Chapter 49: Apprenticeship at Qingyun, A Night Infiltrating the Salt Guild (Seeking Continued Reading)
“Seventh level of Body Refinement!”
Zhou Chen clenched his fist; he had now officially entered the late stage of Body Refinement.
Within the seventh level of Body Refinement, the internal energy hammers the five viscera and six bowels, a process known as organ refinement.
The internal organs are extremely fragile, but after refining them, not only does one’s endurance surge dramatically, the physical body becomes much more formidable, with a greatly enhanced ability to withstand blows.
Knock, knock, knock!
Before Zhou Chen could fully appreciate the power of the seventh level of Body Refinement, a knock came at the courtyard gate.
“Wait!”
Zhou Chen immediately stopped Qin Hongyu; he had already sensed the visitor’s aura.
It was Li Lang, or rather Li Changfeng!
The gate opened, revealing a charismatic figure in white standing at the entrance, followed by a cold, aloof woman.
She wore black, carrying a large bow on her back, tall and statuesque, with a magnificent chest and a slender yet powerful waist.
Especially those long legs.
Zhou Chen felt they could easily trap him.
“So it’s Brother Li.”
Zhou Chen smiled warmly and gestured with open hands.
“Please, come in quickly, both of you.”
Li Changfeng and Li Changhen entered, scrutinizing Zhou Chen’s home.
“Have you cultivated the Yi Archery Technique?”
Li Changfeng suddenly spoke, his gaze sharp as lightning, demanding.
“How do you know, Brother Li?”
Zhou Chen was surprised, staring at Li Changfeng.
“Stealing the secret martial arts of Qingyun Sect is a crime punishable by death!”
A powerful aura suddenly pressed down from Li Changfeng, causing Qin Hongyu, who had intended to approach, to become immobile and speechless.
Zhou Chen’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly realized Li Changfeng was only trying to intimidate him.
“I didn’t steal it; my master taught it to me!”
“Who is your master?”
Li Changfeng questioned.
From the information he had gathered, Zhou Chen’s master, Old Man Cao, did not know the Yi Archery Technique but might have acquired a fragment of the manual.
As Li Changfeng pondered, Zhou Chen cupped his hands and bowed:
“My master is present; please accept my disciple’s salute!”
Li Changfeng was momentarily stunned, then a smile broke across his previously stern face.
“Good lad, you’re indeed exceptionally clever!”
He retracted his aura and shook his head, laughing.
“You suspected my identity all along?”
“Impossible! I only learned my master’s identity when he revealed himself!”
Zhou Chen looked regretful and sighed.
“I truly failed to recognize a true hero. Had I known my master’s identity earlier, I would have clung to his thigh at Xueyue Pavilion and begged to become his disciple!”
“Smooth talker!”
Li Changhen curled her lips; to her, Zhou Chen was full of lies, with hardly a word true.
“This must be the incomparable and famed senior sister.”
Zhou Chen looked at Li Changhen with excitement.
“To meet your radiant face today is a breathtaking moment, one I shall forever cherish!”
“Sweet talk!”
Smack!
Li Changfeng rapped Zhou Chen’s head and laughed scoldingly.
“Senior sister, you’re flirting too. The rabbit doesn’t eat the grass near its burrow!”
“Master, that’s unfair! I’m speaking from the heart!”
Zhou Chen looked aggrieved. What did ‘the rabbit doesn’t eat the grass near its burrow’ mean? Isn’t it better to keep benefits in the family?
“Enough of your nonsense!”
Li Changfeng glared at Zhou Chen, then grabbed and squeezed his shoulder.
“Ouch!”
Zhou Chen gasped, feeling as if his body was about to shatter.
“Not bad, not bad. I didn’t expect you to cultivate alone, reaching the seventh level of Body Refinement with such a solid foundation!”
Li Changfeng grew more satisfied; Zhou Chen’s talent and comprehension exceeded even his expectations, rivaling Li Changhen, who had been born with the Spirit of the Archery Body.
“You’ve also cultivated immortal techniques, reaching the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. Your spiritual roots seem quite good!”
