Chen Residence, back courtyard.
"Whoosh—"
Siqin stopped at the entrance, holding a tray of food and tea. She could hear the sound coming from inside, but it frightened her so much she didn't dare step in. Only a door separated her from the courtyard, yet it sounded like a storm was raging within.
She didn't call out or knock. She quietly set the tray down by the door and slipped away.
It was late autumn once again.
A thick carpet of fallen leaves covered the courtyard ground. As the long spear in Chen Sanshi's hands spun like a coiling dragon, the leaves gathered together, then whirled into a golden tornado. Wherever it passed, flowerbeds shattered and burst apart with crackling pops.
The blood of the Dragon and Elephant within Chen Sanshi surged and boiled. The Mysterious Five Organs inside his body were running at full force to sustain the Exploding Blood state, continuously generating Internal Force and pouring that power into the Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear.
The martial path was one of no return.
A single misstep at the start could lead to endless disparity later.
From the tempering of qi and blood onward, if one's foundation was weaker than others, that weakness only grew more pronounced with every realm ascended. Eventually, it became an unbridgeable chasm. That was why, during the Selection Trials, the bone-measuring stage was treated as vital.
Only warriors with powerful physiques could lay a truly solid foundation.
Right now, Chen Sanshi was constantly pushing his limits, tempering his Internal Force to make it purer and stronger.
At Minor Achievement in Transforming Strength, Internal Force could only be channeled into a weapon.
At Major Achievement, that Internal Force could flow outside the weapon, forming a layer of power around it, greatly amplifying its attack. Even without the weapon's edge touching the enemy, it could still inflict deadly harm.
And when unarmed, one could use pure Internal Force to parry blades barehanded—so long as one's power was vastly greater than the opponent's, preventing injury to oneself.
Each time Chen Sanshi thrust the spear, he could feel the energy at the tip growing stronger. Gradually, it began to leak beyond the point, expanding outward. He kept exhausting himself on purpose, draining his strength until his body was utterly empty.
Then came the transformation.
After the extreme pain, his body ascended once more. The Internal Force generated by his qi and organs became even more refined. When infused into the mystic weapon, it stretched like an invisible, expanding blade until it gathered at the spear tip, forming a stable, unseen force surrounding the edge.
Breakthrough.
Major Achievement in Transforming Strength!
[Skill: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression – Transforming Strength (Major Achievement)]
[Progress: 0/0]
[Effect: True Dragon Force—Internal Force becomes alive, raging like a real dragon.]
Ordinary Internal Force was like an invisible blade coating the weapon's edge—static, lifeless, only differing in strength or weakness.
But the True Dragon Force was alive.
Chen Sanshi gripped the spear with both hands and poured power into it. The Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear trembled violently. A faint buzzing sound from the spear tip echoed like several tiny dragons circling the blade.
He didn't swing or strike anything. Simply channeling the True Dragon Force and pushing the spear slowly forward, the air warped. When the spear stopped more than an inch away from a potted plant, the ceramic pot exploded into shards with a loud bang.
The target was too fragile to show the real power of it. Still, Chen Sanshi could tell that the invisible force around his spear's edge was like a chainsaw—it would strike again even after making contact, delivering a secondary attack. In real combat, it would be devastating.
"Got it!"
He wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a long sigh. "Next step—Meridian-Connecting."
He already had the cultivation technique for that realm.
Not long after returning to Liangzhou, Sun Li had brought it to him. It was still the Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression, but this time a complete version reaching all the way to the Profound Manifestation realm, with annotations and insights added.
It seemed his master had refined the manual before sending it.
Speaking of which, his master had gone to the capital nearly a year ago and hadn't been seen since. A living person vanishing for so long—no word, not even during the Mingzhou rebellion when rumors said the emperor almost led his army personally.
He was likely occupied with something even more critical.
But truthfully, for Chen Sanshi's cultivation now, his master's guidance mattered little.
As the saying went, a teacher opens the gate, but cultivation depends on oneself.
The methods had been given, the precious medicines never ceased—what remained depended solely on his own effort.
Nowadays, Chen Sanshi no longer held back with medicines. As long as he could absorb them, he devoured them all. Each pill he took after reaching Transforming Strength cost thousands to tens of thousands of taels of silver—something even most officials couldn't afford.
Back then, his master had ordered him to reach Martial Saint within three years.
Now, a year had passed, and he still had two major realms to go—Meridian-Connecting, then Profound Manifestation, before finally Martial Saint.
