I Only Stomp on Weaklings

Chen Ming was quite interested in the legendary Dual Cultivation Technique. He walked up to the stone wall and examined it carefully. The wall was polished smooth, and the words engraved on it looked ancient.

After a while, he was drawn into the content.

It was unclear how much time had passed, but he finally finished reading the entire stone carving.

"This ’Path of All Beings’ is truly vast and profound!"

Chen Ming exclaimed in amazement.

The content on it encompassed a wide range, and the creator named it ’Path of All Beings’, including several Cultivation Techniques and many Secret Techniques.

The most important part of it was the technique of life dual cultivation, which is not the narrow sense of ’dual cultivation’.

The first step of this Cultivation Technique was dual cultivation of one’s own life. Then, it was dual cultivation with a Dao companion. At a higher level, it is dual cultivation with all beings, thereby achieving the state where the power of all beings is my power. If all beings are not extinguished, then I will not be extinguished.

Of course, this is the ultimate goal.

Chen Ming doubted that the founder of this Cultivation Technique had ever cultivated to this realm. The so-called dual cultivation with all beings probably only exists in theory. Whether one can reach this realm remains a huge question mark.

However, even so, the first two levels alone are already considered vast and profound.

The few Secret Techniques recorded within are quite sinister. They include the technique of absorption, which can rapidly increase power. There are several other extremely vicious methods like the Heart-devouring Thorn and the Great Soul Control.

There was also the Stealth Technique that Chen Ming had been longing for.

The content on the stone wall was too much for him to remember, so he decided to memorize it first.

Thankfully, after he initially mastered Sword Intent, his Divine Sense became much stronger, granting him a photographic memory. What he memorized will not be forgotten shortly.

Nie Hongyi had already buried a few corpses. Seeing him like this, she asked, "Brother Gu, have you finished reading?"

Chen Ming bowed to her respectfully and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Miss Nie, for allowing me to comprehend your sect’s Cultivation Technique. Your broad-mindedness is admirable."

After reading the content on it, he realized how much he had gained.

Nie Hongyi’s eyes showed a trace of peculiar expression and said, "Do not rush to thank me, young master. Actually, I want you to help me with something after you learn the Cultivation Technique on it."

"Please tell me, miss. As long as it’s within my ability, I wouldn’t refuse."

"It’s not urgent. We can talk about it after you’ve cultivated the ’Path of All Beings’ to the second realm. This Divine Skill is vast and profound. My master practiced it for half his life and couldn’t reach the second realm, so he had to learn the peripheral ’Heavenly Repairing Skill’."

Chen Ming knew that the ’Heavenly Repairing Skill’ was the absorption technique. Compared to the ’Path of All Beings’, this ’Heavenly Repairing Skill’ was indeed just a side method.

Nie Hongyi continued, "All I want is a promise from you, if you can reach the second realm, you must help me deal with someone."

"Fine, as long as the person you want me to deal with is within my power, I won’t say no."

"It’s a deal."

Nie Hongyi raised one hand.

"It’s a deal."

Seeing this, Chen Ming clasped his palm with hers. He had no intention of reneging; however, who knows when they will meet again next time.

Then, Nie Hongyi raised her hand, sending several sword beams flying out, destroying the secret carving on the stone wall completely. With just one move, she exhibited the cultivation of the Second Grade.

Chen Ming wasn’t very surprised by this. Given Xie Jianqiu’s cultivation of the First Grade, he didn’t dare to forcefully absorb her, indicating that her power was not weak at all.

It seems her age might not be as young as she appears.

Usually, reaching the Second Grade, no matter how gifted, one would be at least in their late twenties, maybe even thirty.

Within the ’Path of All Beings’, there are several Cultivation Techniques suitable for women to cultivate and should have effects on retaining youthful appearances.

The three female corpses just now seemed to be in their twenties.

After finishing those matters, Nie Hongyi said, "Let’s go."

Chen Ming called Jiang Yingxue over. She was sensible enough to stay far away, turning her back to them, not looking at the secret engraving on the stone wall.

That was the sect’s secret Cultivation Technique, and stealing a glance was taboo in the martial world.

Nie Hongyi took the lead and jumped into the water.

Chen Ming handed the leather rope to Jiang Yingxue, letting her tie it herself.

"Chen—" She had just started speaking when she saw Chen Ming’s stern gaze and quickly corrected herself, "Brother Gu, you need to be careful of this woman, not many words from her mouth are honest."

"How so?"

"She said those corpses were her master and master’s wife, yet she didn’t show a trace of sadness, as detached as a stranger. I’m afraid Nie Hongyi is a fake name."

"Hmm."

Chen Ming nodded, saying nothing more.

He could more or less guess the reason, but since it involved Nie Hongyi’s privacy, it wasn’t appropriate to tell her.

The few female-specific Cultivation Techniques in ’Path of All Beings’ are extraordinary. They all have miraculous effects on dual cultivation. According to the Cultivation Technique, if one found a woman with a special constitution, they could even directly break through bottlenecks, ascending a level.

Since Nie Hongyi’s master cultivated the ’Heavenly Repairing Skill’, he would likely find brilliant women, teach them these Cultivation Techniques, let them cultivate to success, and then dual cultivate with them to break through in cultivation.

As disciples, they were really more like child brides or, rather, concubine types, merely cauldrons for cultivation.

It was understandable if Nie Hongyi didn’t feel anything for her master.

