I Only Stomp on Weaklings

[You have once again defeated an LV75 enemy, gaining 10,000 experience points.]

[You have once again defeated an LV76 enemy, gaining 10,000 experience points.]

[...]

Chen Ming went to the prison again, bringing nine third-grade prisoners one by one to the torture chamber for a "sparring" match, eventually harvesting 90,000 experience points.

"It seems defeating a third-grade enemy guarantees at least 10,000 experience points."

Before leaving, he took a silver note to Lei Chun, asking her to buy some fine food and wine to send to those nine third-grade prisoners.

The money came from Gu Xianyu.

When inviting people for a match, naturally some benefits should be given.

He had observed these past few days that Lei Chun had an open and forthright nature, not someone who expects to take a cut for passing things along. She was best suited for this task.

He opened the panel.

[Level: 70]

[Current Points: 949,875]

[Cultivation technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Five Elements True Skill (Missing)" (Seventh Level 205,784/10,000,000)]

[Martial Skills: "Three Talents Fist" (Achievement), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Achievement), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Achievement), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Achievement), "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" (Achievement), "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" (Fourth Level 3,908/400,000), "Lonely Wild Goose in Heaven and Earth" (Second Level 35,734/2,000,000)]

[Secret Technique: "Disguise Technique" (Achievement)]

Chen Ming felt some concern, "There’s still half to go before the third level of ’Lonely Wild Goose in Heaven and Earth’."

How in the short term could he gather a million experience points?

...

Chen Ming left the prison, and the time was already close to noon.

He recalled Ruan Caixiong’s invitation and hurriedly went to find him.

Ruan Caixiong was waiting for him, and upon seeing him, happily said, "You’re finally here. This place is too eerie, I don’t wish to stay a moment longer."

Chen Ming apologized, "I’m sorry to keep you waiting, brother."

"I’ve already said, you and I need not be so formal. If you continue, I shall get upset."

"Brother, does Lord Zhong often go into closed-door cultivation?"

Ruan Caixiong looked at him with some surprise, "It seems you’re not valued at home, hasn’t anyone told you about things concerning a Divine Treasure Realm expert?"

"Indeed not."

"For experts of the Divine Treasure Realm, one meditation session can pass ten days or half a month. Therefore, unless there’s a major issue, experts of the Divine Treasure Realm rarely roam the martial world. There aren’t many things in this world that interest them."

"I see."

Chen Ming thought, reaching the Divine Treasure Realm perhaps means their life essence truly transcends to sainthood, with greatly increased lifespan, their sense of time differs from ordinary people.

Ruan Caixiong revealed another secret, "Moreover, reaching the Divine Treasure Realm allows one to clearly sense the end of one’s lifespan. Every time they exert full strength, it reduces their life span. Therefore, unless it’s necessary, they often won’t act."

"No wonder there are few rumors of Divine Treasure Realm experts taking action." Chen Ming realized, he had always found it odd why these experts remained secluded and rarely revealed themselves.

This was the reason.

So far, he had only seen experts of the Divine Treasure Realm in the Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion, and not just one. Unfortunately, he hadn’t witnessed them in action.

He still wondered how strong the experts of the Divine Treasure Realm truly were.

While speaking, they had arrived at the Ruan Mansion.

It was an extremely grand residence.

As soon as they arrived, the doors opened wide, and Madam Ruan personally came to the door to welcome them, "Welcome back home, dear husband. Brother Gu, please come in."

Ruan Caixiong’s face lit up, clearly pleased.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "Greetings to sister-in-law, I came in a rush and didn’t bring a gift, please forgive me."

"Your presence brings us joy, there’s no need for such formalities," she said.

Thus, Chen Ming was welcomed inside the mansion.

This was just a small family gathering, with only him as a guest, and with Ruan Caixiong and his wife, just three people, they set a table of meals, quite sumptuous.

Chen Ming noticed that the servants in the residence were all of average appearance, especially the maids who were all sturdy and broad-handed women.

Clearly, these maids were carefully selected by Madam Ruan, a testament to her careful consideration.

Ruan Caixiong took out his cherished good wine to entertain him, "This is spiritual wine personally brewed by Lord Zhong, said to be made from a type of spirit fruit found in a secret realm, it has an effect of enhancing cultivation even for third-grade martial artists."

Hearing it was from a secret realm, Chen Ming laughed, "I must indeed have a taste."

Madam Ruan joined in, "This wine has been treasured by my husband for several years, even when Third Uncle came last time, my husband couldn’t bear to bring it out."

Ruan Caixiong had already taken the jar of spiritual wine, opened its seal, and the aroma of the wine immediately wafted through the air.

Chen Ming was visibly moved, "Just smelling this wine is intoxicating."

Ruan Caixiong laughed, "Lord Zhong said, although this wine has the effect of enhancing cultivation, it easily intoxicates, so he named it ’Hundred Days Drunk’. "

He poured a bowl for Chen Ming, poured one for himself, and was about to pour for his wife, but she shook her head and said, "I’ll pass, you two enjoy as much as you like."

