Two days later.
Dawn, the morning sun rises.
Five li outside the river behind East Street, an uninhabited high ground.
"Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique experience +1!"
"Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique experience +1!"
"......."
Lin Chang'sheng didn't go to work at the noodle shop. Instead, he sat on a big rock, basking in the sun—or rather, cultivating the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique. As Lin Chang'sheng soaked in the sun, system notifications kept popping up on his panel, his whole body feeling warm and cozy.
He discovered that gaining experience with the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique was several times faster than with the Moonlight Breathing Technique.
As a result, even though he'd started cultivating the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique later, it had already reached Perfection Realm!
[Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique (Perfection 59900/62500)]
"If I sunbathe all day, maybe I can reach Great Perfection?"
Lin Chang'sheng looked at the panel, anticipation stirring in his heart.
His cultivation was stuck at 499, never able to break through to Second-class. He wondered if attaining Great Perfection in Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique could achieve Second-class?
If he managed that, he'd become the fifth Second-class Expert in Mu City!
At noon, Lin Chang'sheng nibbled on two buns, seizing every moment to sunbathe.
[Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique has advanced to Great Perfection!]
[Successfully advanced to Second-class Expert!]
Right at 11:15 AM, a notification popped up at the edge of Lin Chang'sheng's panel.
At the same time—
A surge of powerful heat flooded through him, roaring like the Yellow River, rushing through every limb and bone, finally converging at his dantian.
A sense of tremendous power swept through his entire body!
Simultaneously, a stream of information appeared in his mind, instantly fusing with Lin Chang'sheng's consciousness—it was insight and technique for cultivating the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique!
At that moment—
Lin Chang'sheng felt as if he'd spent decades mastering this Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique!
"Hmm?"
"I've advanced to Second-class Expert?"
Lin Chang'sheng stared at his hands, joy lighting up his gaze.
He sensed that his strength now was leagues ahead of his previous Third-class self!
If his Inner Strength before was a trickling stream, now it was a surging river!
Inside his dantian, Inner Strength was raging and abundant!
What's more, he noticed—maybe due to the panel—his cultivation aura was completely restrained; if he didn't make a move, no one would suspect he knew Martial Arts!
"Wonder how powerful my punch is now!"
Excited, Lin Chang'sheng looked to the big rock under his feet, half a zhang across. He focused his surging Inner Strength, then slammed his fist down!
Boom!
A thunderous crash!
Lin Chang'sheng's fist stopped half an inch from the boulder—but his Inner Strength blasted through, and the rock instantly shattered into pieces!
"Second-class Inner Strength can split stones and shatter monuments!"
Staring at the shattered rock, Lin Chang'sheng nodded in satisfaction, muttering, "Now, I'm the fifth Second-class Expert in Mu City! And with Great Perfection in Iron Sand Palm and Hundred-Step Piercing Willow Arrow Technique, I finally have some real means to protect myself!"
Lin Chang'sheng checked his panel.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Chang'sheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Second-class (0/2500)]
[Cultivation Techniques: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Perfection 27809/62500), Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique (Great Perfection)]
[Martial Arts: Archery (Great Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Great Perfection)]
[Spend some silver taels to simplify cultivation technique, martial arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion (Weakened)]
"Huh? After reaching Great Perfection in Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique and advancing to Second-class, my Yin Qi Invasion has weakened! That's awesome!"
Seeing the new status on the panel, Lin Chang'sheng was delighted.
The fact that Yin Qi could be weakened was definitely good news.
As long as he kept training the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique, the Yin Qi would surely be driven out for good!
Lin Chang'sheng returned home.
He decided to cultivate the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique while carving a few arrows—two birds with one stone.
With Great Perfection in Hundred-Step Piercing Willow Arrow Technique and the boost of Second-class Inner Strength, even other Second-class Experts would struggle to fend him off!
Sister Zhen had always treated him well. As for Ma Zhankui—he'd just take care of the guy for her!
Ma Zhankui was Second-class strength, definitely had secret manuals. Cyan Snake Gang, being one of the two major gangs in Mu City and running rampant for years, must have hoarded plenty of silver.
"Chang'sheng, are you alright?"
Just then, a clear feminine voice came from the doorway.
"Sister Zhen, I'm fine. Actually, I meant to tell you today, but something came up. I… might not be able to work for you anymore. Thank you for your kindness all this time!"
Seeing Yan Zhen, Lin Chang'sheng thought for a moment, then spoke up.
"Ah?"
Yan Zhen's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, then she looked troubled and asked, "So… what's your plan now?"
"I've already reached entry level in Iron Sand Palm, so I'm thinking of moving on to something new."
Lin Chang'sheng replied.
With his Second-class strength now, he obviously didn't need to work in a noodle shop anymore.
"Really? That's wonderful! Congratulations!"
Yan Zhen's face lit up, truly happy for him.
She was genuinely glad for Lin Chang'sheng, though with Ma Zhankui's ultimatum deadline looming tomorrow, her heart sank a little.
.......
Nightfall.
Lin Chang'sheng sat in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight, carving arrows.
He already had 50 arrows at his side.
"Time's just about right."
"And I've got enough arrows."
Lin Chang'sheng muttered, went inside to grab a cloth, wrapped it around his face, strapped on the bow and his fifty carved wooden arrows, then set off toward Ma Zhankui's manor.
Soon after—
Lin Chang'sheng arrived at Ma Family Manor, with lights burning and voices drifting from within.
Leaping over the wall and into the courtyard, Lin Chang'sheng, despite not having learned Lightweight Skill, easily vaulted with his Second-class strength.
The Ma Family Manor resembled a large siheyuan; from the left wing came the sounds of dice rattling—a gambling session.
Main hall of Ma Family Manor.
Ma Zhankui, dressed in a brocade robe, held a purple clay teacup, took a sip, and looked at his top dog, Lin Li. He said, "Tomorrow morning, go fetch that widow here to the manor!"
"Yes, Gang Leader!"
Lin Li bowed and cupped his fists in reply.
Swoosh!
Just then, the sound of a Feathered Arrow slicing through the air!
"Someone—!"
As a Second-class Expert, Ma Zhankui was instantly alarmed and instinctively dodged, but the arrow was lightning-fast; he couldn't escape in time, so he twisted, dodged the shot to his heart—but the Feathered Arrow still buried itself in his right shoulder!
"Aaah!"
Ma Zhankui grunted in pain, leaping backward!
But—
Another Feathered Arrow flashed toward him; Ma Zhankui swung his sword left-handed, casting a screen of steel, shredding the arrow!
But that brief delay gave an opening—a third arrow shot in from a vicious angle!
Landing square in his left eye!