Heading to Tongguan Town! (Seeking Collections)

In Black Goose City, a small courtyard south of the city.

Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the courtyard.

"Brother Wang, come, eat some vegetables!"

Qin Zheng enthusiastically pushed the dishes in front of Wang Er.

He was the first person to show him kindness after Qin Zheng transmigrated.

At that time, Qin Zheng had nothing, was penniless and destitute, and faced the risk of death at any moment.

This Wang Er certainly wasn't after his possessions.

Therefore, Qin Zheng's principle in life was that if others treated him with kindness, he would naturally treat them with kindness in return.

Wang Er also lost his earlier reserve.

He had learned of Qin Zheng's combat record, and that Qin Zheng had even been summoned by Ji Changyin, making him believe Qin Zheng was about to soar to the heavens.

As a mere private, he naturally didn't dare to presume too much.

However, Qin Zheng's attitude hadn't changed at all, which gradually put Wang Er at ease.

The meal continued until after the moon had risen, and Wang Er finally left with a satisfied belch.

After Wang Er left, Qin Zheng tidied up and then sat back down in the small courtyard, gazing up at the bright moon above, lost in thought.

According to Ji Changyin, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill was definitely a rare and elusive divine art.

After all, just the first level of entry had given him a strength of a thousand jin.

However, it was precisely because this martial art was too powerful that Qin Zheng was filled with regret.

The essence of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill he had obtained was incomplete.

By forcefully refining it through the Merit scroll, he could increase his strength, but his physique couldn't be strengthened in sync.

Therefore, under the enhancement of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, Qin Zheng's strength far surpassed that of others in the same realm.

However, his internal organs remained at the Skin-Refining Realm, the first major hurdle.

Thus, at this moment, the thousand jin of strength brought by the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill became a burden due to his weak organs!

Thinking of this, Qin Zheng's consciousness sank into his mind, and he checked the contents of the Merit scroll.

[Qin Zheng]

[Lifespan: 70 (17)]

[Martial Arts: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (First Level), Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell (Entry), Ghost-head Saber Technique (Perfection)]

[Merit: One liang nine qian]

[Current Martial Art - Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell can be upgraded, requiring five qian of Merit. Do you wish to upgrade?]

[Current Martial Art - Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill can be upgraded, requiring one liang of Merit. Do you wish to upgrade?]

Qin Zheng's thoughts moved, and he spoke, "Upgrade Martial Art - Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell."

Instantly, five qian of Merit was deducted from the Merit scroll, and Qin Zheng felt his mastery of this movement technique become more proficient.

On the Merit scroll, the suffix for this movement technique changed from 'Entry' to 'Minor Accomplishment'.

However, to advance further would require eight qian of Merit.

Qin Zheng hesitated.

He only had one liang and four qian of Merit left.

If he upgraded the movement technique again, he wouldn't be able to upgrade the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill.

But if he upgraded the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill again, his strength might increase to two thousand jin!

With his current physique, he didn't know if he could withstand such power!

Qin Zheng pondered, then withdrew his consciousness from his mind sea, deciding not to make a decision for the time being.

He took out a booklet from his embrace, which was the Black Fiend Palm he had obtained from Wei Feng!

He had another option!

Qin Zheng flipped through the booklet, concentrating on studying its contents.

After a moment, the booklet was flipped to the end, and a new line of text appeared on the Merit scroll.

The next day, Qin Zheng, carrying his ghost-head saber, went to the execution ground as usual.

He beheaded three prisoners and harvested seven qian of Merit.

The anticipated action did not commence.

This made Qin Zheng feel a slight sense of relief; for every day that was delayed, he could gain more Merit to improve himself.

He then returned home. He practiced the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, stimulating his blood qi and nourishing his physical body and internal organs.

Although this could also temper his body, the speed was not satisfactory to Qin Zheng.

His current deficiency was an urgent need for an internal martial arts technique!

With the abilities of the Merit scroll, I believe even internal skills can be improved.

This will allow him to quickly nourish his physical body and raise his realm.

This way, Qin Zheng's physical body can keep pace with the improvement of his martial arts.

Otherwise, if the physical body and martial arts are not matched, there is a high possibility of what Ji Changyin mentioned, consuming the body's original essence!

On the third day, Qin Zheng still fulfilled his duty as an executioner.

He beheaded six people, earning one tael and three qian of Merit.

Then he returned home to practice martial arts, stimulate his qi and blood, and strengthen his physical body.

Afterward, as night fell, a constable came to his door, informing him to head to Tong'an Town, twenty li outside Black Goose City, at the morning hour of Chen.

This made Qin Zheng's spirits lift, realizing that Ji Changyin and the others had found Shi Dian's whereabouts and were preparing to make a move!

So he nodded, turned back into his house, and took stock of his current situation.

[Qin Zheng]

[Lifespan: 70 (17)]

[Martial Arts: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill (First Layer), Black Fiend Palm (Minor Accomplishment), Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell (Perfection), Ghost-head Saber Technique (Perfection)]

[Merit: One tael two qian]

[Current Martial Art - Black Fiend Palm can be upgraded, requires eight qian of Merit, do you wish to upgrade?]

[Current Martial Art - Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill can be upgraded, requires one tael of Merit, do you wish to upgrade?]

In the past two days, he had already brought his movement technique to perfection, and the Black Fiend Palm had also reached minor accomplishment.

Qin Zheng did not intend to save the remaining one tael and two qian of Merit for the Black Fiend Palm.

Although this martial art was not bad, its improvement was insignificant compared to the advancement of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill.

Through practicing these past few days, Qin Zheng had also gained a comprehensive understanding of his physical body.

Although this body appeared lean, he possessed considerable natural strength. The physical body should be able to bear even more power.

Therefore, Qin Zheng no longer hesitated and silently thought, "Upgrade Martial Art - Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill!"

Instantly, one tael of Merit was deducted.

A powerful force once again appeared out of nowhere within his body.

This time, Qin Zheng could feel a significant strain on his body.

His muscles began to cramp, his bones ached, and the rapidly increasing strength made his physical body unable to cope for a moment.

Especially the pain from his internal organs made him unable to help but kneel down, enduring the changes with sweat pouring down his face.

A moment later, the intense pain disappeared, and the changes in his body ceased.

Only then could Qin Zheng gasp for air, exchanging the stale air in his body for fresh air.

"It seems that a body in the Skin-Refining Realm can only support the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill to the second layer, and no further!"

Qin Zheng said, his eyes red and his face slightly contorted.

Afterward, once his body had calmed down, Qin Zheng went to wash up and tidy himself.

He lay down to rest until dawn, then got up and slung the ghost-head saber, wrapped in coarse cloth, onto his back.

Then he opened the door and strode out of Black Goose City.

After his movement technique reached perfection, Qin Zheng walked with great lightness.

Moreover, with each step, he covered a distance nearly equivalent to five steps of an ordinary person.

He didn't know if it would be effective for escaping, but it was certainly good for traveling.

Not long after, Qin Zheng had walked out of Black Goose City and headed straight for Tongguan Town, ten li away.

During this time, Qin Zheng also carefully felt the strength within his body.

Two thousand jin of strength, a strength that even a Muscle-Refining Realm martial artist who had broken through three major barriers could not possess!

Feeling this surging and powerful strength, Qin Zheng felt much more at ease.

With this strength, as long as that old man Shi Dian had not broken through, he would definitely be safe!