Three days later.
In the courtyard.
Lu Changsheng looked at the ten skills on his panel, all of them fully mastered, and felt immensely satisfied.
Aside from the Great Strength Ox Demon Fist, he had raised all the other blade techniques and movement techniques to the max level.
And it had only taken a small number of Source Energy Points.
Ever since breaking through to Muscle Refining, cultivating these low-grade martial arts had barely consumed any Source Energy Points.
This also fit reality.
Otherwise, if he needed massive amounts of Source Energy Points every time he improved low-level techniques, it would be utterly unreasonable.
After all, his own realm was already higher.
Then, Lu Changsheng tapped the plus sign after Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade.
A moment later.
As a warm current surged through his body, it felt as though a vast amount of blade technique knowledge had been crammed into his mind, as if he had practiced the blade day and night for decades.
After twenty years of painstaking cultivation of the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, you finally raised it to Transcendent Mastery.
Skill: Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade (Transcendent Mastery.)
Remark: A blade technique surpassing its creator has already walked its own path. Its might must not be underestimated.
"Fuse."
He tapped the green button again.
"Buzz..."
It was as though evening drums and morning bells rang out in the depths of his mind, shaking his soul to its core.
After ten years of bitter practice with the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, you could advance no further. Unwilling to accept this, you kept searching for that faint stir in the unseen...
Twenty years passed without any gains, yet you still practiced the blade every day. The blade technique became a part of your life...
After fifty uninterrupted years, you finally comprehended a new blade technique.
"Would you like to rename the new martial skill?"
The familiar prompt sounded again, pulling Lu Changsheng back to reality.
He slowly opened his eyes, and it seemed as though the passage of ages flowed within them.
That blade strike that blazed across the heavens had left a deep impression in the depths of his mind.
"Overlord Blade."
Lu Changsheng softly uttered the two words.
"New technique is being recorded..."
A moment later.
A new technique appeared on the blue panel.
Technique: Overlord Blade (Beginner)
Remark: This blade technique was created by fusing several blade techniques. It possesses an incomparable domineering quality. When its practitioner fights with their back to the wall, it can unleash even greater power.
Technique Rating: Three stars.
Looking at the brand-new martial skill before him, delight appeared on his face.
Its power was simply not in the same league as the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade.
He could hardly wait to raise it to a higher realm.
When that happened, his strength would rise by another great leap. Even facing someone at the peak of Muscle Refining head-on would not be impossible.
If his own realm rose in the future, then even with a Muscle Refining body, he could battle Bone Forging experts. That was the immense boost in strength brought by high-grade techniques.
"Source Energy Points. He needed a sea of Source Energy Points."
Lu Changsheng roared inwardly.
A moment later, he gathered his thoughts and looked at the several movement techniques on the panel, preparing to fuse them as well.
Movement techniques were just as important. If he could not win, he could still run. Keeping his life was more important than anything else.
Naturally, he would not neglect movement techniques.
Improving himself in every aspect was also the martial path he had long decided upon.
He directly raised Fleeting Light and Shadow to Transcendent Mastery.
"Fuse!"
Lu Changsheng roared inwardly.
"Buzz..."
A realization descended from the unseen once more, beginning endless simulations in his mind.
After five years of painstaking movement technique training, your footwork had long become ghostlike, and it was difficult to improve any further.
Unwilling to accept this, you continued cultivating day after day for another ten years. Your movement technique became ever more terrifying...
One day ten years later, you finally comprehended the highest realm of Fleeting Light and Shadow and gained a new realization.
"New skill discovered. Would you like to rename it?"
"Nine Spiral Transformations."
Lu Changsheng softly uttered the words.
During the simulation, the nine figures in the depths of his mind had deeply shaken him.
When cultivated to perfection, this high-grade movement technique could actually split into nine phantom bodies, allowing one to swiftly flee the battlefield. It was extremely practical.
This filled him with anticipation.
Technique: Nine Spiral Transformations (Beginner)
Remark: This movement technique fuses the strengths of all manner of footwork, casting away the dross and retaining the essence. When cultivated to profound heights, the body becomes ghostlike and difficult to lock onto. It is truly an exceptional skill for preserving one's life.
Technique Rating: Three stars.
Source Energy Points: 2.
Looking at the technique description, Lu Changsheng was immensely satisfied, his face covered in smiles.
This round of technique fusion had consumed over thirty Source Energy Points in total, but the results were extremely remarkable.
As long as he raised these two high-grade techniques and improved his realm a little more, his strength would surge greatly.
By then, even if a hall master of the Three Rivers Gang personally made a move, they would not be able to keep him behind.
Even if he was defeated, he could still retreat with ease.
Lu Changsheng had no doubt that the Three Rivers Gang had already laid a great net, waiting for him to throw himself into it.
He was not foolish enough to know there was a tiger on the mountain yet deliberately march toward Tiger Mountain.
His own safety would always come first.
The enemy was in the open while he was in the shadows. He had plenty of time to play with them slowly, so there was no need to rush.
If he rashly went out to ambush their merchant caravans again, he might not even know how he died. He had never underestimated anyone, much less a major gang like this.
As long as he gathered more Source Energy Points and made another push, his strength would rise greatly. Only then would exploring the mountain forests better serve his interests.
Once both his techniques and skills had broken through, striking the Three Rivers Gang and the factions allied with it again would be the best choice.
By then, they would have just lowered their guard and would never expect him to return and strike another blow.
A moment later, Lu Changsheng had made up his mind. Tomorrow, after checking in at the Demon Suppression Department, he would head to the Cangyun Mountain Range to explore.
Since he had no Source Energy Points on hand now, he went straight to the side hall to begin cultivating the Overlord Blade and Nine Spiral Shadows.
While Lu Changsheng cultivated diligently, in a room behind the courtyard.
The Fang siblings sat facing each other.
"Big Sis, are you stupid? Brother Changsheng is about to become an official Demon Suppressing Emissary. The threshold of his door is practically being trampled flat by young wives coming to propose marriage, yet you still aren't making a move..."
"When the chance is gone, don't blame your little brother for not warning you..."
Fang Tao looked as though he could not bear to see iron fail to become steel.
Fang Qing's face reddened, and she hesitated.
How could an unmarried young woman like her make such a decision?
"You decide for yourself."
Fang Tao immediately rose to his feet and left the room without looking back.
Fang Qing bit her lip, seemingly making some kind of resolution.
After spending many days together, her impression of Lu Changsheng had long changed completely. The idle, good-for-nothing man from before had vanished without a trace. Instead, he had soared straight into the blue skies, sending ripples through her heart.
"Phew..."
Fang Qing took a deep breath, rose, and walked outside.
She sneaked to Lu Changsheng's room, then directly pushed the door open and entered.
She quickly went to the bed and lay down, pulling the blanket over her flushed, burning face.
She had struggled for a long time before finally taking this step.
Her heart was filled with shame as well.
Fang Qing waited quietly, feeling both nervous and frightened, in a most peculiar state.
When she could no longer hold on, she slowly fell asleep.
The next morning.
Lu Changsheng had practiced martial arts all night. He walked straight outside, intending to return to his own room to wash up.
The moment he pushed open the door, his expression froze.
Fang Qing stood in the room, seemingly cleaning something, her gaze wandering everywhere.
"Sister-in-law Qing, you don't have to work so hard. You cleaned yesterday already."
Lu Changsheng smiled, his tone gentle.
"Mm..."
Fang Qing nodded, her face blooming red as sunset clouds. She fled outside as though running for her life.
Lu Changsheng was somewhat baffled.
So he stopped thinking about it.
Before you continue