Li Changfeng examined him carefully and said in surprise:
“A Five Elements spiritual root?”
“How could a Five Elements root cultivate so quickly? And with dual cultivation of immortal and martial arts…”
Li Changfeng was puzzled as he looked at Zhou Chen.
“Master, I once hunted and discovered a hidden cave where I obtained immortal techniques, but my progress was slow. Later, I ate a red fruit, and my cultivation surged!”
Zhou Chen had long thought out this explanation.
“I see.”
Li Changfeng did not doubt him; the explanation was reasonable.
Many rare treasures can boost cultivation, and as a hunter often roaming the mountains and forests, it was not impossible for Zhou Chen to have encountered one by chance.
Moreover, Zhou Chen’s background was clean, and Li Changfeng had verified Old Man Cao’s identity; the origin of the Yi Archery Technique was legitimate.
“Five Elements spiritual roots cultivate very slowly and consume many resources. Usually, immortal sects do not accept disciples with such roots.”
Li Changfeng looked at Zhou Chen seriously and advised:
“Martial cultivation is not inferior to immortal cultivation. Your martial talent is extraordinary; do not chase distractions. Focus your efforts on the Yi Archery Technique. Your future is limitless.”
“Yes, disciple will remember!”
Zhou Chen responded respectfully.
But he still intended to cultivate immortal techniques secretly.
As long as his martial cultivation progressed swiftly, Li Changfeng would not mind.
However, Li Changfeng could detect Zhou Chen’s cultivation and immortal practice just by grasping him—he needed to find a more powerful concealment technique.
“You must have heard something about the Divine Archery Peak of Qingyun Sect. I am Li Changfeng, the peak master, and this is your senior sister Li Changhen.”
Li Changfeng briefly introduced them:
“With you joining, our Divine Archery Peak numbers just three.”
“So that makes me the senior brother!”
Zhou Chen smiled.
Li Changhen glared at him, but Zhou Chen wasn’t entirely wrong.
She was the senior sister, and Zhou Chen was the senior brother.
“Each peak in Qingyun Sect has four positions for direct disciples, but they are not fixed. Since you have joined me and reached the seventh level of Body Refinement, you can be a direct disciple.”
Li Changfeng looked at Zhou Chen:
“Prepare yourself. In three days, accompany me back to Qingyun Sect to be promoted to direct disciple!”
“Yes, Master!”
Zhou Chen nodded and took out his second-rank Soul-Chasing Bow from his storage pouch. Looking at Li Changfeng, he pitifully said:
“Master, I’ve reached the seventh level of Body Refinement, but I’m still using a second-rank broken bow. It would embarrass you if word got out!”
A good bow greatly enhanced his strength. Before leaving, Zhou Chen wanted to take on the two old men, Bai Guinong and Wang Kangan.
A gentleman never lets a grudge go unavenged.
Liu Ruyi was now his woman, and she had been physically assaulted to the point of self-explosion. This grudge must be settled.
Li Changfeng seemed to have guessed Zhou Chen’s thoughts.
He had long understood the events in Qinghe City.
Bai Ruyun was definitely killed by Zhou Chen.
Once word got out that Zhou Chen had accepted him as a disciple, the Salt Gang members would also know it was Zhou Chen who acted.
Previously, they hadn’t suspected Zhou Chen simply because he lacked the strength.
“You’re really something!”
Li Changfeng laughed and took out a long bow, entirely black:
“This bow is called Sunset. It’s a fourth-rank divine weapon I once used!”
“A bargain for you!”
Zhou Chen eagerly accepted the Sunset Bow; the feel was completely different, like comparing tissue paper to rare currency.
Compared to the Sunset Bow, his Soul-Chasing Bow was rubbish.
A fourth-rank divine bow was usable even by those in the Divine Power realm.
He had thought getting a third-rank treasured bow would be good enough; he never expected Li Changfeng to be so generous.
His trip to Xueyue Pavilion had not been in vain!
“Thank you, Master!”
