Chapter 235 - 233: I Want to Leave the Mountain and Challenge Someone!
Liu Residence.
Listening to the report from the returning Song Ping’an, Song Changming nodded, not too surprised at the Golden Pavilion Sect Leader’s sense of discretion.
Being able to become the leader of such a major sect, he understood how to weigh the pros and cons, considering the situation for himself and the sect.
Song Changming could bring a catastrophic disaster to the Golden Pavilion Sect, so choosing to compromise was only natural.
"Has there been any more message from Zhao Long?" Song Changming asked again.
Song Ping’an shook his head.
Liang Zhao Long is currently making every effort to investigate the whereabouts of another scroll.
Whether it’s still in the Imperial Palace or taken away by someone else.
Only by obtaining both scrolls can they acquire a complete version of the Third Grade Martial Technique.
Moreover, how to make the scroll reveal the martial technique’s content is also a crucial issue.
Song Changming studied it for half a day without unlocking the true content within the scroll.
It’s like having half a treasury but not the right key to open it.
This key is also an issue that needs investigation and resolution.
Regarding this, Song Changming was not in a hurry, simply instructing through a letter for Liang Zhao Long to act within his means.
When necessary, he could contact him for assistance...
"Ping’an, keep an eye on this matter for me in the coming days." Song Changming instructed Song Ping’an.
"Understood, Brother Song." Song Ping’an nodded.
Nowadays, Song Changming rarely publicly appears, often having Song Ping’an act on his behalf.
It’s undeniable that cultivating a few people by his side is necessary, so he doesn’t have to handle everything personally.
Liang Zhao Long and Song Ping’an are his most capable subordinates, both already Qi Refining Experts, handling most matters for him.
With them around, he can freely do what he wants most of the time, whether it is concentrating on martial training or recuperating.
On the other hand, at Sword Cliff, atop a cloud-shrouded mountain peak.
Nan Chen Guang slowly approached, looking up to see a majestic silhouette on the peak, seemingly fused with the rising blazing sun, his expression subtly changing.
Pressing his lips, he continued walking to the summit, standing behind that silhouette.
The person was the current world’s number one sword, Sword Venerable Nan Wuji.
Also his father.
"What is it?" The Sword Venerable asked calmly without turning back.
"I want to descend the mountain to challenge someone." Nan Chen Guang stated directly.
Hearing this, the Sword Venerable slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and looked back at his only son.
"Song Changming?"
"Yes." Nan Chen Guang was a bit surprised to hear Song Changming’s name from his father but still nodded in response.
In his childhood impression, his father was always high above, revered by countless people.
The title of the world’s number one was early placed upon his father, making him seem as if sitting upon clouds, lofty and untouchable, difficult to approach.
Nan Chen Guang never felt the kind of father-son relationship often spoken of by people; he was born with heavy expectations.
His greatest motivation in martial arts was to surpass his father.
Before that, he needed to first defeat Song Changming.
If he couldn’t even win against Song Changming, he wouldn’t have the qualification to challenge his father!
In his view, beating Song Changming was a small goal he set for himself to achieve.
"I remember he’s in Wangyue Prefecture?" Nan Wuji suddenly asked.
"Hmm..." Nan Chen Guang looked at his father twice.
His father rarely paid attention to other Martial Artists, especially new rising stars like Song Changming.
In his memory, this was the first time.
"Coincidentally, Su Yaoguang of the Wangyue Pavilion is about to exit seclusion, and she should have some breakthroughs. This time, I’ll go with you." Nan Wuji continued.
"..."
A few days later.
In the room at the Liu Residence.
Song Changming’s Qi Blood inside his body intensified, and the refined Blood and Flesh Essence Qi continuously merged into his limbs and bones.
Every cell in his body seemed to eagerly absorb this extremely pure energy nutrient, constantly strengthening, constantly improving, until a complete transformation was achieved.
After a long while, Song Changming exhaled impure air, calming the surging Qi Blood within.
He could feel that with this cultivation, his body’s strength had increased by a few degrees, gaining several pounds of force.
"Not bad!" Song Changming looked at the remaining beast meat on the table in the room, feeling completely satisfied.
