[You have defeated an LV69 enemy, gaining 41,000 experience points]

Chen Ming glanced at the notification, feeling pleased.

This accountant-like elder didn’t show his full strength. Like the middle-aged man before, he displayed the demeanor of a Fourth Grade master, stopping just in time.

If it were a real fight to the death, unless Chen Ming used Sword Intent, the one who would die would be him.

If he used Sword Intent, he wouldn’t be able to face the next opponent.

The last time he used Sword Intent and cut off Lai Xiangran’s arm, it took him half a day to recover. It was a heavy mental drain.

Today, these three opponents gave him a total of over 100,000 experience points.

"Truly, high risk brings high reward; the experience points from challenging above one’s level are indeed high."

He was now akin to having max-level skills, along with a piece of top-grade equipment, grinding on small monsters more than ten levels above his own. As long as he was adept at pulling them, he could enjoy the experience points coming at a dizzying pace.

Chen Ming walked towards Ji Qianxing, who was observing the battle from the side, and said, "Thanks, Brother Ji. Should I pay a visit to the lady?"

Ji Qianxing said, "No need. The master is in closed-door training."

Closed-door training?

Is she planning to simultaneously cultivate ’Profound Fire True Skill’?

Chen Ming admired her courage and asked, "Do you know how many Fourth Grades the lady arranged for me?"

Ji Qianxing saw his earnest expression and said, "If you wish to continue, I can arrange it for Brother Chen tomorrow."

"Continue."

"Alright. Same time in the morning, Brother Chen, please come by yourself."

"Sure."

...

After watching Chen Ming leave, Ji Qianxing proceeded to the backyard to report to the master.

Entering the courtyard gate, he told the maid Ju’er who was waiting outside, "He has left."

"Who has left?"

A gentle voice was heard as a noble and beautiful woman wearing a palace robe emerged.

Ji Qianxing quickly bowed, "Greetings, Madam."

The woman raised a hand, "No need for formalities, whom did you say just left?"

Ji Qianxing replied, "It was Chen Ming."

"Chen Ming?"

The beautiful woman thought for a moment before recalling, "Isn’t he the one who just ranked sixth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking? Xiao’e has taken an interest in another young prodigy, wanting to recruit him under her command? Such nonsense."

Ji Qianxing lowered his head, not daring to speak.

This woman was the master’s aunt, from the Yu Family, now the wife of the Sect Leader of the Cangyue Sect, known as Lady Yu.

The Xiao’e she mentioned is Yu Haitang, Xiao’e is her childhood name, used only by those very close to her.

Lady Yu asked, "I ask you, is Xiao’e really in closed-door training?"

"Yes, Madam."

Ji Qianxing and Ju’er bowed and replied.

Lady Yu’s eyes flickered with a trace of worry, "Has she truly made up her mind? Is she really going to take that step?"

Ju’er said softly, "Madam, according to what I know, the master is practicing a secret technique, not trying to break through the realm. It’s just that this secret technique is quite difficult, so the master had me inform you to come and safeguard her."

Lady Yu said, "Understood."

After saying that, she walked inside.

Once she left, Ju’er asked, "How did the battle go?"

Ji Qianxing said, "He won all three matches."

"Ah?"

Ju’er was astonished, her face full of disbelief, "Is he really that powerful?"

Is he just powerful?

Ji Qianxing felt a surge of indescribable emotion, which he quickly suppressed, saying, "He wants to continue tomorrow."

Ju’er said, "I will convey this to the master."

...

The next day, Chen Ming returned, this time to face an opponent who was a richly dressed old man, markedly different from the three he faced yesterday, with an air of arrogance on his face.

This demeanor was familiar to him; previously in Qingfeng City, many so-called master veterans had this appearance. To put it bluntly, they were basking in past glories, living comfortably without striving for progress. They had lost their ambition yet loved to put on the airs of a ’senior’.

These types usually cherished their reputation, with fame being more important than their lives. Absolutely harder to deal with than the three from yesterday.

"Does she think too highly of me?"

Chen Ming silently cursed, yesterday they found a top-notch Level 69 Fourth Grade, and today found someone even harder to deal with.

Is this to humble him, specifically choosing masters to deflate his pride?

Hmph.

He silently chanted, summoned the panel, and directly added 100,000 points to ’Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens’. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

[Level: 55]

[Current Points: 453,000]

[Cultivation Technique: ’Iron Horse Stance’ (Fifth Level Perfection), ’Five Elements True Skill (Missing)’ (Fifth Level 990,000/1,500,000)]

[Martial Skill: ’Three Talents Fist’ (Great Perfection), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Great Perfection), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Great Perfection), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Great Perfection), ’Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship’ (Great Perfection), ’Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens’ (Third Level 1232/300,000)]

[Secret Technique: ’Disguise Technique’ (Great Perfection)]

In an instant, this lightweight skill has already broken through to the third level.

Chen Ming’s body underwent some changes again; some muscles became more resilient and powerful, and some of his meridians were expanded and strengthened.

At the same time, countless techniques and usage experiences related to this lightweight skill appeared in his mind, as if he had gained several years’ worth of practice experience out of thin air.

