Translator: AnubisTL
Killed by the sword!
The moment Li Qing heard those words, a name immediately flashed through his mind.
Sun Qi, the Number One Sword of Qingzhou!
With no Grandmasters active, Sun Qi, wielding his sword, was nearly unmatched among his peers.
After seizing the so-called Immortal Opportunity, he was ambushed repeatedly, his displayed combat prowess leaving onlookers in awe.
Moreover, his ruthless methods—often wiping out entire families at a whim—bore an uncanny resemblance to that night. Not only had he stolen the Immortal Opportunity, but he had also slaughtered the entire family of the Black Demon Gang Leader.
Of course, it was precisely because of this that the Black Demon Gang Leader leaked the secret of the Immortal Opportunity, drawing the attention of the entire Jianghu to Sun Qi.
In the end, the Black Demon Gang Leader got his wish. Sun Qi was cornered by multiple Inner Strength experts and, with no other option, leapt off a cliff.
"Killed by the sword... Could it be Sun Qi? I thought he had jumped off a cliff?" Li Qing murmured to himself.
Boss Fang shook his head. "I don't know for sure, but it's highly likely. He only jumped off the cliff, and his fate remains uncertain. No one ever found his body."
"That Sun Qi is truly a remarkable figure. To survive such a fall... perhaps he had some stroke of fortune at the bottom of the cliff, leading to a great leap in his Martial Art."
Li Qing remained silent.
No one knew who ultimately obtained the Immortal Opportunity. But the Black Demon Gang and the Lei Family were wiped out entirely because of it. It was truly a tragedy.
Later, Li Qing sought out Boss Fang to inquire about recent events in the city. After confirming that nothing major had occurred, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you for your time, Boss Fang. I'll take my leave now!" Li Qing stood up and clasped his hands in a respectful bow.
Boss Fang waved his hand with a smile, saying, "It's all trivial matters, Master Li. You're being too polite. Feel free to ask for help anytime you need it in the future."
With that, Li Qing left the Liangzhou Brothers' territory and returned to his blacksmith shop.
With the city under martial law, he didn't have much work to do. He decided to spend his time forging iron and delving deeper into his Martial Path.
The Five Poisons Blood-Activating Wine had been buried for a year and a half. In another year and a half, come next summer, the jar would be ready to be unsealed and consumed.
"This Medicinal Liquor claims to help martial artists break through their cultivation bottlenecks. It's truly a potent elixir. I can't wait to see how far it will elevate my Martial Path!"
Li Qing had already reached the Inner Strength realm. Beyond that lay the Grandmaster Realm—a level attained by only a handful of martial arts experts worldwide. At this level, one could practically dominate the mortal world.
Filled with anticipation, Li Qing began practicing his martial arts. He currently possessed several exceptional techniques, starting with the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art, followed by the Fierce Tiger True Intent Diagram, Light Silk Leg Technique, Golden Body Technique, and Turtle Breathing Art. During his trip to the World of Eternal Night, he had also discovered the Shadow-Seeking Footwork, a Lightness Technique, in the Yan Family's Martial Repository.
Six exceptional Martial Arts!
For ordinary martial artists, mastering one or two techniques through diligent practice would be more than sufficient. After all, time is limited, and trying to learn too many skills at once can lead to superficial understanding.
However, Li Qing, blessed with a long lifespan, had adopted the principle that "more skills never hurt." He had simultaneously mastered six Martial Arts, resulting in a rather eclectic skillset.
Initially, he enjoyed the benefits of having multiple techniques at his disposal. However, when his cultivation plateaued at the Outer Strength realm and his progress suddenly slowed, he realized the flaw in his approach.
Ultimately, Martial Artists rely on refining their physical bodies, tempering their Vital Energy and Inner Strength.
Without a solid foundation, even the highest Martial Dao Realm is just a castle in the air, easily collapsing.
If not for the significant effects of years of drinking Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine, Li Qing would likely still be stuck at the Outer Strength level.
"My physical body is already quite formidable, but my mastery of the Martial Arts I've learned is still lacking."
