Wang Ping walked out of the inner yamen, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
His pace quickened. Bypassing the drill ground, he hurried along, keeping his facial muscles tight, terrified that a momentary lapse would cause him to burst into laughter.
Chen Haoyan was indeed shrewd.
This included the reward, the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】. Due to the massive volume of the manual, Wang Ping couldn’t possibly take it all. He could only learn it by “borrowing and reading.”
This greatly minimized the risk of the martial art leaking.
Furthermore, Chen Haoyan likely deduced that Wang Ping couldn’t possibly finish reading the entire manual in three days, which explained his apparent generosity in offering it so readily.
In all fairness, his judgment was correct.
Assuming it applied only to ordinary mortals.
As for me, too much content? With a sweep of my spiritual sense, I can read any amount. In fact, I’ve already memorized the entire martial art!
Not to mention he had the 【Otherworldly Heavenly Demon】 as his trump card. He didn’t care about the slim chance of survival. He appeared to be the coerced party in this transaction, but in reality, he made a massive profit. Having sacrificed virtually nothing, he obtained a middle-tier martial art, and that wasn’t even the end of it.
While pondering, Wang Ping arrived in front of a storehouse.
This was the 【Armory】.
Wang Ping stepped forward and presented an requisition order stamped with the Head Constable’s seal. He said, “I am Wang Ping, ordered to retrieve the Black Hornless-Dragon Bow from the armory.”
“What?”
The official guarding the 【Armory】 paused. He took the order, verified it meticulously, and then frowned as he opened the armory doors.
“Strange. Where would they need a restricted item like the Black Hornless-Dragon Bow?”
Despite his muttering, an official order was an order. With the instructions clearly written in black and white, the official couldn’t disobey. He quickly retrieved a massive bow, entirely forged from black gold, from the storehouse.
The bow’s body curved sinuously, resembling two coiled hornless dragons, with their respective heads biting onto the ends of the bowstring. The string itself was pitch-black and as thick as a thumb. Rather than a string, it looked more like a giant python. Notched onto it were three arrows the size of short spears, radiating a chilling aura.
What a treasure bow!
Wang Ping’s eyes narrowed. This was Chen Haoyan’s offer after he said, “I need more money”—a weapon perfectly suited for the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】.
With this bow, crossing the threshold in three days is possible!
Thinking of this, the contents of the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】 quickly flashed through Wang Ping’s mind. This martial art specialized in bones and blood, but also required the cooperation of sinews.
The six passes of external martial arts: skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow.
Bones represented 【pressure resistance】, blood represented 【burst power】, and sinews represented 【physical strength】. Only by combining all three could one shoot the strongest arrow.
That’s why they say true dragon sinews are best suited for this martial art.
After all, this martial art doesn’t train the sinews itself. The innate divine strength of true dragon sinews perfectly compensates for its flaw, allowing it to unleash its true might.
Furthermore, as a middle-tier martial art, the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】 differed from the lower-tier martial arts Wang Ping had practiced previously. Crossing the threshold yielded 【Blood like Fire】, minor achievement yielded 【Bones like a Tiger】, major achievement condensed the 【Freezing Frost Arrow】 signature technique, and perfection condensed the 【Heavenly Dipper Formation Breaker】 signature technique. Every step forward brought a massive harvest.
Thinking of this, Wang Ping felt a sense of anticipation.
If I can train this martial art to perfection, I’ll be halfway through the six passes of external martial arts.
…………
The next morning.
This was the first day of the three-day deadline. Wang Ping didn’t dare slack off. He changed his clothes early before dawn, grabbed the Black Hornless-Dragon Bow, and strode onto the drill ground.
His goal was singular: practice archery!
Here, his spiritual sense once again demonstrated the value of the immortal path. With its assistance, Wang Ping wasn’t so much shooting arrows as he was guiding them with his mind.
With every arrow fired, his spiritual sense pre-calculated the trajectory and target. All he had to do was release the string, resulting in unfailing accuracy with every shot.
Thwack!
Another arrow hit the bullseye. However, Wang Ping frowned. A wave of soreness washed over his hands from holding the bow and drawing the string, and the circulation of his qi and blood felt sluggish.
“My body can’t keep up.”
The consumption of a middle-tier martial art was clearly on a completely different level than a lower-tier one. Having practiced for less than an hour, his stomach was already completely empty.
Grumble!
His stomach let out a muffled growl. Setting down the Black Hornless-Dragon Bow, Wang Ping found his footsteps slightly unsteady. He swayed for a moment before managing to stand firm.
But he had clearly eaten breakfast. The only explanation was that the free nutritional supplements provided by Yuelai Restaurant could no longer keep up with his current qi and blood consumption.
