Chapter 42

"My body was already used to the QI. And the elevation into 'The Second Level' seemed to only increase the reserve of Qi. I surmise that it wouldn't lead to much troubles."

Le Xaan had looked up in the manual and knew that 'The Second Level' was the safest to break through into.

As usual, Le Xaan felt as though his body had been depleted of its energy after this breakthrough.

Jade Crane Skill's Qi reserve was used up as well.

With his diligent dedication to this body maintenance Qi cultivation method these few days, his chest was brimming with Jade Crane Skill Qi, which condensed into a ball there.

That ball served as a sign that Jade Crane Skill's Qi began to amass in his body after the thickness of the circulating Qi current reached its upper limit.

However, in the wake of the modification on Dark Shadow, the ball of Qi belonging to Jade Crane Skill was drained.

What's more, the originally arm-thick current of Jade Crane Skill Qi was reduced to the thickness of a needle now.

Setting his foot into 'The Second Level ' of Dark Shadow, Le Xaan had more faith in his own strength now.

Le Xaan calculated in his mind and knew that it was lunchtime at present.

"Young Master, a new letter has arrived."

Qiki carried the food boxes with her arm while waving a wax-sealed yellowish envelope with another hand.

"Give it to me."

Le Xaan sheathed the blade at his hip.

The weapon was made of good quality steel. Though not a famous weapon, its merit lay in its thickness, making it nearly unable to be broken.

He took the envelope from Qiki and read through it before his face grew gloomy. He then put aside the letter.

"Qiki, it's time for us to go back."

He said faintly.

"Are we going back to our Le Mansion?"

Qiki was stunned before asking joyfully.

"Yes." Le Xaan nodded his head.

The two of them quickly packed up their stuff. After having lunch, they left behind a slip of paper on the table before heading back to the city.

The journey from the forest to Gourian City was about eight miles.

When the two of them made their way back to the city, Qiki was exhausted from taking such a trip on foot. And Le Xaan had carried her in arms for a fair distance on the road.

After cultivating in Dark Shadow and practicing the other martial arts, his body was currently far stronger than previously, especially thanks to the stimulus of Dark Shadow's Qi.

As Dark Shadow's inner body Qi circulated around his body, Le Xaan felt like a stream of air was nourishing his muscles.

Every morning, Le Xaan noticed that his muscles were growing more robust, and his weight was increasing.

This bodily change came with a significantly larger appetite. He now ate twice as much food as he used to, primarily meat. And he also consumed a great quantity of expensive tonics daily.

Le Xaan's food expenditures were hardly affordable for an ordinary family.

Without any pause, Le Xaan quickly went into the city and took a familiar route back to the Le Mansion.

The gatekeeper immediately rushed over to greet Le Xaan at the sight of him.

"Welcome home, Young Master Xaan!"

"Well." Le Xaan acknowledged the guard casually as he strode through the gate.

The atmosphere in the Le Mansion appeared rather odd.

But every servant still hurriedly walked up to greet him once they laid eyes on him.

"Young Master Xaan has come back!"

Someone shouted.

"Young Master Xaan! Young Master Xaan has come back!"

"It's Young Master Xaan!"

Many servants, regardless of gender, ran over, showing surprises and relief on their faces like desperate people who had found a lifeline.

"Where is my father?"

"Lord Le Finn asks you to go over now."

A maidservant walked up to reply.

"Alright."

He then walked all the way to the rear part of the Mansion.

Now, the place was no longer as bustling as it used to be, somewhat bizarrely quiet.

The servants and guards here looked downcast. Those close by greeted him while those further away were still chatting among themselves.

The voices of a few of them wafted over.

"The sobbing sounds of a woman appeared again in Yuri's room last night..."

"I heard it too. It sounded very ethereal and creepy. Some people passed by her room but didn't see anyone in the room..."

"Alas, let's not talk about it. It's truly horrifying."

"Could it be that there's a female ghost?"

"Don't say it lightly, unless you're not afraid of punishment."

As Le Xaan walked past a stone bridge, he heard some servant girls gossiping among themselves.

Le Xaan learned from their conversation that Yuri's room in the rear part of the Mansion had become a forbidden place.

Le Xaan's mood now grew grimmer as he recalled the contents of that letter.

Eventually, his worst fears came true.

This world was, in essence, fraught with dangers. To this sort of weird things, ordinary people were more than vulnerable.

He had always been worried that something the Xavir family had experienced would happen to the Le family.

When that occurred, how could he protect his family and himself, and what would he resort to?

"A female ghost? I want to see what female ghost could stand up to my blade!" His eyes were full of viciousness, barely concealing his aggression within his heart. Then, he strode grandly toward the main hall in the rear part of the Mansion.

What had he been after persisting in practicing martial arts for so long? To prepare himself for the very situation they were now facing!