry away all the restlessness in his heart. Wang Ping's expression returned to calm, and he began practicing his saber forms again.

Liu Ye was quite approving at the sight.

"Sure enough, he has prospects. He listens to advice and can restrain his Greed. It seems that within three days, Yama's Three Demon Blades will truly reach the beginner stage."

"Come to think of it, how is his Iron Ox Skill progressing?"

"He doesn't seem to have gone to Vermilion Phoenix Tower yet..."

Liu Ye thought it over and felt that he had grasped Wang Ping's mindset. "He's probably worried that he's still a virgin, that there's no gatekeeper on his precious root, and he won't be able to hold back after only a few rounds?"

So he wanted to reach the beginner stage and improve his ability before actual combat... Young people cared about saving face, after all. Understandable!

Thinking this, Liu Ye secretly laughed.

"Naive kid. How could reaching the beginner stage be so easy?"

"With the difficulty and intensity of Iron Ox Skill, if he wants to reach the beginner stage in a single night, he'll need to practice at least seventeen or eighteen times. Even a young man can't withstand that."

"Tonight, I'll strive for another hundred rounds!"

After finishing training, returning home, and eating the meal delivered by Joyous Arrival Tower, Wang Ping shut the doors and windows again. Then he sat cross-legged on his bed, ready to show off while practicing martial arts.

Just as Liu Ye had expected.

Though his body was still young, by the third round Wang Ping's face had already turned somewhat pale, and even the hand he used to show off was trembling faintly.

Yet in the next moment, he took a deep breath and interlocked the fingers of both hands, forming a strange hand seal. A spark of Starfire suddenly burst from his fingertips, flickering in the dim room before flowing through his entire body like running water, restoring vitality to his body.

Spell: Qi Suppression!

Although Wang Ping could no longer become impervious to blades and spears with Qi Suppression after losing the body of a Force Servitor, it could still stop bleeding, regenerate flesh, and nourish his recovering body.

It was especially useful for martial arts training.

The True Qi he painstakingly refined was admittedly not great in quantity, but it was more than enough to fill his deficits and swiftly restore his depleted essence, qi, and spirit.

As a result, Wang Ping's progress in Iron Ox Skill far surpassed Liu Ye's imagination.

It was only the second day, yet he had already cultivated the technique to minor success. By a conservative estimate, he could bring this technique to full completion within seven days at the latest.

"Continue!"

Wang Ping gritted his teeth and threw himself back into training. As for the citywide manhunt or the White Lotus Bandits, he tossed all of it to the back of his mind.

A moment later, Wang Ping succeeded once more.

And as the technique circulated again, Wang Ping felt his soul abruptly leave his body. Casting aside all stray thoughts, he entered a state of pure stillness and effortless tranquility.

"Now!"

Without the slightest hesitation, seizing this rare opening, Wang Ping snatched up the Ox-Tail Saber beside him and began employing the techniques of Yama's Three Demon Blades.

Clang! Clang!

The long saber left its sheath. In an instant, an incomparably intense intent followed the saber's cry and flooded into Wang Ping's mind, making bloodshot veins suddenly appear in his eyes.

That was—Greed!

Money, women, power—everything in the world had to be possessed at any cost, fought for, seized. It was a desire that could be called the inherent evil of human nature!

And as Wang Ping began swinging his saber according to the methods of Yama's Three Demon Blades, coordinating it with the corresponding breathing technique and circulation of blood and qi, that emotion grew ever more severe. It faintly resonated with the Ox-Tail Saber in his hand, filling his eyes with more and more bloodshot veins as his reason endured a fierce assault.

"What a demonic saber!"

In the next instant, Wang Ping held his breath. Relying on the relaxed state of mind after finishing his training, he barely managed to suppress the desire and return the Ox-Tail Saber to its sheath.

Only when he came back to himself did he realize he was drenched in sweat.

"So that's how it is... I understand now."

Looking at the long saber in his hand, Wang Ping came to a realization. "Greed—the process of being assaulted by this emotion is actually the process by which the technique transforms my body."

"Only by remaining clear-headed during this process."

