Chapter 255: Chapter 146: The Realm is Achieved

...

Leaving the assembly hall, Shen Qingshuang asked, "Shen Qingyao, why the sudden interest in joining the Demon Suppression Department?"

Shen Qingyao smiled. "Don’t you always say that all I do is stay in the family compound to cultivate, only consuming the family’s resources?

I’m going to the Demon Suppression Department to gain experience and prove that I can earn Merit and exchange it for Martial Arts Resources on my own."

"Hmph! Do you think completing missions for the Demon Suppression Department—dealing with the Demon Sect and Demon Beasts all day—is child’s play? You’ll be facing life-threatening danger all the time," Shen Qingshuang snorted.

Shen Qingyao said, "I’m well aware of the danger, but I’m at the Bone Forging Realm, which is stronger than a Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artist, right?

That subordinate of yours, Chen Cheng, is only at Small Success in the Muscle Strengthening Realm, isn’t he? He’s also joining the Demon Suppression Department. Aren’t you worried about him?"

"I can’t be bothered with you!" Shen Qingshuang flicked her sleeves and strode away.

Shen Qingyao called after her, "Hey... aren’t you going to ask me to look out for Chen Cheng?"

"You should worry about yourself!" Shen Qingshuang waved a hand behind her without looking back.

...

The case of Zhou Xu’s murder didn’t seem to cause any waves. At least, Chen Cheng hadn’t heard any news about it.

The City Guard Department’s case file simply read: "Unnamed Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artist killed, assailant unknown."

Filed this way, it was clearly being treated as just another conflict between Jianghu figures, meaning the City Guard Department wouldn’t investigate any further.

This was an outcome Chen Cheng was naturally happy to see.

In the following days, the transfer order from the Demon Suppression Department never came, nor was there any word from Shen Qingshuang. Chen Cheng was content to continue his days in Lishui District, immersing himself in cultivating the Martial Dao.

Time flew by, and two quiet months passed for Chen Cheng.

Finally, the transfer order from the Demon Suppression Department arrived. Along with it came the person who would be taking over Chen Cheng’s position as Chief Constable—another member of the Shen Family.

It seemed the delay in receiving his transfer order was because the Shen Family had been searching for his replacement.

On this particular morning, as Dawn was just breaking, Chen Cheng was already up. After washing up, he went to the attic terrace to practice his Great Power Realm.

His Qi Blood Power began to circulate throughout his body. In his mind, the Great Power Realm Root Map was exceptionally clear. Beneath a massive Dragon Eagle Iron Claw, the essences of mountains, rivers, earth, and sky gathered, almost solidifying.

The Dragon Eagle roared and beat its wings, suddenly swelling to several times its original size. Its Iron Claw expanded as well, frantically absorbing the essences of the mountains, rivers, earth, and sky...

In the real world, Chen Cheng’s hands formed claws. As he slowly moved them, waves of violent Qi Force surged and churned wildly around his body...

An hour later, the turbulent Qi Force suddenly retracted. Chen Cheng’s eyes gleamed as a faint smile touched his lips, and he slowly raised his right hand.

Ripples formed in his palm, then transformed into swirling currents of air that spun frantically, faster and faster, growing larger and larger.

Chen Cheng’s fingers suddenly snapped into a claw, and he clenched his fist violently!

BOOM!

The vortex of air suddenly exploded with a deep, muffled bang.

With a mere thought, his Qi Blood Power circulated, and a fierce wind abruptly rose around him.

"Go!"

The gale swept outward, reaching about ten feet into the air before letting out a low hum.

Chen Cheng slowly waved his hand. The gale dove downward, plunging straight into the lake. It then wrapped around a mass of water, pulling it out and suspending it in mid-air as a water sphere the size of a millstone.

"Break!"

Following his soft cry, the water sphere burst apart, scattering into a fine mist.

’The First Layer of the Great Power Realm... I’ve finally mastered it!’

Chen Cheng’s breathing was steady and deep, his expression completely relaxed. Just now, unleashing the Great Power Realm had only used about one percent of his Qi Blood Power.

’If I were to face Zhou Xu again now, at close range, I could probably crush him to a pulp using less than a tenth of my Qi Blood Power to channel the Great Power Realm!

This is the power of the First Layer of the Great Power Realm! But even if I use my full strength, I’m still nowhere near my master, Mr. Zheng’s, level.

Mr. Zheng’s Great Power Realm can crush an Iron Ball into dust, then compress that dust back into an Iron Ball. Now that’s true power!’

Only after mastering the First Layer of the Great Power Realm did Chen Cheng truly comprehend how terrifying Mr. Zheng was!