This was not ordinary beast meat.
But Fog Beast’s blood and flesh!
The two huge Fog Beast corpses he had brought back had been dissected and now transformed into pieces like this, filling the ice cellar specially built beneath the Liu Residence.
In the past, Song Changming’s body could not withstand the violent Scorching Mist Energy within Fog Beast’s blood and flesh. Like other Martial Artists, if one wished to use Fog Beast’s flesh to nourish the body, the disadvantages outweighed the benefits.
But a year ago, Song Changming gradually discovered that Fierce Beast flesh, which could satisfy his body’s strength enhancement, had become increasingly hard to find.
This also caused his Body Refinement efficiency to slow down significantly.
This made him have to broaden his ’diet,’ so the Fog Beasts, with their Scorching Mist Energy, re-entered his consideration.
Upon the first attempt, he discovered that with his body’s strength, he could withstand the violent Scorching Mist Energy in the Fog Beast’s flesh.
Before this Scorching Mist Energy could truly harm his body, he could refine it first!
He even discovered that if he used this Scorching Mist Energy for Qi Refining, it could condense into Inner Qi, and if used for Body Refinement, it could be refined by his Celestial Essence Body Refining Technique, tempering the whole body like Blood and Flesh Essence Qi!
This discovery opened the door to a new world for him.
Since then, Fog Beast’s blood and flesh became an important food source for him. He would regularly go to the Outer Realm, just like visiting the city’s butcher shop, to procure the Body Refinement materials he needed, also exploring that Outer Realm.
Indeed, this Scorching Mist Energy was truly useful.
It could not only refine Inner Qi but also be used for Body Refinement, given that one must possess the Celestial Essence Body Refining Technique to refine and temper the body.
Not only was it a versatile remedy, but the effect was also remarkable.
Therefore, in Song Changming’s view, if energies were categorized in quality grades, this Scorching Mist Energy was undoubtedly some high-level energy, visible to the naked eye in the outer realm’s fog.
Just that until now, he didn’t know how this Scorching Mist Energy was formed, unlike the ubiquitous Natural Energy in the air, its source was unknown.
For now, this Scorching Mist Energy remained mysterious and special, elusive and enigmatic.
Suddenly a messenger bird flew in through the window, landing on Song Changming’s hand, chirping nonstop.
Song Changming took out the brief piece of message paper, took a quick glance at the content, and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.
"Ping’an isn’t here today; forget it, I’ll make a trip myself."
Song Changming got up and walked out of the room, a casual burst of Powerful Qi causing the paper to crumble into fragments.
Noon, with the sun high in the sky.
In a slightly desolate wild village nestled between the mountains of Wangyue Prefecture.
"This is the place."
Su Qingqing looked at Xiaoye Village and confirmed with certainty.
"Could it be Lady Su!"
A villager, who was looking around, saw Su Qingqing and greeted her with a smile.
"You know me?" Su Qingqing frowned and asked, instinctively on guard.
The villager laughed honestly, "Your fame has already spread throughout Wangyue Prefecture. They say a young Female Knight emerged in the prefecture, dedicated to serving justice, eliminating evildoers, and saving numerous villagers!
I could tell right away it’s you."
Although female martial artists and knights abound in the Jianghu, a young Female Knight like Su Qingqing, not only in Wangyue Prefecture but across the Jianghu, is rarely seen.
Her recognition was indeed very high.
Hearing her fame spread and receiving such praise, Su Qingqing’s spirits soared.
After all, she was just a thirteen-year-old child, no matter how mature she might be in mentality, she couldn’t truly be as composed and steady as an adult.
The youthful ambition was still there.
Upon returning, she would share her renown with her master.
"I heard there is a bandit problem here, is that true?" Su Qingqing asked further.
That was also the purpose of her visit.
To eradicate the bandits!
"That’s right, recently a group of bandits has been plundering our village frequently, killing quite a few villagers. We’ve reported to the government, but the officials have yet to arrive.
We beg the Lady Knight for assistance, to save us!"
The villager, following this cue, immediately began to plead tearfully.