With enough resources, maybe…
Probably?
He could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.
After resting briefly, Chen Sanshi ate the meal Siqin had left by the door. Then he went back inside, locked the door, and took out a mystic pearl filled with white spiritual energy and purple incense power. He began cultivating the Sword Qi Technique.
Once he confirmed that practicing this technique wouldn't be affected by incense power, he could safely use it to his advantage.
Sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, he steadied his mind.
Holding the pearl, he guided the incense energy into his body through his spiritual roots, circulating it along the Sword Qi Technique's meridians.
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Beginner)]
[Progress: 435/500]
Recently, he had trained martial arts by day and techniques by night. His proficiency in the Sword Qi Technique was steadily rising—he was close to breaking through.
The only problem was the limited amount of incense energy left. He didn't know how long it would last. After this time, Ciyun Temple would likely be on guard, and taking more would be difficult.
Thinking of this, Chen Sanshi recalled what Ningxiang had told him.
Something big will happen in the capital.
The Fragrant Fire God Sect—did they really dare cause chaos in the capital?
"Damn it."
If he was summoned to court soon, would he arrive right in the middle of the disaster?
Then again, perhaps he was worrying too much.
The imperial court had eight Martial Saints—eight generals. Two of them were stationed in the capital alone, not counting the inner palace eunuchs.
With that kind of power gathered, who would dare make trouble?
These eunuchs couldn't be underestimated.
Anyone chosen from the inner palace to receive cultivation resources already possessed top-grade physiques.
And on top of that, there was Emperor Longqing—whose true strength remained unknown.
If the Fragrant Fire God Sect really wanted to stir trouble in the capital, it wouldn't be easy...
Before he knew it, another night had passed.
By the time the third watch came, Chen Sanshi finally lay down to rest. When morning arrived, he saw Siqin and Mohua already rushing about again—changing diapers, cooking breakfast for Madam Gu, and handling chores nonstop.
Meanwhile, Chen Yunxi sat at the stone table in the courtyard, reading and practicing her writing.
It really did feel like a lively household now.
"How's it going?"
Chen Sanshi sat beside the little girl. "Xixi, how many characters do you know now? Are you happy living at the Grand Commander's residence? No one's bullying you, right?"
Chen Yunxi shook her head. "Pretty Martial Aunt buys me candied haw every day and said she'll make me a new dress soon. The older brothers and sisters there like playing with me too. And there's also a teacher who teaches me to read."
"Mr. Zhuang was once a scholar," Chen Sanshi said with a smile. "He left the capital because he couldn't stand the court's corruption. Now he teaches at the Grand Commander's residence as a private tutor. He's very capable—you should learn well from him."
"But Father," Chen Yunxi said, shaking her head, "I'm not talking about Mr. Zhuang."
"Oh?" Chen Sanshi raised an eyebrow. "Then who are you talking about? Mr. Li?"
She shook her head again. "He's a young teacher."
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. He had visited the Grand Commander's residence many times recently, but he had never seen a young teacher there.
"Are you sure he's from the Grand Commander's residence?"
"Yes," Chen Yunxi nodded seriously. "He even asked me what I want to do when I grow up."
"And what did you say?"
"I said… I want to help Father."
Chen Sanshi chuckled. "And how will you help me?"
"I don't know."
He didn't think too much of it. Having a few capable young men in the Grand Commander's household wasn't unusual.
After patting the little girl's head, he left for the military camp. Now that he finally had some spare time, it was the perfect opportunity to study how Internal Force could refine medicine. If it worked, it might improve his technique proficiency—and if possible, he wanted to help his brothers strengthen their power as well.
Zhao Kang and the others were excellent in every way—except their cultivation realms still lagged behind.
Besides them, Lü Ji and the rest had also returned.
Zhao Wuji was still alive, though barely. His entire unit had been wiped out, and he'd escaped only by stealing a horse and fleeing for his life.
Lü Ji and the others received their share of rewards for their merits.
Rumor had it that war had broken out in the east not long ago—around the same time Mingzhou fell.
The Eastern Qing Kingdom had chosen that exact moment to strike, trying to exploit the Great Sheng Dynasty's internal chaos. But just as they moved, the battle at the Hongze River ended.
The Eastern Qing Kingdom was caught off guard. Their troops were already mobilized, with arrows nocked on the string—they couldn't back down, so they were forced to continue fighting.
They had only just learned of these developments.