He either needed to spend heavily on higher-grade ingredients or balance work and rest, practicing only a little each day and progressing gradually.
Progressing gradually is impossible.
I only have three days left. In three days, I have to help Chen Haoyan escort that 【Lotus Blade】, and nine times out of ten, I’ll die a violent death.
Since he was going to die anyway, now was the time to practice like his life depended on it!
Thinking of this, Wang Ping decided to visit Yuelai Restaurant later to see if he could purchase some higher-grade ingredients to replenish his qi and blood deficit.
But then again, given his current state, how much would those supplements cost? He had just received a golden ingot, equivalent to a hundred taels of silver.
That should be enough, right?
Just as Wang Ping was calculating, another person walked onto the drill ground holding a tobacco pipe. Seeing Wang Ping, he immediately let out a hearty laugh:
“I knew you’d be here, Brother Wang.”
The newcomer was Liu Ye.
Before Wang Ping could speak, Liu Ye beat him to it. “Congratulations, Brother Wang. Your prestige is soaring right now, and your title has spread throughout the entire county.”
“Oh?”
Wang Ping was briefly stunned, then nodded calmly. Slaying Xie Shi with a single slash in the rainy night—how dashing was that? It was perfectly normal to earn a title.
“What is the title?” Wang Ping asked curiously.
The next second, Liu Ye flashed a bizarre smile and enunciated clearly, “This title is incredible. You are called the Great Dragon Spear!”
Great Dragon Spear?
Wang Ping blinked, somewhat puzzled. “Why? I slew a White Lotus rebel with a saber. Shouldn’t my title be the Night-Slaying Saber or the Dragon-Cleansing Saber?”
“Rebels are nothing. There are plenty of them these days!”
Liu Ye shook his head. “Last night, Brother Wang fought a hundred against one at the Danfeng Brothel, defeating a horde of women with your spear. That is the true legend. Hence the name Great Dragon Spear. Many widows in the city are secretly inquiring about you, hoping to witness the legendary Great Dragon Spear with their own eyes and seek your guidance!”
Wang Ping: “……..”
So that’s what ‘Great Dragon Spear’ meant? Fuck me, I thought you guys finally appreciated my talent, but you’re just coveting my body.
Pah, how vulgar!
Thinking of this, Wang Ping immediately shook his head. “Brother Liu, you misunderstand me deeply. This is not what I want. I actually have no interest in women.”
This brat is shameless.
I haven’t even settled the score with you for the Danfeng Brothel’s losses.
Liu Ye grumbled internally while giving a thumbs up in praise. “Brother Wang is wholly devoted to martial arts, his ambitions as high as the heavens. This old brother is truly ashamed.”
“It’s nothing… Oh, right.”
At this point, Wang Ping suddenly looked around. Confirming no one was nearby, he grabbed Liu Ye and shoved a manual into his chest.
Liu Ye froze. “This is…?”
The next second, his expression changed drastically as he clearly saw the name on the manual. “【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】! You accepted that task?”
Wang Ping nodded and continued, “Don’t worry, the Lord promised me a slot to pass this down. I have no elders above me and no children below me. Brother Liu, you treated me the best before. I caused you a lot of trouble last night by turning the Danfeng Brothel upside down, so I’m passing this martial art onto you as promised.”
“However, this manual is only the table of contents. You’ll have to go to the Lord to borrow and read the complete version.”
Liu Ye didn’t respond.
Looking at Wang Ping’s sincere face, the old constable couldn’t even react initially. He stood rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.
After a while, he finally said, his voice slightly tight:
“Kid, are you serious?”
When he practically gave away the 【Iron Bull Technique】, he truly didn’t expect any return, let alone after Wang Ping gained power.
Yet, he never anticipated that Wang Ping would actually honor his promise. A middle-tier martial art—handed over just like that. And looking at his demeanor, it was almost like he was entrusting a final request. Recalling that he was just tallying the Danfeng Brothel’s losses moments ago, Liu Ye wanted to slap himself.
Someone treated him with absolute sincerity, yet his mind was full of business transactions.
I’m old. I truly am old.
Looking closely at the young man before him, he realized Wang Ping was about the same age as his own son. And looking at his stance, he seemed a bit weak, his qi and blood clearly depleted…
“…Hmm?”
At this thought, Liu Ye suddenly frowned. “Brother Wang, have you already tried practicing this martial art? You must have overtrained, and your qi and blood can’t keep up.”
“Ah, it’s fine.”
Wang Ping laughed heartily and took out the golden ingot. “I just received my bounty. I’ll go to Yuelai Restaurant later, buy some high-grade ingredients, and nourish myself. It’ll be fine.”
“Yuelai Restaurant? What high-grade ingredients could they possibly have!”