Zhou Chen bowed quickly, unwilling to part with the Sunset Bow.
Then, Zhou Chen felt a jealous gaze.
Li Changhen recalled that she had once obtained a third-rank treasured bow, and the fourth-rank long bow Cold Moon in her hands now had been painstakingly acquired.
Favoritism!
“All right, I’ll come for you in three days!”
Li Changfeng said and left gracefully.
“Senior sister, come in and sit!”
Zhou Chen invited Li Changhen warmly.
“I won’t disturb little junior brother!”
Li Changhen turned and said coolly:
“You better go be with your wife!”
Zhou Chen: “...”
Watching Li Changhen’s graceful figure disappear, Zhou Chen shook his head and sighed:
“Master really is improper; he’s corrupted senior sister too!”
This carriage is moving faster than him!
“Brother Chen, you’re amazing!”
Qin Hongyu came back to her senses and buried herself in Zhou Chen’s arms, tightly holding his neck.
She hadn’t expected Zhou Chen to have reached the seventh level of Body Refinement and to have become a disciple of Li Changfeng of the Divine Archery Peak of Qingyun Sect.
During this time, as Zhou Chen learned more about Qingyun Sect, she heard what a force it was.
It was the supreme overlord of Yunmeng and Qingyun prefectures, wielding more influence in these regions than even the imperial court!
Truly a meteoric rise!
“I have something even more impressive!”
Holding Qin Hongyu’s voluptuous and enchanting body, Zhou Chen’s heart blazed. He embraced her plump hips and strode into the room.
Setting Qin Hongyu down, Zhou Chen wrapped his arms around her smooth waist and turned her to face away, hands resting on the railing.
“No, it’s not dark yet... mmph...”
Zhou Chen said nothing.
He still had matters to attend to after dark.
Night fell.
All was silent.
Zhou Chen looked at Qin Hongyu, who cradled him as she fell into a deep sleep, and quietly slipped away.
He changed his clothes, donned a mask, switched to Han Feiyu’s disguise, and after camouflaging the appearance of the Sunset Bow, he stealthily left his home.
“Fengxia, Ruyi, scout the surroundings for me!”
Zhou Chen activated two fully automatic intelligent “radars” and headed toward the Salt Gang’s Qinghe branch.
During this time, Wang Kangan had been investigating the murderer. Bai Guinong had never appeared; Zhou Chen was unsure if he had left Qinghe City.
But it didn’t matter.
If Bai Guinong was still there, Zhou Chen wanted to test whether the ninth level of Body Refinement Bai Guinong could withstand his fully unleashed arrow.
If not, he would deal with him later.
Ji Fengxia and Liu Ruyi were now cultivating their souls; the former had reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, with spiritual perception far surpassing the ninth level of Body Refinement Bai Guinong.
Although the ninth level of Body Refinement involved divine refinement, it was only a rough form, no match for Ji Fengxia and Liu Ruyi’s direct spiritual cultivation.
This was also why Zhou Chen dared to infiltrate the Salt Gang’s branch for an assassination.
With radars far superior to others, he could attack or retreat freely, holding absolute initiative.
Under the confusing soul power of Ji Fengxia and Liu Ruyi, Zhou Chen slipped in unnoticed, easily infiltrating the Salt Gang’s Qinghe branch!
At the same time, on a rooftop, two figures stood calmly, watching Zhou Chen from afar.
No need to say—it was Li Changfeng and Li Changhen.
“Bai Guinong is still here. Although little junior brother has the Sunset Bow, he probably can’t kill Bai Guinong and might even be caught red-handed!”
Li Changhen said calmly.
“That kid is so crafty. Bai Guinong and the others used all sorts of tricks before, but he never fell for any. He must have some trump card!”
Li Changfeng smiled faintly.
“Besides, even if he’s caught, it doesn’t matter—a good lesson for him.”
As for Zhou Chen’s safety?
With him around, there was no need to worry.
Li Changhen’s lips curved slightly as she said softly:
“I want to see what trump card he has to take on Bai Guinong, who is two levels higher at Body Refinement Nine!”
…