Between the borders of Eastern Qing and the Great Sheng Dynasty, there was no Great Wall dividing them. Trade between the two nations was common, and many merchants even kept families on both sides. Outwardly, relations seemed peaceful, but resentment between the two nations ran deep.
The eight prefectures in the westernmost part of Eastern Qing had once all belonged to the Great Sheng Dynasty!
When the Great Sheng Dynasty was founded, the Taizu Emperor Cao Xie had ascended the throne on Mount Ziwei—now in Eastern Qing territory. Later, during Emperor Xuanming's reign, the dynasty was attacked from all sides. Taking advantage of the chaos, Eastern Qing seized a portion of land and offered to send troops to help Great Sheng fight the northern barbarians and the southern Southern Xu Kingdom—on the condition that those eight prefectures would belong permanently to Eastern Qing.
From that point, Eastern Qing established firm control over the region and grew steadily stronger.
At that time, Great Sheng had been at the peak of its power. Losing so much land—including the royal ancestral temple and Mount Ziwei—was a devastating humiliation.
Since then, the dynasty's decline began.
The people of Great Sheng, from nobles to commoners, all felt that shame deeply. The event became known as the Humiliation of Xuanming.
Every emperor afterward had made reclaiming the eight eastern prefectures their highest goal—but none had ever succeeded. Now, the dynasty was riddled with internal wounds. If not for its abundance of strong generals and vast population, it might have already fallen under the pressure of its surrounding enemies.
According to Eunuch Hou, the emperor hadn't summoned Chen Sanshi to the capital yet because he planned to wait until the eastern war ended. Once the campaign was over, all the meritorious officials would be gathered for rewards.
And the news was encouraging—though recovering all eight prefectures was impossible, reclaiming Mount Ziwei might truly be within reach. After the victory, if the emperor held a grand ancestral ceremony there, it would be a moment of immense glory for both the imperial family and the loyal ministers.
After roll call at the military camp, the morning routine resumed as usual—drills, drills, and more drills.
Although Chen Sanshi held the rank of Lieutenant General, his Reserve Camp had only about 1,000 men left after the Mingzhou campaign. The later expansion would have to wait until the reorganization was complete.
This round of expansion would be on a much larger scale.
According to the latest information, four major battalions were to be established.
Each standard battalion had four divisions—front, rear, left, and right—each consisting of 4,000 soldiers. That meant one full battalion contained 16,000 men, and four battalions combined totaled 64,000.
In addition, both the Heavenly Wolf Battalion and the Cloud Central Battalion had suffered severe losses in the Mingzhou war and needed new recruits.
Gathering that many men in a short time was almost impossible.
To form combat-ready forces quickly, the best solution would be to transfer troops from nearby garrisons—but that required careful calculation. If done carelessly, it would just rob Peter to pay Paul.
"Flag Officer Jiang!"
Chen Sanshi entered the apothecary and cupped his hands. "Sorry to trouble you!"
"No trouble," Jiang replied, smiling. "I was just about to brew a new batch of medicine. But…"
He looked Chen Sanshi up and down with some surprise. "You've come to learn how to refine medicine using Internal Force—so you've already reached at least Minor Achievement, maybe even Major Achievement, in Transforming Strength?"
Chen Sanshi didn't deny it.
"This fast…" Jiang muttered in disbelief. "Your cultivation speed… even General Lü couldn't compare. Right now, I think only the Grand Commander in his youth—or… or the Third Young Master back then—could match you."
"I wouldn't dare compare myself to my master or Third Senior Brother," Chen Sanshi said modestly. "I've only managed to catch up thanks to constant use of precious medicines. In truth, I still have a long way to go."
"Lieutenant General Chen is being too humble," Jiang said with a grin. "Alright then, let's begin."
He sat before the furnace and gestured. "I'll demonstrate three times. Please watch carefully!"
As Jiang began, he gathered Internal Force into both palms, channeling it into the specially forged black-iron cauldron before him. Under the dual pressure of fierce flame and Internal Force, the toxins in the medicine ingredients were burned away, while the essence within was carefully extracted.
"Among all the world's alchemists, the skill of refining medicine with Internal Force can be divided into three tiers.
First, those who can't even form External Force are third-rate—they don't count at all.
Second, a second-rate alchemist can eliminate 60% of a medicine's toxins, leaving 40% behind.
Third, a first-rate alchemist can remove all but 20–30% of the toxins.
