Chapter 70: Chapter 68: Enhancing Strength

## Step 1: Contextual Analysis

### Literary Genre:

This appears to be a Chinese cultivation/martial arts (wuxia/xianxia) web novel. The text contains elements of martial arts training, cultivation levels (realms), and characters with supernatural abilities.

### Language Style:

The language is straightforward narrative prose typical of web novels, with some martial arts terminology and descriptive passages. There’s a mix of dialogue, action, and introspection.

### Tone:

The tone is serious and somewhat tense, with elements of urgency and danger. There’s an underlying feeling of political intrigue and pursuit of power.

### Plot Keywords:

Martial arts cultivation, training, stealth, city under lockdown, injury, revenge, pursuit of power, family relationships

### Characters:

- Wu Liangchen (武良辰): Male protagonist, young martial artist (17 years old) with rapidly increasing power, seems to have a special ability to see his stats like in a game

- Wu Mengchan (武梦婵): Female, Wu Liangchen’s younger sister

- Master Xiao/Xiao Rong (萧荣): Male, a powerful official or martial artist who got injured in the face, seems to be hunting someone

- Zhan Feng (詹封): Male, a powerful martial artist who fought with Xiao Rong

- Yan Guanhua (严冠华): Male, Patriarch of the Yan family

- Aunt Fan (樊姨): Female, mentioned but not present in this Chapter

## Step 2: Integrated Translation and Polishing

I’ll now translate the text while applying all the rules outlined. Let me begin:

The first part describes a drinking scene between Wu Liangchen and his sister Wu Mengchan. It mentions strong spirits that have become popular in Dinghai City in recent years, with Wu Mengchan not being accustomed to the taste. They share a meal and drinks, and afterward, Wu Mengchan goes to sleep while Wu Liangchen continues drinking and reflecting on recent events.

The next section shows Wu Liangchen examining his "attribute panel" which shows his cultivation levels and skills. This confirms this is a cultivation novel with game-like elements. He’s progressing rapidly in the "Martial Arts Third Realm" but feels he needs more time.

Then Wu Liangchen leaves to find a place to practice his martial arts, but discovers the city is under strict surveillance with patrols everywhere. He has to be careful to avoid detection.

The final section shifts to Xiao Rong who was injured in the face by what seems to be an arrow. A doctor tells him he will have a permanent scar, which distresses him. Yan Guanhua visits him with medicines and mentions that other family patriarchs want to congratulate him on breaking the "Heartless Dao." Xiao Rong is focused on capturing a "demoness" first. The Chapter ends with Xiao Rong waiting for someone who approaches but stays under a tree, showing caution.

Now, let me provide the full, polished translation while carefully following all the rules:

The alcohol was premium spirits, something that had only become popular in Dinghai City in the last decade or so. Before that, the mild yellow rice wine had been the drink of choice.

This kind of harsh, pungent liquor was something the wealthy would disdain to drink.

But Wu Liangchen had purchased a lot of it because this high-proof spirit could be used for disinfection in critical moments, making it far more useful than yellow wine.

However, Wu Mengchan clearly wasn’t accustomed to the taste, coughing and sputtering after just one sip.

Seeing his sister’s flushed face, Wu Liangchen laughed heartily and switched her drink to a Huadiao Nü’er Hong wine instead.

"Come on, bottoms up!"

Outside, the howling winter wind made the roof tiles RATTLE and CLATTER, but inside it was comfortably warm.

The siblings sat around the table, eating, drinking, and chatting.

Wu Mengchan’s anxious heart gradually calmed under the soothing effect of alcohol.

After dinner, Wu Mengchan was already showing signs of intoxication. She swayed as she tried to get up and clear the dishes, but Wu Liangchen stopped her.

"Leave them. I’ll drink a bit more. You go to bed."

Wu Mengchan didn’t insist and went to her room to sleep.

Wu Liangchen opened another jar of spirits and drank slowly.

His alcohol tolerance was now extremely high—a jar or two of strong spirits only left him slightly tipsy.

His mind became more active now.

The various incidents he had encountered over the past two days all surfaced in his mind.

Especially the battle he had witnessed today between Zhan Feng and Xiao Rong, which had deeply shaken Wu Liangchen.

Previously, Aunt Fan had said that among a hundred people, barely one could reach great accomplishment in the Second Realm, and those in the Third Realm were extremely rare. At the time, Wu Liangchen thought she was exaggerating.

Now he realized she hadn’t exaggerated at all.

Because the gap was indeed tremendous.

Wu Liangchen was confident he could easily escape from a combined attack by Martial Artists of the same realm, but if he faced Zhan Feng or Xiao Rong, even if he could survive, he would inevitably be injured.

So his most urgent task was to quickly improve his strength, because only with sufficient power could he hold his fate in his own hands.

With this in mind, Wu Liangchen opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Wu Liangchen] [Age: 17]

[Life Fire: 31 strands]

[Cart Pulling (Proficient 410/500)]

[Five Animals Fist (Proficient 89/500)]

[Mixed Origin Stance (Proficient 85/500)]

[Eight-Step Wind-Chasing Fist (Advanced 195/200)]

[Martial Arts Third Realm: Qi Filling the Lungs (35%)]

Only a short time had passed since he had fully mastered Tendon Stretching and Bone Strengthening, yet his progress had already reached 35%.

