In the eastern part of the city, within a certain mansion, Li Qingchang was practicing his blade in the courtyard, slashing over and over into the void to vent his inner dissatisfaction.

This was a property of the Guanglong Trading Company. After he became an apprentice, he learned from his master for two months before being sent back to Qingfeng City. He was required to visit every three months to have his martial arts progress assessed.

His master was old, liked peace and quiet, and always preferred to stay in the countryside town rather than enter the city.

The more Li Qingchang thought about it, the angrier he became. He suddenly slashed at the pine tree in the courtyard, severing its trunk in one stroke.

With a crackling sound, the pine tree, as thick as a bowl, slanted and finally collapsed with a loud crash.

He sheathed his blade and stood with determination, making a vow in his heart, "When I break through to the Sixth Grade, I will certainly avenge today’s humiliation!"

He was extremely confident in this.

He was cultivating a top-notch Cultivation Technique, and once he reached the Sixth Grade, his True Qi would far surpass the ordinary Sixth Grade. Taking down someone like Chen Ming would be a walk in the park.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from outside.

Li Qingchang said irritably, "Didn’t I say I’m not to be disturbed while practicing?"

He heard a somewhat familiar voice respond, "Third Senior Brother."

He turned around and was surprised to see, "Little Junior Brother? Why are you here?"

It was his junior who had apprenticed with him, named Duan Xiaoliu, who only had a Ninth Grade Cultivation and was younger, thus ranked fifth upon entering.

After Li Qingchang spoke, he felt that something was off with the Little Junior Brother today. Previously, this Little Junior Brother was always very respectful to him. Today, not only did he not salute, but he also stared at him sternly.

"Third Senior Brother, do you recognize this?"

Duan Xiaoliu held up a golden blade in his hands.

Li Qingchang was startled and swallowed, "This is the master’s golden blade."

"Good that you recognize it." Duan Xiaoliu’s gaze sharpened as he announced, "The master ordered me to come and issue a command that you are to be confined in the mansion for one year to reflect, and during this time, you must not step foot outside. If you violate this, you will be expelled from the sect!"

What?

Li Qingchang felt as if he had been struck, standing unsteadily and almost falling to the ground.

Duan Xiaoliu stepped forward to support him, sighed, and said, "Third Senior Brother, accept the order."

Li Qingchang seemed as if he’d been stimulated by something, his expression twisted. With force, he grabbed Duan Xiaoliu’s collar and roared in anger, "Why? What did I do wrong?"

Duan Xiaoliu was not angry and explained, "The people the master sent said that you shouldn’t have offended the Third Young Master!"

"I—"

Li Qingchang wanted to explain but was stuck. Soon, he wilted, releasing his grip. In a bitter voice, he said, "The apprentice... accepts the order."

Everything he had now, his status, position, Cultivation Technique, and so on, were all given by the master. No matter how the master punished him, he could only endure it.

...

...

That night was destined to be a sleepless one.

Su Zhining taught for an entire night, and Chen Ming finally gained a solid understanding of the Divine Phantom Technique, but he was still far from getting started with it.

It was almost dawn when Su Zhining ended the lesson. Before leaving, she asked a sharp question, "How did you practice your swordsmanship?"

It was her first time seeing someone so dim-witted. It was only a second-rate Body Technique, what was so difficult? It was obviously a simple formula, yet he asked repeatedly and needed it patiently explained several times before he could somewhat grasp it.

This comprehension was just too poor.

In fact, she hadn’t studied the Divine Phantom Technique thoroughly either; she only learned it by looking it over once.

Chen Ming laughed, "I’m just a slow learner."

How could someone of his average potential compare to Su Zhining, a genius at the top of the nine major sects who was already a Fourth Grade Cultivation by her early twenties?

If he didn’t have some advantages, it would have been impossible to even interact with such a gifted individual.

At this moment, footsteps could be heard from outside, and Su Zhining darted away like a shadow.

What a Body Technique!

Chen Ming suddenly felt some envy. Joining a major sect was indeed beneficial; you could learn advanced martial arts at will and have a master teach you hand in hand.