And finally, the top-tier alchemists leave behind only 10% of the toxins. Most of these masters work within the Imperial Medical Bureau. The precious elixirs you've been taking, Lord Chen, were made by them."
He smiled modestly. "As for me, I've loved medicine since childhood. Later, when I learned that refining medicine required Internal Force, I began training in martial arts as well. After decades of practice, I've managed to become a first-rate alchemist. But I'm still far from a true master."
The Imperial Medical Bureau…
Chen Sanshi suddenly realized something.
If all those imperial physicians were cultivators above the Transforming Strength realm, then in critical times, wouldn't they be an incredibly terrifying fighting force?
'Doctors? More like hidden warriors.'
"Watch closely!"
Bang!
Jiang's movements dazzled the eyes—his hands moved in a rhythm so intricate it looked like a martial technique.
But it wasn't.
He wasn't using a cultivation art, merely manipulating pure Internal Force. The hardest part was controlling its strength, timing, and coordination with the flame's heat. Each type of medicine required a new adjustment, meaning every batch was an entirely different challenge.
It wasn't just a skill—it was an endurance test of precision and patience.
"Flag Officer Jiang," Chen Sanshi said, eyeing the man's hardened physique. "You've cultivated the Vajra Body?"
"Exactly!" Jiang replied without pausing his hands. "The Vajra Force I gained from the Vajra Body isn't ideal for medicine work. Otherwise, I might've become an alchemy grandmaster by now!"
Before long, the third demonstration ended.
A batch of precious medicine for those in the Tempering Organs realm was ready.
Then Jiang moved on, demonstrating each type of medicine three times—for every cultivation stage above and below.
"If Lord Chen is truly interested and has time to practice refining medicine, that would be excellent." Jiang sighed. "After all, refining with Internal Force isn't easy. In the whole apothecary, only a few of us old fellows can manage it. With tens of thousands of soldiers in the camp, how can we possibly handle it all?"
Even with incomplete numbers, the elite battalion still had over tens of thousands of men.
By Chen Sanshi's estimate, only about four or five people in the entire apothecary could refine medicine with Internal Force.
As a result, most of the advanced medicines were reserved for officers above the Tempering Organs stage. The ordinary supplements given to regular soldiers were brewed by civilian physicians like Medical Officer Jiang—serviceable, but far less effective.
Still, compared to what he'd seen in Poyang County, the resources here were already at the level of a "blessed land."
Once Chen Sanshi learned the Internal Force refining process, he decided to practice it himself. He'd brew medicine for his own men—it would improve his Medicine (Mortal) proficiency and strengthen his soldiers. A perfect twofold benefit.
After carefully watching Jiang's demonstrations, Chen Sanshi engraved every step and dosage into his memory, aided by the Heart of the Qilin and his Perfect Memory trait.
Then he requested a small room within the apothecary, turning it into his personal refining chamber.
Once he started practicing, he realized it wasn't as difficult as he had imagined.
Moreover, his True Dragon Force seemed to enhance the refining process dramatically.
It seemed that the purer one's Internal Force, the better the medicine refinement.
But how many cultivators with a Martial Saint body would ever be willing to become alchemists? That rarity alone explained why true alchemy masters were so few.
Over the next several days, Chen Sanshi trained repeatedly, mastering the preparation of multiple tonics before calling Jiang over to inspect his results.
"This fast?!"
Jiang raised the porcelain bowl, took a small sip, and froze. Shock filled his face as he widened his eyes. "Lord Chen, it's only been a few days, and you've already reached the level of a second-rate alchemist?"
"Are you serious?"
The other alchemists gathered around, each taking a taste. Their reactions were nearly identical—pure astonishment.
"I told you, the Martial Saint Body is born for alchemy!"
"I can't even be jealous properly anymore!"
"Alright, alright, break it up!"
Jiang laughed. "Keep training. If you reach the Profound Manifestation realm one day, you'll be able to refine medicine with Gang Qi itself. Then, you might even become a true alchemy grandmaster."
"Lord Chen, this is…"
Zhao Kang and the others arrived, staring curiously at the cauldrons before them.
"From now on," Chen Sanshi said, handing them each a bowl of medicine, "I'll make time to brew medicine for you all regularly."
He smiled faintly. "And if we can hunt down more exotic beasts in the mountains later, I'll share the materials with you. Train well. This year, I expect several of you to reach the Tempering Organs stage—and maybe one or two to break into Transforming Strength."
"Thank you, my lord!"
