Chapter 327 - 183: Peak of Profound Gang
"Zhou Kuohai is indeed an extraordinary individual. His Divine Technique, the Cyan Flood Dragon Transformation, is a remarkable Escape Technique. By the time my two colleagues and I pursued him to the waters outside the city, his aura had completely merged with the waterways, making him impossible to track.
We searched for half a day but returned empty-handed. A shame to let such a big fish get away."
"A shame indeed."
Chen Sheng echoed the sentiment, sighing inwardly.
’I have a deep-seated feud with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. I even captured their Young Master, Zhou Chengzong, myself. They must hate me to the bone.’
’It would have been best to use this opportunity to eliminate the threat for good.’
’A shame, a real shame...’
"But no matter."
Nie Xuanfeng’s expression turned stern, his usual decisive air returning.
"After this battle, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance has suffered a devastating blow, losing nearly half its members and having its strength greatly diminished. I have already conferred with Lord Xie and General Li. We will seize this opportunity to mobilize the Prefecture Army and the Jingwu Guard for a full-scale extermination of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance and its affiliated water bandit forces!
We must completely excise this cancerous tumor from Ning’an Prefecture!"
"I wish you swift success, Governor, in pacifying the bandit menace in one fell swoop."
Chen Sheng said with a cupped-fist salute.
After a bit more small talk, Chen Sheng saw a subordinate waiting outside for an audience and tactfully took his leave. He mentioned that he would be entering a period of seclusion to focus on refining the Wushan Spirit Marrow.
Nie Xuanfeng naturally approved, telling him to focus on his cultivation without worry.
...
Jingwu Bureau.
The familiar secret chamber, sixteen levels underground.
Because Chen Sheng often used it for his secluded cultivation, the chamber had effectively become his private domain.
And given his status and backing within the Jingwu Bureau,
no one would be foolish enough to cross him over such a trivial matter.
Inside the secret chamber, a single Everlasting Lamp cast a soft glow.
Chen Sheng sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Meditation Mat in the center of the room. His eyes were slightly closed and his breathing was long and deep as he slowly adjusted himself to his peak state.
Then, he sank his consciousness inward, and the profound Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil appeared in the depths of his mind.
[Mental Realm Level 1 (346/500)]
[Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body (Complete) (189/2000)]
[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique (Complete) (857/2000)]
[Fishing Toad Force Secret Technique (Complete) (1907/2000)]
His gaze swept over the various progress bars, and Chen Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
Then, with a flip of his hand, he produced the jade box, opened it, and placed the Wushan Spirit Marrow, which was shimmering with a green glow, into his palm.
His Gang Qi circulated slowly, like a gentle stream, enveloping the Spirit Marrow and beginning to draw out the vast and pure Spiritual Charm stored within.
In an instant, a gentle yet immense Spiritual Power surged up his arm and through his Meridians, flooding his entire body, nourishing his flesh and refining his Gang Qi.
In the depths of his consciousness, the various stats on his Celestial Book Panel began to climb at a steady, visible rate as he refined the Spirit Marrow...
...
「Meanwhile.」
While Chen Sheng was immersed in refining the Spirit Marrow in the underground chamber of the Jingwu Bureau, completely undistracted, the outside world was already being rocked by colossal waves caused by the outcome of the battle on Wushan Mountain.
Within Ning’an Prefecture.
On every street corner, in every teahouse and tavern, and at every Jianghu inn, nearly everyone was fervently discussing the matter.
The battle on Wushan Mountain had already drawn considerable attention. Although ordinary people couldn’t witness it in person due to the tight security, they were, in fact, all secretly keeping an eye on it.
Once the battle was over, they began to inquire about what had transpired.
The initial news, however, was difficult to believe.
Because this battle was not the epic struggle between titans, the clash of the Ten Heroes, that everyone had anticipated.
Instead, it was a one-man show, with a single person dominating the entire field!
Chen Sheng of the Jingwu Bureau had, in the most domineering and forceful manner, defeated Little Vajra, Monk Fazang, and suppressed Zhang Daoming of Qingfeng Temple with his blade.
And most shocking of all, Chen Sheng had faced seven of the young heroes at once and suppressed them all.
He had left every single one of them severely injured, practically powerless to fight back!
When the news spread, voices of doubt rose to a clamor.
They knew Chen Sheng was special, but no matter how special, it was impossible for him to be *that* strong.
’It must be a distorted rumor!’
However, when busybodies sought confirmation from the major sects involved, either openly or covertly, the response was surprisingly uniform: silence.
Golden Spring Temple closed its doors. The Iron Sword Sect remained tight-lipped. Qingfeng Temple was noncommittal, and Luoyun Manor was deeply secretive.
