Character Card Cooldown Refresh
Dan Ding Peak, Beside the Alchemy Furnace:
Zhao Jian's revelation about Jiang Chen's rapid cultivation progress left Elder Gao Qianshou skeptical. Furrowing his brow, he questioned, "Is this true?"
"I witnessed it myself," Zhao Jian affirmed.
Gao Qianshou fell into a thoughtful silence. After a while, he remarked, "While there are elixirs in the world that can forcibly enhance one's cultivation, they are usually filled with spiritual energy. It's unlikely for someone at the Mortal Realm to withstand such elixirs."
"So, are you suggesting that Jiang Chen truly advanced from the Mortal Realm to the Mortal Realm High-Grade in three months?" Gao Qianshou asked.
Gao Qianshou shook his head, "That's not very likely."
"Then what could be the reason?" Zhao Jian pressed for an answer.
After a moment of contemplation, Gao Qianshou tentatively proposed, "What if Jiang Chen was already at the Mortal Realm High-Grade from the beginning?"
Zhao Jian's expression changed, and he urgently asked, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, he might have concealed his true realm from the start."
"That's impossible! He's only fifteen years old. How could he be so cunning?"
Gao Qianshou spoke with a deep gaze, "It's just my speculation. The world is vast, and there are all sorts of wonders. Ten years ago, Ning Lang broke through from the Mortal Realm to the Foundation Realm, and the reason for this is also unknown, isn't it?"
Unable to refute, Zhao Jian clenched his fists subtly under his robe, recalling the morning's events.
"Yu Hua is my disciple. I won't let this matter rest," Zhao Jian declared, standing up and leaving.
Gao Qianshou sat back down, murmuring to himself, "Strange indeed."
Late at Night, Behind Miao Peak:
Ning Lang, wielding the Tai A Sword, soared into the air. Various techniques of the Taiyi Clear Water Sword flashed through his mind, converging into one powerful move. Raising the sword with both hands, he unleashed it without elaborate maneuvers, only enveloping the blade with spiritual energy. The result was a resounding "Bang!" as the enormous boulder in front of Ning Lang split in half, the surface smooth as a mirror, and the ground cracked as if in an earthquake.
In his bamboo house, Jiang Chen widened his eyes, hands tightly covering his mouth, silently observing the master's sword strike—a manifestation of swordsmanship akin to that of a sword immortal.
If witnessed by others, who would dare claim his master was useless?
Overwhelmed with tension, Jiang Chen closed his eyes, reciting the 'Wu Wei Heart Sutra.'
"Yes, with the Tai A Sword and the Taiyi Clear Water Sword technique, the power is more than doubled. This sword is already approaching the 'Perfected' level. It seems that in a few days, I'll reach the state of 'One With a Sword' as mentioned in the sword technique," mused Ning Lang.
After sheathing the sword, Ning Lang strolled to the water tank, indulged in a refreshing cold bath, donned his clothes, and returned to his room. Seated cross-legged on the bed, he silently recited the Great Yellow Court Scripture, and over time, a red peach kernel mark gradually appeared on his forehead.
A night passed without incidents.
[Character Card Cooldown Refresh]
[Current Remaining Card Draws: 1]
[Would you like to draw a card now?]
Ning Lang, facing the card draw interface, whispered, "Yes." The three lines of small text disappeared, replaced by the card draw interface for the remaining six character cards.
Starting from the second card on the left, Ning Lang began flipping the cards. The detailed information of the second character card materialized.
[Character Card Level: SS]
[Character Name: Gan Tang (Female)]
[Strength Realm: Lower Qi Refining Realm]
[Comprehension: Outstanding]
[Charm Value: 9 (Can Grow)]
[Loyalty: To be Unlocked]
[Character Keywords: Seventeen Years Old, Can Be Both Elegant and Cute, Weapon: Embroidery Needle...]
[Activation Task: Leave the mountain, take the bonded character Gan Tang as a disciple.]
[Task Time Limit: Three Days.]
[Task Reward: Five Spirit Crystals, Ice Soul Divine Needle (Set)]
[Task Prompt: The bonded character Gan Tang's current location: Huai Nan City. There have been recent sightings of a Fourth-Order Monster Beast in that area. Please ensure the safety of the bonded character.]
Ning Lang inexplicably trembled as he absorbed the information. The second bonded character was a girl, and her charm value reached 9.
His excitement surged further when he realized the reward for this task was five Spirit Crystals. In this world, one Spirit Crystal could be exchanged for one hundred Spirit Stones, and one Spirit Stone could be exchanged for one hundred silver in the secular world. In other words, five Spirit Crystals could be exchanged for fifty thousand silver.
Listening to music in the brothel cost a maximum of five silver, and it was a more luxurious form of entertainment.
Ning Lang swallowed his saliva, feeling excited.
"Jiang Chen."
"Disciple is here."
Ning Lang glanced at Jiang Chen and solemnly said, "Master has matters to attend to and needs to go down the mountain for a while. You stay at Miao Peak to cultivate quietly. If someone inquires, simply inform them that the master has gone down the mountain and will return in no more than three days."
Jiang Chen didn't dare to ask more, just respectfully responded, "Disciple obeys."
"I've said it before; when it's just us, you needn't be so formal."
Jiang Chen nodded habitually and said, "Yes."
Ning Lang shook his head and smiled, sheathed the Tai A Sword at his side, and, still a bit worried, added, "If you encounter any trouble or something you can't solve, wait for the master to return before discussing it."
"Yes."
With all instructions given, Ning Lang departed at his own pace.
Huai Nan City was located twenty miles from Taihua Mountain, a small city with a population of merely one hundred thousand.
In recent days, the city bustled with activity. The government had issued a notice a few days ago, offering a reward for warriors to resolve a case, with the reward amount reaching as high as five hundred taels. This drew numerous cultivators to the city.
The cause of this commotion originated half a month ago when the first child went missing.
Since then.
Seven children in Huai Nan City vanished one after another, leaving no trace of their whereabouts. It was as if they had evaporated into thin air.
For the past half month, the parents of Huai Nan City's children lived in perpetual anxiety. The government investigated for weeks without discovering any clues. Consequently, the county magistrate concluded that a monster beast was behind the disappearances. He issued a reward notice, posted on every street and alley, offering five hundred taels of silver for anyone who could capture the creature.
At noon on that day, in a restaurant within Huai Nan City.
Ning Lang sat in a corner with a plate of yellow beef, peanuts, and a small jug of good rice wine on the table.
The inn was crowded at this hour, mostly with cultivators who had come after hearing the news.
They engaged in discussions about the monster beast.
"Last night, I stood on the street throughout, and I didn't hear any movement. Do you think the monster beast saw that there were many cultivators in the city and was scared to come out?"
"Only Third-Order and above monster beasts can have spiritual wisdom. Do you really think there would be Fourth-Order monster beasts appearing in a place like Huai Nan City?"
"The logic is correct, but we've been here in Huai Nan City for three days, and we haven't found a trace of the monster beast. We can't just keep guarding like this."
"Don't be anxious. Let's wait two more days."
"Come, come, let's drink."
"Bottoms up!"
Ning Lang sighed lightly, took out a broken silver coin from his pocket, tossed it on the table, took a step, and left.
Seeing the guest leave, the shop assistant picked up the broken silver, weighed it, glanced at the dishes, and hastily ran out of the inn, cursing loudly, "Damn immortal, you dress refined, yet you only gave one tael of silver for a meal and wine. Ptui!"
...