Zhao Kang cupped his fists deeply. "We will never disappoint you!"
Feng Yong drained his bowl in one gulp. "My lord, this tastes just like what the apothecary masters make! Normally, we have to line up for hours to get something like this, and you're making it yourself!"
Chen Sanshi smiled, though in his heart he knew the truth—at best, one of them might reach Transforming Strength.
Even with talents like Bai Tingzhi and Lu Shuhua available, once the expansion was done and new ranks were assigned, they would inevitably be distributed elsewhere.
How could he possibly keep several Martial Saint physiques under his direct command?
In the end, it would all come down to his old comrades.
If their bodies weren't strong enough, then he'd make up for it with medicine!
[Skill: Medicine (Mortal) – Mastery]
[Progress: 895/1000]
Most of his recent progress came from refining medicine with Internal Force. He wondered what changes would occur once he reached Minor Achievement.
After finishing the batch, Chen Sanshi took his bow and quiver to the archery range.
[Skill: Archery (Major Achievement)]
[Progress: (1550/2000)]
He was getting close to another breakthrough.
It was also worth mentioning that Sun Buqi had been practicing archery with Chen Sanshi lately. His progress was finally visible—he could now handle a fifteen-stone bow, and within a range of seventy to eighty steps, he could consistently hit the target.
After the morning drills ended, Chen Sanshi led a patrol unit into the city that afternoon.
Passing by the nearby training field, he spotted Cao Fan practicing martial arts. Judging from the energy fluctuations around him, it seemed he had achieved Mastery in his Transforming Strength technique.
Seeing him made Chen Sanshi recall the events of that night a few days ago.
The Fragrant Fire God Sect… would they really let it go that easily?
Rumor had it that the "Martial Uncle" from Ciyun Temple had already arrived in Liangzhou. During the afternoon inspection, he might just get a chance to meet them and find out what kind of person they were.
"Huff… huff…"
Cao Fan set down his Azure Dragon Crescent Blade. His face was flushed red, yet beneath that redness lingered an unhealthy pallor.
"Congratulations, Young Lord, on your breakthrough!"
Lieutenant General Sha Wenlong, who had been sparring with him, put down his weapon and bowed. "If I remember correctly, Lu Shuhua and the others are only at the Transforming Strength – Beginner level. As for Xie Sishu and Yan Changqing, they're still at Tempering Organs – Perfection. Your Highness now surpasses them by two entire realms."
"And Chen Sanshi?"
Cao Fan coughed lightly, his tone sharp. "He's reached Transforming Strength too, hasn't he? Otherwise, how could he have fought all the way to Meishan Prefecture?"
"This…"
Sha Wenlong hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "He has indeed reached Transforming Strength."
"Beginner? No…" Cao Fan frowned, his expression twisting slightly. "It should be Mastery, right?"
His heart was in turmoil.
Ever since the Selection Trials, he had been pushing himself relentlessly, even burning his own lifespan by practicing overly harsh techniques just to stay ahead in cultivation. Yet now—
The fame was Chen Sanshi's.
And his realm? That man might have already caught up… or even surpassed him.
"Your Highness…"
Sha Wenlong didn't answer.
Cao Fan's face stiffened, and his voice trembled. "What do you mean? Don't tell me… it's beyond that?"
"Your Highness, please don't take it to heart." Sha Wenlong tried to divert the topic. "If you wish, we can always return to the capital. There are battles in the south and in the east against Eastern Qing Kingdom—there are plenty of opportunities to earn merit. No need to remain in the northern frontier."
"Eunuch Feng!"
Cao Fan turned sharply toward his close attendant. "Tell me the truth! Don't tell me—he's reached Minor Achievement?!"
"Your Highness…" Eunuch Feng smiled bitterly, bowing deeply. "A few hours ago, I heard from the apothecary staff that he might have already reached Major Achievement in Transforming Strength… perhaps even perfected it."
"Pfft—!"
Cao Fan suddenly felt his chest tighten as though something had exploded inside him. His vision went dark, his head spun, and he collapsed backward, spewing a mouthful of fresh blood into the air.
"Your Highness!"
Sha Wenlong rushed to catch him.
"Oh heavens, Young Lord!"
Eunuch Feng was so panicked his voice cracked into a sob. He dabbed at the blood on Cao Fan's lips with a handkerchief while frantically searching his robes for healing pills.
Cao Fan's cultivation path had already damaged his body. Now, combined with the shock and rage, the strain was too great—he simply couldn't withstand it.