This rate of advancement was astonishing, but Wu Liangchen was still somewhat dissatisfied.

At this pace, it would take at least another month to fully master Qi Filling the Lungs.

If this were known, countless jaws would drop in astonishment.

Because no one had ever heard of someone mastering the Third Realm in just a few months.

But Wu Liangchen had no interest in thinking about that.

What he lacked most right now was time.

Fortunately, his Eight-Step Wind-Chasing Fist was about to break through, which should significantly improve his combat capability.

With this thought, Wu Liangchen drained the jar in one gulp, leapt out of the courtyard, and disappeared into the snowy night.

The bitter wind was piercing, and the snow fell silently.

The entire Dinghai City seemed dead, without a single light visible.

Wu Liangchen understood that behind this unusual stillness definitely lurked unlimited killing intent.

So he didn’t travel by rooftop, but instead moved through the dense web of alleys and small lanes.

Occasionally, when he heard patrolling soldiers and constables ahead, he would immediately hide.

Relying on his superior Body Technique, he safely reached the desolate corner where he often practiced.

But just as he was about to enter, he suddenly stopped and carefully observed from the darkness.

Moments later, Wu Liangchen finally identified his target.

It was a figure hiding atop the city wall, difficult to see clearly through the wild grass and snow.

Only someone like Wu Liangchen could have noticed; anyone else would have missed it completely.

Wu Liangchen couldn’t help but feel a chill.

How domineering of Xiao Rong.

When he said the entire city was under martial law, he meant it—even such a desolate corner had people lying in ambush.

With no choice, Wu Liangchen slowly withdrew and began looking for another deserted spot.

Wu Liangchen soon discovered that the most heavily guarded areas were near the city walls, especially around collapsed sections and gaps, where many people lay in wait.

Most of these people were from various martial arts schools and prominent families, but some wore constable uniforms and had stern expressions.

They were probably Xiao Rong’s direct subordinates from the Capital.

Wu Liangchen didn’t want to cause trouble, so he avoided these sensitive areas and found an abandoned mansion in the city. Once inside, he found a sheltered corner and began practicing his Martial Arts.

In a mansion in North City, there was an extravagantly decorated room.

Crystal chandeliers hung with candles illuminated the entire room as bright as day. The floor was covered with hand-woven carpets imported from the Fire Worship Country, so plush they swallowed one’s feet.

Various delicacies were arranged on plates, and beautiful, scantily-clad servant girls moved back and forth, creating a feast for the eyes.

Yet despite such an opulent atmosphere, the spacious room was strangely silent.

No one dared speak, and all eyes were fixed on the man seated in the center.

At that moment, a physician was carefully cleaning the wound on his face.

The injury was extremely severe, deep enough to expose bone. Worse, because the arrowhead had barbs, the wound was jagged and impossible to suture. It could only be dressed with medicine and bandaged, left to heal slowly on its own.

Xiao Rong sat there with a gloomy expression, not moving a muscle regardless of the physician’s actions.

Finally, the wound was bandaged, and the physician, drenched in sweat, stepped back a few paces.

"Sir, it’s done!"

Xiao Rong touched the heavily bandaged left side of his face, feeling an unbearable itching in the wound, and couldn’t help asking:

"Will it leave a scar?"

"Well..."

"Tell me the truth!"

"Yes!" the physician replied, trembling with fear.

"Your injury is too severe. Despite my best efforts, I can only reduce some of the scarring."

Xiao Rong fell silent.

For someone like him who had been pampered since childhood, disfigurement was extremely difficult to accept.

But things had come to this point, and he could only wave his hand dismissively.

The physician, as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly bowed and withdrew.

A moment later, Yan Guanhua entered with a group of people.

"Master Xiao, are you feeling better?"

"Yes, much better," Xiao Rong merely nodded without saying more.

"That’s good. Here are some pills that help remove decay and regenerate flesh. They should be helpful to you." Yan Guanhua presented a small box.

"The Patriarch is thoughtful."

"Haha, this is merely my duty. After all, without you, Master Xiao, we wouldn’t have been able to break the Heartless Dao yet."

"And it’s not just me—representatives from the Hong family, the Feng family, the Wei family, and others have arrived. They’re all waiting. Once you’ve treated your wound, they want to come in and congratulate you."

"No need for congratulations. I still have some matters to attend to later. Let’s wait a couple of days—after we capture that demoness, we can celebrate together," said Xiao Rong.

"In that case, I won’t disturb Master Xiao’s rest!"

Yan Guanhua didn’t say anything more and immediately took his leave.

After he left, Xiao Rong opened the window and waited quietly.

Finally, after a full quarter-hour, a figure appeared in the courtyard. But instead of coming in, the person stood under a tree, waiting.

Seeing this, Xiao Rong gave a cold laugh.

"What? Afraid I’ll go back on my word?"