He placed the wine jar aside, raised his bowl, and said to Chen Ming, "Come, taste it."

Chen Ming raised his bowl, clinked it with his, took a sniff, and felt a pure stream of primordial qi being absorbed into his nose, quickly merging with his body and being absorbed by his dantian.

It truly is spiritual wine.

He glanced at the panel, took a breath, and noticed the cultivation technique’s proficiency increased by over a hundred.

He took a sip and felt the spiritual wine in the bowl transform into a line, directly entering his stomach without any spicy sensation, instead leaving a refreshing aroma in his mouth, a fragrance of fruit wood.

In the next second, he felt a surge of energy in his belly, spreading to his limbs and bones, then merging into his meridians.

Looking at the panel again, the cultivation technique’s proficiency continuously rose, increasing by several thousand points in the blink of an eye.

"Great wine."

Chen Ming praised it, realizing it could genuinely enhance cultivation — truly something extraordinary.

Ruan Caixiong poured him another bowl, "Have another. Cheers."

In this manner, the two drank until the cups were dry, finishing the entire jar of spiritual wine in just a short tea break.

"Uh—"

After drinking the last bowl of wine, Chen Ming burped, feeling dizzy and unable to resist anymore, collapsing onto the table and falling into a deep sleep.

Ruan Caixiong at the same table shouted, "What a delight! What a delight... Brother Gu, get up and continue drinking... Why is there no wine left? Madam... Madam..."

Mrs. Ruan stepped forward to support him, taking him back to their room and instructed the servants to send Gu Xianyu to the guest room.

...

Uncertain how much time had passed, Chen Ming, sleeping deeply, felt a sudden unease, which, driven by the instinct of a martial artist, abruptly woke him from his drunken state.

"Who?"

He reached sideways, finding a sword at his side, the "Breaking Army," yet the "Mingfeng Sword" was missing.

He was lying on the bed at that moment, outside the curtains stood a graceful woman who softly asked, "From where did Young Master Gu acquire this sword?"

It was Mrs. Ruan!

Chen Ming recognized the voice, but her tone was entirely different from before.

He scanned with his consciousness, discovering only himself and her in the room.

He was utterly stunned.

Alone with a woman in a room was against etiquette, especially since she was Ruan Caixiong’s wife.

Chen Ming asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean by this, Sister-in-law? Where is Brother Ruan?"

After checking himself over, he found no signs of poisoning or restrictions, feeling slightly at ease.

Mrs. Ruan replied, "He is still not sober yet. You haven’t answered me—Is this sword yours?"

She seemed very concerned about the "Mingfeng Sword."

Chen Ming found it strange, unsure of her intentions, and said, "Naturally, it’s mine."

Mrs. Ruan suddenly said, "I didn’t expect the young master to be a descendant of the Nine Nether Sect."

What the heck?

Chen Ming was taken aback, unable to fathom why she would say such a thing.

A descendant of the Nine Nether Sect?

He quickly said, "Sister-in-law must be mistaken; I have no connections with the Nine Nether Sect."

"You can’t hide it from me."

Mrs. Ruan’s tone carried a certain coldness; she caressed the "Mingfeng Sword" in her hand. Through the curtains, her expression was obscured, but her gesture revealed a kind of reverence, "Yesterday, upon seeing your sword, I recognized your identity. Possessing a holy sword of the sect means you are the current Saint Heir."

Holy sword?

Saint Heir?

Chen Ming felt a chill surge up his spine, like lightning struck his mind, finally realizing who the spy around Ruan Caixiong was.

It was her!

The so-called holy sword should actually be the demon sword.

And the Saint Heir naturally would be the demon heir of the Nine Nether Sect.

Only the disciples of the Nine Nether Sect would call the demon sword a holy sword.

But why would she reveal her identity in front of him?

How could the Mingfeng Sword be a demon artifact of the Nine Nether Sect?

No—

Chen Ming suddenly recalled that the "Mingfeng Sword" indeed had a Demon Venerable’s primordial spirit sealed within, strictly speaking, it indeed was a demon artifact!

Thus, Mrs. Ruan sensed the Immortal Demon Venerable’s primordial spirit in the "Mingfeng Sword" and mistakenly believed him to be the demon heir of the Nine Nether Sect!

Once he figured out the cause and effect, Chen Ming’s first thought was, "Luckily I didn’t bring the Mingfeng Sword when I went to see Lord Zhong last time."

If Lord Zhong had discovered the Demon Venerable’s primordial spirit in the sword, he might have slain him on the spot.

To Mrs. Ruan, Chen Ming’s silence was tantamount to acquiescence.

"I knew I was right."

Her tone carried a hint of excitement; suddenly, she knelt down with a thud, raising the Mingfeng Sword above her head, "Disciple Zhou Yilan of the Nine Demons Sect, pays respects to the Saint Heir."