"Wh… why…"
After a long moment, he finally opened his eyes again, trembling as he spoke. "He's only been training for two years! Why is Heaven so unfair? I barely sleep two hours a day—relying on medicine just to stay alert! Isn't that enough? Am I still not trying hard enough…?"
"Your Highness," Sha Wenlong said helplessly, "that man is a true prodigy. In every aspect, his talent is no less than that of Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong in his youth. There's no need to compare yourself to him."
"Yes, Your Highness," Eunuch Feng added quickly. "You're a prince of the royal family. Why bother competing with a commoner for fleeting glory? Even if he's strong, so what? Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong may be the number-one warrior under Heaven—but he's still a vassal of the Cao family!"
"Agh…"
Cao Fan gasped for breath.
That wasn't the problem.
The real issue was—he wasn't the only heir.
He was merely the eldest in line, the one with the highest nominal claim.
Without exceptional achievements or unmatched talent, he could be replaced by any of his brothers at any time.
And this truth…
Didn't just apply to him.
Even his father faced the same fate.
The Crown Prince had served as acting regent for forty years. But had he ever known peace? Every day, he exhausted his mind and body managing the empire.
Every uncle in the imperial clan—each one had eyes set greedily on the throne.
Cao Fan had seen his father working through countless nights, reviewing memorials until the third watch. Day after day, his health worsened, yet the burden only grew heavier.
Especially after the "Ten Days of Yunzhou" incident.
There had been a major shift within the imperial court.
The old emperor, who had immersed himself in Daoist cultivation for over twenty years, suddenly began reducing his time in seclusion and increasing his direct control over government affairs—displaying an alarming vigor as if ready to reclaim the empire's reins entirely.
But the problem was—
After forty years of regency, his father's influence extended through every corner of the court.
Cao Fan, well-read in history, knew exactly what that meant.
A political storm was coming.
There would be blood.
Even more terrifying, rumor said that the old emperor's health was improving daily.
By age, the emperor was now ninety-eight, nearly a century old.
Meanwhile, his father—after decades of tireless work—was already a man whose body was failing.
To put it bluntly—
Who would outlive whom was no longer certain.
Cao Fan had thought that by earning military merit in the northern frontier, he could build his own foundation and lighten his father's burdens.
But then…
Then came Chen Sanshi.
For decades!
When had such a monster ever appeared in the world?
Unfair… truly unfair!
"Eunuch Feng… let's go. We're returning to the capital."
At last, Cao Fan's hoarse voice broke the silence. "Let him stay here. He can fight with the Martial Saints, or compete with Lü Ji if he wants. As for me… I'm done competing."
"Yes, yes."
Eunuch Feng wiped at his eyes. "We shouldn't stay in this wretched place any longer. There's nothing good here anyway."
"Mm."
Cao Fan's gaze turned hollow. "We'll go back to the capital first. I want to see Father, see if he needs me in the Eastern Qing campaign, or if I should remain in court to assist him."
"When we return, I'll write your resignation letter at once," Eunuch Feng said, voice choked. "Let's rest here in Liangzhou for now and focus on recovering your health. No more training with the Fierce Blade. From now on, we'll just practice the regular blade forms. You can't afford to collapse again. We'll go home."
——
Ciyun Temple.
"Routine inspection!"
Chen Sanshi and Thousand-Household Officer Li led a team of about twenty to thirty men up the misty slopes of Mount Lingwu.
At the temple gate, an elderly Daoist—well into his sixties—stepped forward to greet them. "This humble Daoist is Xiaoyunzi, the new abbot of Ciyun Temple. I wonder, my lords, what exactly you wish to inspect?"
"What do you think!"
Thousand-Household Li snapped coldly. "Move aside!"
"You people go too far!"
Standing beside the abbot was a middle-aged Daoist, visibly angry. "Was it not enough that you forced my two junior brothers to their deaths? What more do you want!"
He wasn't the only one.
The other Daoists watching from afar all cast resentful glares.
Such was the state of Liangzhou now—many sects had grown openly hostile toward the army.
Some accused the garrison of negligence, saying that after all this time they still hadn't found the real culprits. Others went further, claiming that the Liangzhou military had orchestrated the killings themselves, and that the so-called Witch God Sect never existed at all.
"Enough talk!"
Li's tone was sharp as a blade. "We're here to find out exactly why Qiu Mingzi and the other one took their own lives! Step aside!"