Xie Jianqiu capturing Jiang Yingxue was likely for the same purpose, wanting her to switch to one of the Heart Methods to dual cultivate with him, allowing him to break through to the Peak of First Grade.

He could then enter the Secret Realm, unlock the Divine Treasure, and step into the Divine Treasure Realm.

Jiang Yingxue probably also possessed some special constitution, which is why she caught Xie Jianqiu’s eye.

"Let’s go."

Chen Ming dismissed his complicated thoughts, took Jiang Yingxue’s hand, and leapt into the dark river.

...

Chen Ming and Jiang Yingxue swam in the surging underground river for nearly a quarter of an hour. The river’s flow grew increasingly rapid, carrying them downstream into the great river without requiring much effort from Chen Ming.

The current was turbulent, so he held Jiang Yingxue in his arms to prevent her from being washed away.

Finally, with a splash, the two of them emerged out of the water’s surface.

"Brother Gu, we made it out!"

Jiang Yingxue opened her eyes to see the azure sky, feeling a rush of joy from the close escape. She hugged his neck tightly, shouting excitedly.

Chen Ming embraced her waist, leaped from the water, walked on the surface, and flew to the shore where he untied the ropes around her.

Feeling uncomfortable with his wet clothes, he activated his Gang Yuan to evaporate the water. He looked around and remarked, "I don’t know where this place is."

Turning his head, he saw Jiang Yingxue’s wet clothes clinging tightly to her body, appearing somewhat cold as she hugged her arms and trembled slightly.

This little girl has quite a good foundation.

Chen Ming thought to himself, grabbed her hand, and transferred a stream of Gang Yuan to help her detoxify. To his surprise, he found that her poison had mostly cleared, and her internal cultivation power had recovered quite a bit.

He was stunned, realizing she had been pretending.

With her Fifth Grade cultivation, holding her breath for a quarter of an hour wasn’t difficult, but she had pretended to be out of breath, seeking him to share air several times.

Exposed for her little scheme, even with her thick skin, Jiang Yingxue blushed with embarrassment, lowering her head and not daring to look at him.

Chen Ming glared at her but did not argue, instead looking around in curiosity, "Where is Miss Nie?"

Jiang Yingxue was circulating her energy to dispel the cold while quietly saying, "Could she have run off on her own?"

Why would she run?

Failing to find her, Chen Ming gave up and turned to Jiang Yingxue, deciding to clarify, "Miss Jiang, there’s something I must tell you. I already have a family—"

"That doesn’t count!"

Jiang Yingxue said urgently, "You haven’t had a wedding ceremony with that shameless woman named Yu. She’s claiming to be your wife, how shameless!"

What kind of logic is that?

That shameless woman named Yu?

Chen Ming was puzzled. Could it be Yu Haitang?

It did seem like something she would do, likely using this method to protect his family.

Finally understanding some family matters, Chen Ming felt relieved, knowing with Yu Haitang’s protection, his family should remain safe.

Living through life-and-death situations together, she certainly was loyal.

Thinking in his heart, Chen Ming hardened his expression, "I’ve never known anyone named Yu. My wife is the daughter of the Gang Leader of the Money Gang in Xiazhou; this is known to everyone in Xiazhou. So, don’t—"

Before he could say "wishful thinking," Jiang Yingxue clapped her hands excitedly, "I understand now. A hero like Brother Gu wouldn’t be tied down by a woman. This way, Brother Gu could take another identity to marry me, and everyone would be happy."

Everyone would be happy, my foot!

Chen Ming couldn’t take it anymore and knocked on her head, reprimanding, "What’s going on in your mind?"

Jiang Yingxue covered her head, feeling aggrieved, and pouted, "It hurts!"

With a stern face, he replied, "Gu is devoted to the Martial Dao and won’t be bound by sentiments. Don’t ever mention this again, or we’ll never meet again."

"Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back. My family has three Secret Realms. When you reach First Grade, I can help you secure a spot to open your Divine Treasure. Once I reach Third Grade, I can learn our family’s Divine Skill, and I can teach you then. Besides..."

"..."

Chen Ming couldn’t listen any longer; he truly felt tempted.

He jumped onto the highest tree, looking around searching for Nie Hongyi.

Where did she run off to?

Could something have happened to her?

Or—

Huh?

Suddenly, Chen Ming spotted a silhouette about a mile away, and left a brief, "Wait here for me."

He then flew towards that direction.

"Senior Tao, is it really you?"

Chen Ming reached a tree and saw a familiar figure, exclaiming in surprise.

"Quick—run—"

Tao Zhiquan saw him, anxiety in his eyes, weakly saying.

At that moment, Chen Ming felt every hair on his body stand, sensing a cold aura targeting him.

This is bad, it’s Xie Jianqiu!

His heart sank halfway.

How did this old thief end up here?

In this life-and-death moment, Chen Ming suddenly looked at the barely breathing Tao Zhiquan and asked in a solemn voice, "Senior, is there any wish you haven’t fulfilled?"

Tao Zhiquan, who had earlier suffered a sword from Xie Jianqiu and had lost his will to live, merely lingering for a moment, regarded the young man before him and weakly said, "The only thing I can’t let go of is my granddaughter...Tao Fang—"

He did not mention revenge, revealing that at his last moments, his granddaughter was more important to him than vengeance.

PS: Thanks to the first fellow reader "Jing Qi" for illuminating the Great God’s Light! This is the first update of the day, asking for monthly votes.