Chapter Sixteen: The Summons
Zhou Jiazhen glanced at the copper token in his hand, squinting as he spoke, “Alright, but you must return before the shift ends at sunset! Otherwise, it’ll be difficult for me to explain your absence!”
“Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no problem,” Qin Yi nodded.
Soon, Qin Yi took a shortcut, heading toward the county town. With the chaos becoming more apparent, he intended to seize the opportunity while he still had money and time, and recharge the system once more.
...
Outside Jinyuan County.
Qin Yi looked at the long line waiting to enter the capital, somewhat helpless. “I’ll probably be standing here for at least half an hour!”
The city gates were already under strict guard.
At last, after half an hour, Qin Yi entered the city. Dressed in Daoist robes and carrying his certificate, he was spared excessive questioning at the gate.
Once inside, he went straight to the century-old pharmacy he’d visited before.
On his way, he noticed many constables patrolling the streets, along with city guards. Some shops had already closed their doors. Although Jinyuan County had no stationed troops, there were still a hundred or so city guards.
Inside the pharmacy.
“Shopkeeper, give me twenty taels worth of Eight-Treasure Qi-Replenishing Soup!” Qin Yi realized this was more cost-effective than the Blood-Strengthening Soup or the Yang-Boosting Soup.
The shopkeeper recognized Qin Yi—he had bought plenty of blood and qi tonics last time.
“Cough... Young master, as the saying goes, ‘three parts poison in every medicine.’ Even supplements for blood and qi must be taken in moderation,” the shopkeeper kindly reminded.
“I know. Please hurry and prepare the medicine for me, I’m pressed for time,” Qin Yi said.
“Very well!”
Half an hour later.
Qin Yi left the pharmacy. Without lingering in the city, he headed straight out toward Qingwei Daoist Palace.
On the road, he recharged the entire batch of Eight-Treasure Qi-Replenishing Soup into the system.
By afternoon, Qin Yi returned to Qingwei Daoist Palace.
Evening.
Inside his room.
“Panel!”
Qin Yi:
Five Qi Returning Fist: Perfected (Fivefold Force)
Celestial Pivot Palm: Proficient+
Yaoguang Footwork: Intermediate+
Energy Points: 26
Seeing the 26 energy points, Qin Yi felt an exhilarating sense of sudden wealth!
“Let’s raise Yaoguang Footwork to perfection first!”
“Upgrade!”
Instantly, four energy points vanished.
A pair of scorching streams surged through his legs, making his whole body feel warm.
“Hiss...”
At that moment, Qin Yi felt as if his legs were undergoing reverse growth; muscles and bones were transforming.
Ten minutes later.
“Upgrade again!”
The next second, Qin Yi felt his legs as if they were plunged into a furnace, on the verge of melting. In his mind, that shadow was furiously practicing Yaoguang Footwork. Suddenly, the footwork broke through its limits upon reaching the pinnacle.
Twenty minutes passed.
He looked at his legs, now noticeably thicker than before!
“I think I’ve grown a few centimeters taller!” Qin Yi compared silently.
He sensed his legs had become incredibly tough and strong, and their flexibility had also vastly improved.
Qin Yi:
Five Qi Returning Fist: Perfected (Fivefold Force)
Celestial Pivot Palm: Proficient+
Yaoguang Footwork: Perfected (Leap)
Energy Points: 14
“I’ve gained another secret technique!” Qin Yi was delighted.
Moreover, Yaoguang Footwork didn’t just enhance his legs; his whole body’s strength had increased somewhat, though most of the improvement was in his legs.
“Leaving aside the speed boost, my strength is now ten percent greater than before!”
Swish!
Qin Yi’s figure vanished from where he stood, suddenly appearing behind a table to the left.
“No wonder the secret technique Leap is so formidable—it’s as if I can defy gravity and balance, moving up, down, left, and right with ease. It’s almost illogical!”
With Yaoguang Footwork perfected, his agility had doubled compared to before, and that was without even activating the secret technique.
However, the secret technique [Leap] could only be used ten times a day; any more would risk injuring his legs from the intense burst of power.
Looking at the remaining 14 energy points, Qin Yi decided to perfect Celestial Pivot Palm as well.
“Upgrade to perfection!”
Boom...
An immense surge of energy rampaged through Qin Yi’s body; in an instant, he felt his hand muscles grow and condense, his body further strengthened...
Twenty minutes later.
Looking at his larger hands, Qin Yi felt better than ever!
“My strength has increased by thirty percent!” He tested his hands’ power, and indeed Senior Brother Zhao hadn’t lied.
The previous master had cultivated all four martial arts to a profound level, truly possessing the ability to challenge the seventh stage!
Though Yaoguang Footwork mainly strengthened his legs, his body had also been fortified. Similarly, Celestial Pivot Palm focused on the hands, but his overall constitution had improved.
After these two breakthroughs, with enhanced blood and muscles, he sensed that the Fivefold Force, which previously allowed him to throw three punches before exhausting his stamina, could now be sustained for at least eight punches! Moreover, the Leap secret technique of Yaoguang Footwork had increased from ten uses to over fifteen!
“Panel!”
Qin Yi:
Five Qi Returning Fist: Perfected (Fivefold Force)
Celestial Pivot Palm: Perfected
Yaoguang Footwork: Perfected (Leap)
Energy Points: 0
“Hm? Celestial Pivot Palm doesn’t have a secret technique?” Qin Yi frowned.
He had thought that reaching the peak of each martial art would unlock a secret technique, but surprisingly, Celestial Pivot Palm offered none, while Yaoguang Footwork had one.
“It seems I’ll have to find an opportunity to inquire about this.”
Early the next morning.
Qin Yi was once again assigned to duty at the foot of the mountain.
Around ten o’clock.
Suddenly, dust billowed in the distance, growing closer.
Soon, Qin Yi and the others heard the thunderous sound of galloping horses!
“Could it be rebel troops?” Captain Zhou Jiazhen’s face changed dramatically, and everyone tensed.
“Qin, send the signal!”
“Yes!” Qin Yi took out a firework and lit it.
Whoosh!
Boom!
The firework exploded in the sky.
Before long, dozens—perhaps a hundred—cavalrymen appeared in sight.
“Wait... They don’t seem to be rebels,” Zhou Jiazhen said, gazing at the flag in confusion.
In the center of the banner were two large characters: Jiangning!
The cavalry appeared well-trained, all clad in uniform leather armor, nothing like rebel rabble.
“Could they be the Jiangning Prefecture troops?” Qin Yi felt a slight relief.
However...
Why would the prefecture troops come to Qingwei Daoist Palace instead of attacking the rebels in the neighboring county?
At the head rode a burly general, towering at least two meters and thirty centimeters.
“Are you Daoists from Qingwei Daoist Palace?”
The general’s voice boomed like thunder.
...
Inside the grand hall of Qingwei Daoist Palace.
All the palace’s senior members were present.
Master Qingyangzi sat at the head of the table.
Opposite him was the burly general from earlier, Xue Yintu.