"You—"
The younger Daoist wanted to retort, but Xiaoyunzi raised a hand to stop him. "Junior brother, let the officers proceed with their inspection."
"Search the place!"
Li waved his hand.
Chen Sanshi and the others immediately fanned out into the temple grounds.
After circling the compound twice, Chen Sanshi arrived at the main hall. The incense burner there had been replaced—it was no longer the ornate relic capable of siphoning incense power, but a plain, ordinary vessel.
The new abbot Xiaoyunzi and that middle-aged Daoist were, without doubt, members of the Fragrant Fire God Sect.
He could see it clearly: within their dantians burned faint traces of purple incense qi.
Fragrant Fire Divine Path.
The Qi Observation Technique worked almost like x-ray vision; under its gaze, no secret could remain hidden.
He'd even discussed it with Ningxiang before. She told him that practitioners of divine or immortal arts couldn't easily perceive others' cultivation unless they had trained a specialized detection method or reached an extremely high realm. Otherwise, such things could only be discerned through direct contact or combat.
To activate any divine or mystical art required stirring one's inner energy.
That was something Chen Sanshi had learned through observing both the Sword Qi Technique and Ningxiang's charm arts—every time a spell was invoked, the qi circulation followed a visible rhythm.
For Xiaoyunzi and his companion, the purple incense qi inside their bodies was perfectly still—no sign of activation. That meant they hadn't cultivated any detection methods.
What caught Chen Sanshi's attention, though, were two young Daoist novices, no older than fifteen or sixteen.
Yet the qi hidden within their bodies told a different story—they were at least at Mastery in the Meridian-Connecting realm.
And he'd seen them before.
With his Perfect Memory, Chen Sanshi remembered every face in Ciyun Temple. The last time he'd been here, those two novices had only just begun Tempering Blood. How could they have reached Meridian-Connecting in less than a year?
It seemed… they weren't the same people.
As for why their appearances were identical—most likely, some kind of disguise technique was at play.
Such a small temple, yet filled with so many hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
What's more, while Xiaoyunzi and the others paid him no special attention, those two "novices" had been secretly observing him the entire time. He didn't know who they were, but it was clear—they were connected to the two Daoists who had died in prison.
Qiu Mingzi had targeted him before.
It was possible those two had inherited the message he left behind.
Witch God Sect?
Chen Sanshi still hadn't figured it out. What exactly had they added to the "Spirit-Nourishing Soup"? Could it be that the incense energy and the nourishing tonic were two separate operations—run by different groups?
Or maybe Qiu Mingzi and his associates had been double agents—outwardly devotees of the Fragrant Fire God Sect, but secretly in league with another faction?
Either way, this trip had been worthwhile.
At least now he knew someone was keeping an eye on him—and that meant he could prepare in advance. He would no longer be left blind, waiting for danger to strike first. Now, he was the one on the offensive.
Still, it was clear he needed to grow stronger—Transforming Strength alone wasn't enough.
He also needed better bow materials. If he could hunt a ferocious beast and find Ghost Vein Wood, he could forge a hundred-stone bow capable of channeling Internal Force—empowered by True Dragon Force itself.
"Lord, nothing unusual found!"
"Same here—nothing."
Before long, the search was completed.
"True Person Xiaoyunzi," Li said, expression flat. "If you discover anything suspicious, you are to report it to us immediately."
"Of course, of course," Xiaoyunzi said, cupping his hands in the Daoist salute. "I will personally see to it. Farewell, my lords!"
"Helmsman."
The middle-aged Daoist lowered his voice. "I've investigated the matter. It wasn't that young lord who acted against us. He knows nothing about our Divine Sect."
"As I expected."
Xiaoyunzi's eyes darkened. "Someone deliberately stirred up trouble at this critical moment. And we can't even trace the culprit. Annoying! Moreover, for someone to absorb such a vast amount of incense power in so short a time… this person's background must be extraordinary."
"Then, Helmsman, should we continue investigating?"
"No need. Losing one incense burner's worth of incense isn't a big deal."
"What about the Witch God Sect? I heard Qiu Mingzi and the others were preparing some kind of preaching assembly before. Who knows what they were planning."
"We'll leave that too. Let's discuss it later. Our priority now is to handle matters in the capital. In a few days, you and I will be leaving."
"Yes, Helmsman. Understood."
——
They're following me?
Chen Sanshi sensed movement from behind.
It was those same two young Daoists from Ciyun Temple.