With no immediate need to worry about his Martial Dao Realm, Li Qing decided to focus his efforts on mastering the Martial Arts and unique techniques he had acquired.
"Aside from the Fierce Tiger True Intent Diagram, my practice of the other Martial Arts is still too superficial. I haven't truly grasped their essence."
"Though it's true that 'too many cooks spoil the broth,' now that I've reached the Inner Strength level, I should elevate all my Martial Arts to their corresponding realms."
Li Qing muttered to himself, making his decision on the spot and immediately began practicing.
After downing a mouthful of Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine, he picked up the Peerless Hammer, slowly closed his eyes, and carefully felt the weight of the massive hammer in his hands.
"The essence of the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art lies in lifting heavy objects with effortless grace. Achieving this is true mastery."
"Come to think of it, this 'lifting heavy objects with ease' technique actually hints at the essence of Inner Strength."
As this thought struck him, Li Qing's mind lit up, and he stood frozen in place for a long moment.
"So that's it..."
"In reality, mastering any of these Martial Arts naturally leads to a deeper understanding of Inner Strength."
"My visit to Master Guo now seems somewhat redundant. No, that's not quite right. Without Master Guo's guidance, I might have remained in the dark for a long time!"
With his realization complete, Li Qing joyfully began practicing the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art.
With the insight and skill of an Inner Strength expert, his practice was now far more efficient.
As the saying goes, "Master one technique, and you master all." The progress of the Martial Arts he had been learning, which had previously stalled, began to accelerate rapidly.
Many previously incomprehensible aspects of the techniques suddenly became clear.
This breakthrough was entirely due to his current level as an Inner Strength expert. This realm not only granted him a more robust physical body but also allowed him to briefly control his Vital Energy, enabling him to easily deduce the core principles of the Martial Arts.
Li Qing could be described in a single sentence: he was now standing on the shoulders of giants—or rather, he had become a giant himself!
Winter in Shengtian seemed especially long, but Li Qing found it anything but tedious.
It wasn't until the festive atmosphere of the New Year period reached its peak that the lockdown on Shengtian City was finally lifted.
This wasn't because the Demon Lord, the mastermind behind the chaos, had been captured. Instead, the Demon Lord had vanished without a trace, leaving the Maple Guard's investigations fruitless.
Li Qing paid little attention to this. He hadn't left the blacksmith shop once during this period, instead dedicating himself to practicing his martial arts and reveling in his steadily improving strength. He was utterly content.
When the first hint of new green sprouted from the treetops, the long, cold winter finally came to an end.
Over the winter, Li Qing had pushed his Ancient Mystic Hammer Art to the peak of mastery, and his Fierce Tiger True Intent Diagram had naturally followed suit.
With both martial arts now fully mastered, Li Qing's combat prowess surged once more.
Combined with his daily consumption of Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine, his internal strength had grown even more dramatically.
It was impossible for ordinary people to imagine the terrifying power hidden beneath Li Qing's seemingly ordinary physique.
If he were to return to Small Jade Ridge and encounter the so-called fierce tiger and giant python locked in combat, Li Qing was confident he could easily defeat them both single-handedly, casually toying with these two mountain overlords.
"Huu!"
In the biting spring chill, Li Qing exhaled, two streams of air like white serpents erupting from his nostrils.
His breath was long and steady, his spirit vibrant, his blood Qi overflowing.
His Martial Path cultivation had clearly reached its peak state.
"It's time to emerge from seclusion. Martial Dao Realm isn't just about relentless training; practical combat is crucial."
Back in the military camp, Master Gu had once told him that the Outer Strength and Inner Strength stages of the Martial Path were also known as the Tempered Body Realm and the Hundred Battles Realm.
Li Qing was currently in the Hundred Battles Realm. As the name implied, this realm required enduring countless battles—and surviving them all!
"I should find someone to spar with. But who would be a good match?" Li Qing mused aloud. A smile soon spread across his face as the answer crystallized in his mind.
(End of the Chapter)
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