Having a teacher versus self-studying, the difference was truly immense.

...

That day, Chen Ming did not go out and stayed at home.

He felt that if the Qi Family were to make a move, it would be within these few days; it was purely an intuition.

If they didn’t act soon, he would push them into action, as his longsword was already itching to be used.

That day passed quietly.

After nightfall, he continued to stay in his room, flipping through the Divine Phantom Technique. With Su Zhining’s guidance from the previous night, he understood the terms and meanings of the Eight Trigrams Position and was finally able to barely comprehend this manual.

Su Zhining did not show herself, likely because she wasn’t willing to teach him again.

This feeling, he could understand. In his previous life on Earth, he once helped his third-grade nephew with homework. It raised his blood pressure so much that he wanted to smash open the fool’s head with a hammer to see what it was made of.

Su Zhining’s mood was probably similar to how he felt then.

Unknowingly, it was already the latter half of the night.

Suddenly, Chen Ming detected an unusual breeze, the sound of airflow moved by someone walking.

Someone has come!

He reached for the sword hilt.

But wait—

Chen Ming quickly let go of the sword hilt. It was only one person approaching, and their cultivation was too low, at most Seventh Grade. Even if Qi Yanxiong were foolish, he wouldn’t send someone with such low cultivation to assassinate him.

"It’s me."

The person stopped at the door, and upon hearing the voice, Chen Ming felt it somewhat familiar and asked, "Is that Junior Sister Zhong?"

It was actually Zhong Shuyu, the disciple of that maniacal Junior Sister of Huo Chengkun.

This woman’s identity was not simple. She’d been hunted by the Six Gates before, accused of being a pirate.

About half a year ago, she appeared in Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion, accompanied by a woman in red. Although her face was covered at the time, Chen Ming recognized her immediately.

Not long after that, her master, that maniacal old woman, stormed Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion in search of Elder Shang.

Despite her low cultivation, she seemed shrouded in mystery, clearly harboring many secrets.

Zhong Shuyu stood outside the door, not entering, and spoke in a quiet voice, "Someone intends to kill you."

"The leader is called Wan Lao San, a Fifth Grade, with three of his sworn brothers all Sixth Grade. These four are notorious pirates at sea, never leaving survivors. You’d best hide."

Chen Ming said, "Thanks, Junior Sister, for the warning."

Zhong Shuyu did not respond; she had already left.

A Fifth Grade, and three Sixth Grades. Qi Yanxiong must really think highly of him, sending such formidable men to kill him.

Chen Ming was not surprised that the Qi Family would conspire with pirates.

Among the traders in Qingfeng City, anyone you pick is likely to have connections with pirates. It was only natural to use such desperadoes for killing.

The legendary assassin organizations are not easily contacted by just anyone. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

...

After leaving the Chen Mansion, Zhong Shuyu slipped into a small alley and suddenly saw someone standing ahead, causing her heart to skip a beat.

"You disappoint me greatly!"

Hearing this voice, Zhong Shuyu was struck as if by lightning and knelt down with a plop, "This servant deserves to die a thousand times over, please punish me, Miss."

In the alley stood a mysterious woman in red, hidden in darkness, with a hint of anger in her tone, "Do you realize what you’ve done? This is betrayal, turning against your brothers. If the Sea Lord finds out, do you know what the consequences would be?"

Zhong Shuyu remained prostrate on the ground, sobbing, "This servant knows my crime is unforgivable, and I am willing to accept any punishment."

The woman in red stared at her for a long time before softly asking, "Was it worth it?"

"He once saved my life. Now, I’m merely returning the favor..."

"Foolish."

The woman in red seemed exasperated, only speaking after a long pause, "Stand up."

Zhong Shuyu finally looked up, "Miss..."

"You and I are like sisters. How could I bear to see you die?"

"Thank you... Miss." Zhong Shuyu was moved to tears, her voice choked.

"However, I also cannot sit back and watch our brothers be killed."

The woman in red looked in the direction of the Chen Mansion and said calmly, "Rest assured, I will not intervene. But, he should not think of eliminating Wan Lao San and his men under the cover of the Six Gates."