In the direction of Black Wind Ridge, a great fire raged, sending a column of thick smoke into the sky like a signal beacon. It was clearly visible even from miles away.
In the dense forest at the foot of the mountain, a scout from the Xu Family who had been lying in wait shot to his feet. He stared at the blaze that dyed half the sky red, his expression changing drastically. He then rushed up the mountain.
By the time he reached the mountainside, he saw that the once formidable fortress gate was now a ruin. Amidst the smoldering embers and charred wood, the faint outlines of scorched corpses could be seen.
His throat went dry, and a chill shot up his spine. Tie Xiongshan was a True Qi Realm expert, yet he had died without a sound.
He didn’t dare to delay for even a moment. He vaulted onto his horse, furiously whipping its hindquarters and galloping toward Lin Wu City, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.
’This must be reported immediately.’
...
After descending the mountain, Liang Cheng didn’t take the main road. He continued to travel through the forests, wanting to keep his movements hidden for the time being.
After traveling for a little over twenty li, the clang of metal on metal echoed from a valley up ahead, punctuated by the sharp whistle of fierce Sword Qi slicing through the air.
He was about to continue on his way when he suddenly heard a name that made him stop. His figure moved like a wisp of smoke, and he vaulted into the branches of an ancient tree.
Down in the valley, the ground was in disarray. A dozen or so fierce-looking bandits in mismatched leather armor had formed a strange battle formation, trapping a single person in the center.
"Yun Jinghong, today West Mountain will be your grave! Not even the Martial Arts Academy can save you now!"
The man they surrounded was Yun Jinghong. His white robes were soaked in blood, and a gash on his shoulder was so deep the bone was visible. Despite this, the longsword in his hand remained deadly sharp.
His attackers were led by three experts at Transformation Force Perfection. Their techniques were vicious and cunning, and they coordinated their attacks, clearly skilled in joint combat.
The other bandits circled on the outskirts, constantly harassing him with hidden weapons. They were forcing Yun Jinghong onto the defensive, and his breathing was growing ragged.
The situation was critical. His Sword Momentum abruptly changed as he completely abandoned his defense and lunged for the leader in the center—the one called Scarface. He was going to trade his life for his enemy’s!
"Courting death!"
Scarface let out a savage grin as his Ghost Head Saber cleaved down, carrying with it a foul, bloody wind.
Just then, three strands of Sword Qi shot out silently from the shadows of the forest.
FAST!
PRECISE!
RUTHLESS!
PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!
Three soft sounds rang out at the same time.
The movements of Scarface and the other two Transformation Force Perfection leaders froze abruptly. A dot of crimson appeared on each of their foreheads, which was then swiftly covered by a thin layer of white frost.
With expressions of utter disbelief still frozen in their eyes, the three of them crashed to the ground.
The bandits’ formation instantly fell into chaos!
Yun Jinghong reacted in a flash. He seized the fleeting opportunity, his longsword soaring once more like his namesake swan in flight. A dazzling and deadly arc of sword light flashed out, and in an instant, he cut down all the remaining bandits who had lost their leaders.
The valley fell silent, leaving only the thick, cloying smell of blood hanging in the air.
Yun Jinghong leaned on his sword for support, gasping for breath. The exertion had torn open his shoulder wound, and blood began to pour out anew.
He gathered his strength, pulled out a packet of Golden Sore Medicine from his robes to sprinkle on the wound, and then swallowed a Qi Blood Pill. Only then did he turn toward the forest where the Sword Qi had come from and cup his fist in a solemn salute.
"Thank you for saving me, Senior! I, Yun Jinghong, am eternally grateful. Might you show yourself so that I may thank you in person?"
The forest remained silent, the only reply being the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Yun Jinghong waited for a moment, but there was no response.
He didn’t press the matter, simply offering another deep bow toward the forest. Then he silently began to clean up the battlefield and collect the loot, his movements deft and efficient.
...
「Three days later. Lin Wu City, Martial Arts Academy.」
A travel-worn Liang Cheng walked straight into the Foreign Affairs Hall. The Steward Disciple on duty was stunned for a moment when he saw him, but quickly composed himself.
"Senior Brother Liang, are you here to complete a mission?"
Liang Cheng placed the token representing the Eldest Master of the Black Wind Thieves on the counter. His voice was level. "The mission to exterminate the bandits at West Mountain Black Wind Ridge. Their leader, Tie Xiongshan, has been slain."
The Steward Disciple gasped and hurriedly began his inspection.
A moment later, he looked up, his face a mixture of awe and shock. "Verification complete. The bandit leader, Tie Xiongshan, was indeed a True Qi Realm malefactor. Senior Brother, to think you eliminated this fiend all by yourself... a truly great accomplishment! The reward is fifteen thousand Contribution Points!"
He made an adjustment on a Jade Token, and with a soft glow, handed it back to Liang Cheng. Liang Cheng accepted it; his balance now read: 16,370 Contribution Points.
He gave a slight nod, put away the Jade Token, and turned to head for the rear mountain.
The moment he left, the Foreign Affairs Hall erupted in a flurry of excited chatter.
"Did you hear? Senior Brother Liang is back! And he took out Black Wind Ridge!"
"Tie Xiongshan? The infamous bandit lord in the True Qi Realm? My gods!"
"Fifteen thousand Contribution Points... I’ve never seen that many in my entire life..."
"Quick, go report this to the Masters!"
...
Liang Cheng didn’t return to his Celestial Abode Courtyard. Instead, he went to Elder Huang’s Alchemy Room on the rear mountain.
This time, Elder Huang was waiting for him at the door. Sensing the change in Liang Cheng’s aura, he gave an almost imperceptible nod before speaking.
"Here to settle your debt, kid?"
Liang Cheng, who had been feeling rather pleased with himself, immediately deflated. This was his biggest creditor. Without another word, he took out his Jade Token and the silver banknotes he had acquired at Black Wind Ridge.
Elder Huang’s eyes narrowed. He deftly counted the silver banknotes—thirty thousand taels—and tucked them away with a satisfied look. He then transferred fifteen thousand Contribution Points from Liang Cheng’s account before tossing the Jade Token back.
"The debt is paid. We’re square."
Liang Cheng finally let out a sigh of relief. ’That went better than I expected. At least I’m not in debt anymore.’
However, he continued, "Elder Huang, I need to trouble you to get me some Profound Gold Powder and Earth Vein Stone Milk. I can pay you for them later."
Elder Huang froze at his words, then his eyes lit up. "You brat... you didn’t just break through to the True Qi Realm, you also advanced your Stone Armor Skill to the Golden Armor Realm?"
As he spoke, he dragged Liang Cheng into the Alchemy Room. "Kid, I can get you those items for free... on one condition. You have to help me test some new pills. How about it?"
Liang Cheng immediately shook his head. Now that he had reached the True Qi Realm, earning Contribution Points wouldn’t be difficult. ’Why would I need to take such a risk?’
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