This near-tacit admission was more convincing than any affirmative answer could have been.
Soon after, disciples from the Danxia Sect and the Ning’an Wang Clan, who had also been present that day, "inadvertently" revealed details on various occasions, allowing people to gradually piece together a rough picture of the battle.
In that moment, the truth came to light, causing the news to explode.
One busybody even composed a piece of doggerel after a few drinks, and it quickly began to circulate.
Peerless below the Mystic Realm,
The Ning’an Ten Heroes all submit.
One cold blade subdues the crowd,
Which hero dares to speak aloud?
Propelled by this ditty, Chen Sheng’s reputation soared to unprecedented heights.
But the chain reaction sparked by the battle on Wushan Mountain did not end there.
Two other major events that shook Ning’an also began to circulate:
First, the great evil sect, the Blood River Sect, took advantage of the battle on Wushan Mountain to launch a brazen attack on the Danxia Sect. The two sides engaged in a brutal battle on Qixia Mountain, resulting in heavy casualties and collapsed temple halls. It was said that even a Mystic Realm expert had fallen, and the Danxia Sect had narrowly escaped annihilation.
Second, the great water bandit power, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, also launched a sneak attack on the Jingwu Bureau at the same time, only to fall into a government ambush. They suffered disastrous losses, and a vice-leader was killed on the spot.
The Government Office immediately issued a public warrant for the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance on the grave charge of treason. They mobilized troops and launched a large-scale purge within Ning’an Prefecture, dealing a thunderous blow to the many small and medium-sized water bandit groups affiliated with the Alliance.
For a time, a state of panic gripped the various waterways of Ning’an Prefecture.
These three major events were each astonishing in their own right, and all were closely tied to the "Battle of Wushan Mountain" timeline.
Amidst fervent public discussion, these three consecutive events that had thrown Ning’an into turmoil gradually came to be known collectively as...
the Wushan Turmoil!
...
The outside world was in a tumultuous uproar.
But inside the secret chamber of the Jingwu Bureau, Chen Sheng remained as still as a mountain, oblivious to it all.
His entire focus was on refining the Wushan Spirit Marrow.
For more than ten consecutive days, he did not take a single step out of the secret chamber.
And the Wushan Spirit Marrow truly lived up to its name as a heavenly treasure. Throughout the refining process, Chen Sheng’s Cultivation skyrocketed, constantly improving.
On this day, after completely refining the Wushan Spirit Marrow, Chen Sheng, who had been motionless for a long time, slowly opened his eyes. His aura was condensed to the absolute limit, and his presence was far more powerful than before he had entered seclusion.
With a thought, Chen Sheng sank his consciousness into the Celestial Book Panel. He looked at his progress and was quite satisfied.
[Mental Realm Level 1 (386/500)]
[Blood Slaughter Floating Light Body (Complete) (323/2000)]
[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique (Complete) (1978/2000)]
Perhaps because the Wushan Spirit Marrow possessed the effect of Bone Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Cutting, after he finished refining it, Chen Sheng’s Cultivation had not only reached the Peak of Profound Gang.
The Fishing Toad Force, a Secret Technique that had been with him for a full year, had also finally reached the state of perfection.
It no longer appeared on the Celestial Book Panel.
At the same time, because the Fishing Toad Force Secret Technique was perfected, Chen Sheng’s fundamental aptitude had undergone a radical change.
He might not be considered a peerless prodigy, but it was more than enough to call him a Martial Dao genius.
In terms of aptitude alone, he had reached the level of the Ten Heroes.
And now that his Cultivation had reached the Peak of Profound Gang, Chen Sheng could begin to plan his next steps.
The first was to seek a breakthrough into the Mystic Realm.
He already had a plan for this. Barring any surprises, as long as his preparations were complete, he would be able to attempt the breakthrough in a short time.
The second was the inheritance from Profound Flame Daoist’s cave abode.
With all three Profound Flame Orders gathered, Chen Sheng had actually already located Profound Flame Daoist’s cave abode.
However, he had been busy refining the Wushan Spirit Marrow, so he had chosen not to come out of seclusion.
Because according to the Celestial Book, the primary condition for refining the Profound Spirit Yin Fire left behind by Profound Flame Daoist was to raise his Cultivation to the Mystic Realm and transform the True Qi in his Dantian into True Essence.
Otherwise, forget about refining and absorbing it; if the Yin Fire were to enter his body, he would suffer grievous injuries instead.
This was precisely why Chen Sheng was not in a hurry.
The most urgent task was still to break through to the Mystic Realm.
As long as he could break through to the Mystic Realm, he would have enough power to protect himself within Ning’an Prefecture, truly stand among the pinnacle of experts, and gain the right to draw his blade against the top factions!