At this moment, the elderly man in luxurious clothing spoke, "As long as I defeat this person, the matter with my grandson will be written off?"

Ji Qianxing nodded and said, "Exactly."

The elderly man in luxurious clothing said no more, drew his weapon, and asked solemnly, "Young master, are you ready?"

Chen Ming had finished upgrading just in time, smiled slightly, and said, "I’m ready."

"Take this!"

A fierce shout cracked the air, and the elderly man in luxurious clothing disappeared, his long saber slicing towards Chen Ming’s waist.

Right from the first strike, he exerted all his strength.

But the slash missed.

Chen Ming narrowly dodged this rapid and fierce strike.

The second attack from the elderly man in luxurious clothing came immediately; he pursued Chen Ming in mid-air, leaving him with no escape.

At this moment, Chen Ming finally drew his sword, the tip of the sword tapping on the long saber, borrowing strength to float upwards once more.

Each move from the elderly man in luxurious clothing was faster than the last, with sword gang radiating in all directions.

In Ji Qianxing’s eyes, Chen Ming seemed to be at a total disadvantage, unable to counterattack, yet each time managing to narrowly avoid the opponent’s killing blows, dissolving the crisis from the impossible.

Even Ji Qianxing couldn’t help but sweat for Chen Ming, as under the fierce offensive of the elderly man in luxurious clothing, Chen Ming appeared precarious, seemingly ready to spill blood at any moment.

Gradually, Ji Qianxing also sensed something was amiss; Chen Ming’s posture was ethereal, like a nimble bird, in mid-air, seemingly not needing to land at all. The killing moves of the elderly man all missed.

This kind of body technique was simply unheard of.

Finally, Chen Ming began to counterattack, in mid-air, like a great bird, charging towards the elderly man.

He had seen Chen Ming use this move in the Cyan Cloud Ranking contest.

Deploying it now, however, was completely different, with its power not just increased tenfold; at this moment the sword tip was pointing precisely at the critical point of countering the enemy.

The elderly man in luxurious clothing was no slouch either, realizing the crisis and raising his saber to defend.

Humph!

A flash of blood was seen, and the elderly man let out a muffled groan, his shoulder already pierced by a sword, blood gushing out.

No matter how much Gang Qi he had to protect himself, under the Unparalleled Divine Weapon, it was like paper, barely blocking momentarily.

"What superb swordsmanship..."

The elderly man’s expression was miserable, clutching the wound on his shoulder, turning to leave.

Ji Qianxing stood dumbfounded, unable to clearly see what had happened just now, how Chen Ming’s sword deftly shifted three inches at the crucial moment, dodging the elderly man’s slash.

He only knew one thing: this person had become stronger again.

Chen Ming sheathed his sword and, as usual, sat cross-legged on the ground to circulate his energy and adjust his breathing.

...

[You have defeated an LV69 enemy, gaining 41,000 experience points]

[You have defeated an LV68 enemy, gaining 39,000 experience points]

[You have defeated an LV69 enemy, gaining 41,000 experience points]

Today’s three opponents allowed Chen Ming to gain 120,000 experience points. Immediately he earned back the 100,000 points spent on "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens."

He increasingly felt the extraordinariness of this lightweight body technique. At merely the third level, he was already capable of performing some incredible maneuvers and defying the laws of physics in his changes of direction.

Today’s three opponents were all extremely strong, and their fighting spirit was unwavering, not comparable to the three from yesterday.

Yet he could easily defeat them, highlighting how much "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" at the third level had enhanced his strength.

"However, before reaching the Third Grade, there’s no need to continue adding more."

Only after "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" reaches the third level can it realize its intricacies, similar to how a rocket engine requires fuel to reach its maximum power output.

Small horse pulling a big cart — continuing to allocate points is wasteful.

Chen Ming was not worried; with his current strength, there should be few that could surpass him among the Fourth Grade, at the very least on the level of Su Zhining.

Indeed, in the following days. The opponents arranged by Yu Haitang for him were easily defeated, earning a large amount of experience points.

Over ten thousand a day with ease, Chen Ming farmed effortlessly.

At this rate, he could accumulate enough experience points to reach the Third Grade in less than a month.

That’s right — this was his goal, surpassing the Fourth Grade and directly breaking through to the Third Grade realm, giving everyone a surprise.

In the presence of an ultimate powerhouse like Elder Shang and the Celestial Dao Alliance’s First Grade, only breaking through to Third Grade would provide some ability for self-preservation.

If there were excess experience points, he’d further elevate "Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens" a level or two, for escaping.

This plan was simply flawless.

...

While Chen Ming quietly implemented his plan, Qin Changyuan’s patience also reached its limit; he sent spies to monitor Chen Ming and learned that he went to the Yu family every day.

His face turned green with anger several times, longing to immediately slaughter Chen Ming, dismembering him. But he was ultimately restrained by his retinue.

On this day, the attendant finally brought good news, "The person has been found; he has only one request."

At this moment, Qin Changyuan regained his composure and asked, "What request?"

"His son is in the Six Gates, already at Fourth Grade, and unable to get promoted to Fifth Grade Captain. As long as his son is promoted, he’ll act immediately."

"Tell him to prepare to act in ten days."