If Mr. Zheng were to unleash a Second Layer Realm, who knows how powerful that would be!

However, it seemed the Second Layer Realm Mr. Zheng had mastered wasn’t the Great Power Realm, but the legendary Dragon Soaring Realm.

’What kind of Realm is that?’

’I’m still not strong enough. I have to keep training!’

With that thought, Chen Cheng summoned his status panel to check it.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Muscle Strengthening (Great Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Skill • Muscle Strengthening (Great Success 7822/10000)

Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique (Great Success 9569/10000)

Powerful Eagle Claw Skill (Perfection) (Powerful Eagle Claw Stance) (First Layer of the Great Power Realm) (Inference of the Second Layer Technique of the Great Power Realm: Progress 50/1000. Upon completion, cultivation of the Second Layer of the Great Power Realm is possible.)

Deer Cutting Saber Technique (Perfection) (Horn-Cutting Saber Stance 76330/100000)

Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Perfection, Wind Chasing Saber Stance) (Cultivation Technique inference in progress, Current Inference Progress: 49/100. Upon completion, the technique can be advanced to a Superior Technique.)]

After increasing his weight training, the Cultivation Progress of his Iron Armor Skill was as fast as ever. He should be able to reach Perfection in just another month.

As for the Dragon Eagle Muscle Strengthening Technique, Chen Cheng could now consume half a Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill in one go, and his Cultivation Progress was skyrocketing.

The only problem was that you can’t make bricks without straw—he was short on Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pills.

He wasn’t missing many, just one more. But he didn’t have it, and that was that. He would have to find a way to get it.

Although he had yet to reach Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection, Chen Cheng could feel that the development of his Major Tendons had far surpassed that of other Perfect Martial Artists of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.

Now that the First Layer of the Great Power Realm was perfected, he could begin the next inference, but this time, something seemed to have changed.

Inferring the Second Layer of the Great Power Realm required 1000 progress points. Just by mastering the First Layer, the inference progress had already started at 50 points.

’I wonder if the inference progress will be fast?’

’Let’s give it a try.’

With that thought, Chen Cheng began to practice the First Layer of the Great Power Realm, trying to gain new insights.

...

...

An hour later, Chen Cheng stopped his Cultivation. After summoning his panel to check it again, he couldn’t help but frown.

The inference progress for the Second Layer Realm hadn’t increased at all; it was still at 50 points. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

’It seems that trying to infer the Second Layer of the Great Power Realm just by practicing the First Layer will be extremely slow. I’ll have to find time to ask my master about the cultivation method for the Second Layer Realm.

Still, now that I’ve mastered the First Layer of the Great Power Realm, I can hold my own even against a Bone Forger Realm Martial Artist.

I can go to the Demon Suppression Department, earn some Merit, and exchange it for a Bone Tempering Pill to prepare for cultivating the Bone Forging Realm.’

...

After breakfast, Chen Cheng stayed home, conserving his energy while he waited.

Shen Qingshuang had previously sent Xiaoxing with a message that someone from the Shen Family would come today to take him to the Demon Suppression Department to report for duty.

Chen Cheng didn’t have to wait long before the person from the Shen Family arrived.

The visitor had skin as smooth as jade and a stunningly beautiful face. Dressed in a purple, cloud-patterned uniform with a Longsword at her waist, she stood tall and elegant. It was none other than Shen Qingyao, dressed as a woman.

"Young Master Chen, I am Shen Qingyao. A pleasure to meet you." As soon as she entered, Shen Qingyao smiled and clasped her hands in a salute to Chen Cheng.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with a strange light as she observed Chen Cheng’s reaction, clearly wanting to savor his shocked expression.

She had also already decided to try and fool Chen Cheng again, claiming that she merely looked similar to Shen Junmo.

But Chen Cheng gave her no such chance, saying leisurely, "Brother Junmo, long time no see!"

Shen Qingyao’s smile froze. Seeing Chen Cheng’s calm expression, she instantly understood. She had probably been sold out by Mu Xiaowan long ago.

"That girl Xiaowan, when did she tell you who I was?" Shen Qingyao demanded, flushing with embarrassment.

Chen Cheng didn’t sell out Mu Xiaowan, however. He put on a very serious expression and said, "Xiaowan didn’t say anything. But Miss Qingyao, haven’t you heard people say that you look very similar to Senior Sister Qingshuang?

In all of Linji City, who else looks as similar to Miss Qingshuang as you do?"

"You really figured it out yourself?" Shen Qingyao was skeptical.

But Chen Cheng couldn’t be bothered to continue the charade. He asked seriously, "Miss Qingyao, are you here to take me to the Demon Suppression Department to assume my post?"