"By suppressing desire with reason and remaining unaffected by it can I maximize the effects of the body's transformation. Then the effects after the saber technique reaches the beginner stage will also be better."

Thinking this, Wang Ping immediately made a decision.

"For now... there's no rush to reach the beginner stage."

To be fair, with Iron Ox Skill as his foundation and the rapid recovery brought by Qi Suppression, he believed he already had a good chance of bringing the saber technique to the beginner stage.

However, if he entered through this method, the dragon sinews he cultivated would likely be only the lowest-grade Worm Dragon Sinews. It would be fast, but it would offer no benefit to his future development. If he had no cheat, that would have been one thing—better a bird in the hand. But now that he had a cheat, his sights naturally had to be set farther ahead.

"No rush. Take it slowly."

"My Iron Ox Skill hasn't reached full completion yet. My second brother isn't fast enough, nor is he fierce enough. I can't maintain for long the relaxed state needed to contend with the saber intent of Greed."

Wang Ping continued training while making plans in his mind.

As the saying went, a ten-thousand-foot tower rose from level ground. If he could not do his best even in martial arts, then cultivating immortality would be even more of a castle in the air.

"Once Iron Ox Skill reaches full completion, I can cultivate the Desire-Realm Celestial Birth Method and undergo a complete rebirth. Then I'll use an immortal cultivator's physique to practice martial arts before bringing the saber technique to the beginner stage. The result should be no worse than those geniuses blessed with exceptional bones. At the very least, I should start with Flood Dragon Sinews."

No matter what, this was the time to develop cautiously.

He could not get carried away!

Longxing County, outer city.

Following Chen Haoyan's command, Longxing County was officially sealed. Entry was permitted, but departure was forbidden. Dozens upon dozens of constables went door to door, searching for the White Lotus Sect rebel.

Yet after searching for most of the day, they failed to find the rebel Xie Shi. Instead, they unexpectedly caught a large number of fugitives, throwing the county city into complete chaos.

"Damn it, I should never have listened to that old bastard in the first place..."

Within a secluded alley in the outer city, Xie Shi hid in the shadows and wrapped the rags around his body more tightly, focusing on protecting the fist-sized wound on his lower abdomen.

Through the wound, his internal organs could vaguely be seen.

"Cloud-Piercing Heaven-Shaking Bow..."

Xie Shi gritted his teeth. Every inch of his flesh, skin, tendons, and bones throbbed with pain, while he had also lost a severe amount of blood. His body constantly produced sensations of depletion.

Skin, flesh, tendons, bones, blood, and marrow—none had escaped unharmed.

The six corresponding weapons had all shattered as well, leaving him unable to exert even a tenth of his martial arts at present. It was practically equivalent to losing half his life.

"What should I do next?"

Waiting for rescue... that was out of the question. With that old bastard's temperament, he would never risk falling into a trap by charging into the county city to save him.

He could only save himself.

After turning the matter over and over, Xie Shi could think of only one path. "In the north of the city, the court sorcerer Wandering God True Person's base should be able to shelter me as I am now."

Though the county yamen was a colossal force in Longxing County, it was not supreme over all. Setting aside the White Lotus Sect outside the city, even within the city there were people the county yamen did not wish to provoke. Spirit Wandering Temple in the north was one of them. Even during a citywide search, no one dared inspect that place.

And Spirit Wandering Temple was currently recruiting servants.

"As long as I find a way to blend in, I can avoid the pursuit of those black-skinned bastards." Xie Shi calculated inwardly, but soon frowned in concern.

The problem was Spirit Wandering Temple's recruitment requirements.

One had to be a beauty.

At this thought, Xie Shi felt utterly despairing toward this face-judging world. After all, a burly, broad-built man with a face full of flesh like him could never count as a beauty.

Unless—

Xie Shi's gaze shifted. In his pursuit of External Arts Perfection, he had collected many martial arts techniques, including an unorthodox technique that was perfectly suited to his present situation.

Shape-Shifting Disguise Art.

This was a low-grade martial art with no corresponding weapon. Once the technique reached full completion, the martial method it condensed was called One Person, Thousand Faces, allowing one to disguise one's face and reshape one's form.