They followed for a while but turned back as he neared his residence—clearly afraid to act within city limits.
"Going up the mountain for several days really makes me uneasy leaving the family alone."
He exhaled softly. "Fortunately, Ninth Senior Sister wrote that the Yan Prefecture military matters are settled and she'll be returning to Liangzhou soon. Perfect timing—I'll have her guard the household for a while."
"Master!"
"Father!"
"Godfather!"
As soon as Chen Sanshi stepped through the gate, the courtyard filled with cheerful voices.
Siqin and Mohua were there, as usual, alongside the Sun siblings and Chen Yunxi. Finally, Madam Tong appeared, cradling a baby in her arms.
"Yuhuan's here! Come, let godfather hold you."
He picked up the one-year-old girl, who babbled her first word—"godfather." No one quite knew how Madam Tong had taught her that, but it made everyone laugh.
That evening, the household gathered around a long table filled with dishes, chatting and eating in warm spirits.
Afterward, the women all stayed in the side chambers of the front courtyard for the night. It saved Chen Sanshi the trouble of coaxing the baby to sleep, freeing him to focus entirely on cultivation in the rear courtyard.
——
Meridian-Connecting Realm!
As the name implied, it was the stage of opening the body's inner nodes, allowing Internal Force to flow freely through the meridians like blood through veins. Energy was stored directly in the meridians rather than relying on blood essence to trigger it, as in the Transforming Strength realm. It also laid the foundation for the Manifestation Realm, for only meridians tempered and purified through Internal Force could generate Gang Qi, leading to that next step.
The stance training for the Meridian-Connecting Realm was extremely complex. His breathing technique, too, had changed—from the Haoran Breathing Method to the Wendao Breathing Method.
But to Chen Sanshi, none of this posed a challenge.
In just two days, he had completely mastered the theory behind the new technique.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression – Meridian-Connecting (Uninitiated)]
[Progress: 5/100]
According to his master's handwritten notes, he wasn't to focus solely on spear arts. Every technique his master had given him—those piles of manuals—had to be cultivated to the Meridian-Connecting stage. Doing so would bring countless long-term benefits.
Blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks—every weapon type was represented.
He spent five days pushing his frequently used Mountain-Suppressing Sword Technique to Transforming Strength – Perfection, while the others would have to wait for spare time.
After finishing martial training, he turned to cultivating his mystical arts.
Sitting cross-legged, he held the Mystic Pearl, absorbing the incense qi within. The energy coursed through his meridians and circled his body before gathering at his fingertips. He was only one step away from breaking into mastery.
Unlike martial cultivation—which was marked by pain and endurance—training mystical arts brought an indescribable sensation. It didn't hurt, but his right hand, which formed the seals, trembled uncontrollably. Above his fingertips, a miniature sword of energy repeatedly formed, shattered, and reformed. The incense energy inside the pearl burned away rapidly until, finally, he grasped the underlying principle completely.
"Buzz…"
A purple miniature sword appeared, floating in midair.
Compared to when he first began training, the sword had grown from the size of a sewing needle to that of a small pendant—solid and clear, no longer a faint illusion.
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Mastery)]
[Progress: 0/1000]
[Effect: Cuts through Force and Gang Qi]
"Cuts through Force and Gang Qi?"
Chen Sanshi frowned, deep in thought.
He had never fought against a cultivator of the Manifestation Realm, so he didn't know exactly how powerful Gang Qi was—or to what extent the Sword Qi Technique could clash against it. From the feel of it, perhaps it could contend with an entry-level Manifestation Realm?
Uncertain.
And testing it wasn't an option.
Once Ninth Senior Sister returned, he could spar with her under the guise of training and finally gauge the strength of Gang Qi for himself.
If he remembered correctly, Sha Wenlong had been transferred from another province. His realm wasn't particularly high—likely Manifestation Realm – Beginner.
Thinking this, Chen Sanshi dispersed the sword energy from his fingertips.
Since he hadn't entered the Dao, he couldn't store incense qi within his dantian. Each time he gathered enough, it could only be used once before needing to accumulate again.
There was no helping it.
Even if he had access to divine incense cultivation techniques, he wouldn't dare to practice them. Who knew what kind of price such power demanded—especially when the incense qi he used wasn't even his own but stolen. That alone was reason enough to avoid it. Better to advance honestly, and when he reached the right level, follow his master to learn proper Daoist cultivation.
For now, the incense qi and Sword Qi Technique would serve as his hidden trump cards.