Liu Ye shook his head. “Brother Wang, if you trust me, leave this matter to me. I guarantee I’ll provide enough to support the qi and blood consumption of a middle-tier martial art.”
“Is that appropriate?” Wang Ping politely declined.
Seeing this, Liu Ye waved his hand grandly. “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. I’ve been hustling in the county town for decades. My network is vast. It’s a piece of cake!”
“Then… I’ll have to trouble you, Brother.”
Wang Ping felt delighted. With adequate nutritional supplements, spiritual sense assistance, and bitter cultivation through the night, crossing the threshold of the 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】 within three days was a certainty!
…………
Outside Longxing County, in a remote village.
“Xie Shi is dead…”
An old farmer carrying a bamboo basket, looking weather-beaten, had just returned from the grass market outside the city. After exchanging a few pleasantries with his neighbors, he returned to his farmhouse.
However, after closing the doors and windows, the old farmer’s hunched back instantly straightened, and his clouded eyes regained clarity. Then, his face and body abruptly contorted. Finally, with a shake of his body, he transformed back into the appearance of the ethereal old Daoist. With a smile on his lips, he gazed toward the county town from afar.
This person was Shou Chong.
Unexpectedly, however, Shou Chong didn’t feel any sorrow over the death of his good disciple, Xie Shi. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction.
“He died well!”
In his view, Xie Shi had successfully scouted the most crucial intelligence: 【Chen Haoyan is truly guarding the county yamen day and night for the Lotus Blade.】
“He fell for it! He really fell for it!”
“If my expectations are correct, he must be trying to lure the snake out of its hole, hoping to force me to step into his trap to retrieve the 【Lotus Blade】.”
Realizing this, Shou Chong sneered.
Was the 【Lotus Blade】 important?
Of course it was. But a cunning rabbit has three burrows. When he first sent it out, he was prepared to abandon it if things proved impossible. How could he not leave a contingency plan?
Furthermore, the Destiny of the White Lotus Cult attached to it had dissipated. In reality, the throwing knife’s value to him had plummeted significantly. Admittedly, abandoning the throwing knife would severely damage his vitality, causing his martial arts to regress instead of advancing.
The price was undoubtedly high, but he could barely endure it. He just needed to earn back more.
So, how could he earn back more?
“He wants to lure the snake out of its hole; I’ll lure the tiger away from its mountain.”
“The 【Wandering Spirit Temple】…”
With this thought, Shou Chong made his decision. He walked into the inner room, where a shrine came into view, its contents heavily obscured by a hanging curtain.
Shou Chong reached into his robes and brought out three long incense sticks.
He pinched the three sticks, lit them with a flint, and approached the shrine, kowtowing with every step in a rather bizarre ritual.
As the three incense sticks settled into the burner before the shrine, their flames flared at once. Thick blue smoke billowed upward, only to be swept by an unseen wind deep into the shrine.
Shou Chong’s voice then turned distant and ethereal, rising and falling like an incantation:
“With utmost reverence, I invite the Bodhisattva of Compassion for All Life to deliver the people of this world.”
Rustle… Rustle…
In the tightly sealed room, the sound of howling wind suddenly erupted. The three long incense sticks, which should have burned for a long time, were consumed in a matter of breaths.
Simultaneously, the fierce wind blew open the hanging curtain in front of the shrine, revealing the idol within.
It was a compassionate, holy, and stunningly beautiful woman. Dressed in white robes reminiscent of jade, her hands formed the ‘Planting the Lotus in the Fire’ seal as she sat upright on a lotus pedestal.
Above it was the woman’s dharma name:
【Compassion for All Life Bodhisattva】
This was the origin of the White Lotus Cult.
A fervent expression gradually surfaced on Shou Chong’s face. All his martial arts were bestowed by this Bodhisattva. This was his exclusive, heaven-defying fortune.
He recalled that years ago, he was nothing more than one of the millions of commoners under the Great Shun Imperial Court’s rule, leaving early and returning late every day, tilling the fields and planting grain, yet never able to fill his stomach.
It wasn’t until one day, when he unearthed this Bodhisattva idol from his field, that he truly experienced a complete rebirth.
What a wondrous thing this was!
Therefore, naturally—he wanted to share this wonder with everyone. This was his goodwill, and also the vision of 【Compassion for All Life Bodhisattva】.
He believed that as long as more and more people joined the White Lotus Cult and shared the compassion of 【Compassion for All Life Bodhisattva】 with him, the world would definitely become a better place.
“Look with compassion upon the people of this world, for they are beset by endless suffering….”
Following Shou Chong’s sincere kowtows, the Bodhisattva’s appearance gradually contorted amidst the swirling blue smoke, seemingly revealing a satisfied smile.
(End of Chapter)