It could not only change one's face, but even alter one's figure and physique at will. Women could grow beards, men could enlarge their chests; aside from being unable to truly change one's sex, there were almost no limits to one's outward appearance. With this technique, he should be able to meet Spirit Wandering Temple's recruitment requirements.

But... what exactly should a beauty look like?

Xie Shi had a headache. Images of some beauties he had seen in the past instinctively flashed through his mind, but without a real person before him, it was difficult to create a perfect disguise from imagination alone.

"...I need to find a real person for reference."

Where were there the most beauties?

As this thought arose, Xie Shi lifted his head. His gaze immediately fell upon the largest, most prosperous, brilliantly lit tower in the city.

Vermilion Phoenix Tower.

For the greatest entertainment venue in Longxing County, Wang Ping had only four words.

Where there was capacity, there was greatness.

Within the brightly lit tower, clamor never ceased. Crowds came and went, seeking pleasure and merriment. There were wealthy gentry, scholars, and even officials.

But Wang Ping did not pay attention to these people. Instead, he looked directly at the woman seated atop the highest central stage, playing the zither and singing. Even he had heard the other constables mention her name at the training grounds—she was the most renowned courtesan of Longxing County.

Her fingers lightly plucked the strings, like a gentle breeze brushing willow branches. Her vermilion lips parted slightly, like a nightingale singing in spring.

Although Wang Ping was not a lecherous man, he was still stunned at first sight. It could not be denied that anyone who became the chief courtesan had genuine ability.

In appearance, the woman's carefully adorned jade-like face was second to none.

In bearing, she resembled every bit a refined young lady from a distinguished household.

Yet she wore only a thin skirt, while the cloth wrapped around her chest piled into two snowy peaks, half-hidden and half-revealed. The bottomless ravine between them finally converged into a dark line.

To sum it up in one sentence:

A peerless beauty, beloved of the heart, with a slender and graceful waist; rising from fragrant curtains, hair dressed and wine-flushed, her red cheeks like apricot blossoms in spring; so charming that she loved to raise a fine white silk fan, smiling as she hid her vermilion lips.

"Miss Qing Feng sings truly beautifully."

"Sadly, she is still an uninitiated courtesan. One wonders what exquisite sounds she would make upon the bed..."

"Hmph, what a vulgar man, daring to utter such filthy words..."

Withdrawing his gaze, Wang Ping stopped paying attention to the chief courtesan and the commotion around her. After half a month of hard training, he had come here today for serious business.

In the next moment, Wang Ping strode toward a corner of the tower.

There, a beautiful mature woman was making arrangements and issuing instructions. Though she was clearly no longer young, the charm in her eyes and brows could not be concealed.

"Miss Feng."

Having done his homework before coming, Wang Ping directly called out to the woman. Then he went straight to the point. "My name is Wang Ping. Master Liu sent me."

As he spoke, he patted the Ox-Tail Saber at his waist.

Though he was not wearing the black-and-red uniform of a constable at the moment, the Ox-Tail Saber had a distinctive style. Displaying it was enough to prove his identity.

"...So it's Little Brother Wang!"

The madam of Vermilion Phoenix Tower was first startled, then seemed to recall something. She immediately smiled. "Master Liu did give instructions. This way, little brother."

Before long, Wang Ping followed Miss Feng into a private room.

"Little brother received Iron Ox Skill and intends to come practice, right?" Miss Feng spoke casually, and it was clear from her words that she had an unusual relationship with Liu Ye.

Immediately afterward, she gave Wang Ping a thorough look from head to toe.

Seeing his body, which did not appear particularly robust at first glance, along with his somewhat youthful face, amusement appeared in Miss Feng's eyes.

"Little brother has only just begun practicing Iron Ox Skill, so it would not be good to overexert yourself. How about I first invite three girls over to warm you up?"

"Three? Who are you looking down on?"

Wang Ping sneered, immediately circulating his fully completed Iron Ox Skill. Empowered by the martial method Golden Spear Unyielding, he said seriously, "I want ten at once!"