First step, he pushed off the ground. His body, like a fleeting shadow, light as nothing, leaped onto the eaves of the main house.

Second step, the tip of his toe tapped lightly on the roof tiles. Like a young swallow darting through the woods, he shot straight into the air.

"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"

With three consecutive steps, he borrowed force from thin air as Qi Flow exploded beneath his feet. Like a dragon soaring from the abyss, Su Yu ascended dozens of yards in one smooth motion, instantly taking in the entire outline of the Su Mansion.

「At the main gate.」

Su Can was on patrol with Li Jin and six or seven other elite guards.

High in the sky, Su Yu took his final step, stomping down and violently bursting a ball of air beneath his foot. Like a falcon folding its wings, he transformed into a black afterimage that chased the moon and stars, crashing down before Su Can and the others with a roaring gale.

"Enemy attack! Someone’s in the air!"

Su Can was the strongest and reacted the fastest. Feeling a fierce wind pressing down from above, the Qi and Blood in his arm surged in an instant, exuding an unstoppable aura as he reached for his saber to meet the enemy.

The others were even more terrified. A gale blasted their faces, and a tall, straight figure appeared before their eyes.

The next moment, when Su Can saw who it was, his hand, gripping his saber, froze. His eyes filled with disbelief. "S-Second Brother? Why did you fall from the sky?"

The gale subsided. Clad in black, Su Yu stood with his hands behind his back. He nodded slightly and smiled faintly. "I just mastered a movement technique and wanted to test my ability to step on air. No need to be nervous. Carry on with your patrol."

After offering a few words of encouragement, Su Yu strolled back to the rear courtyard with a steady gait.

At the main gate, the group of guards stared at each other, gulping frantically.

Only after Su Yu’s figure had completely vanished did the men snap out of their daze, their eyes filled with an unconcealable, feverish shock.

Although they had long known that their master was the number one expert of Black Stone City’s younger generation, seeing him fall from the sky like a bird and land unscathed was still a shock beyond measure.

"My heavens, Lord Su is too terrifying... To be able to cross the sky on air like a bird!" a young guard exclaimed, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

"You’re just inexperienced, kid," a middle-aged man next to him said, slapping his shoulder with a proud look. "My older brother, who works at the Public Security Bureau, told me that Lord Su is a god descended to the mortal world, an incarnation of Mars! Forget stepping on air, I’d believe it if you said he could fly through the heavens and burrow through the earth!"

"Of course!" another guard chimed in, his face lighting up.

"The other day, I went to a matchmaking meeting. The woman was looking down on me at first. But the moment I told her I worked for Lord Su at the Su Mansion, she immediately agreed! She was so eager she practically wanted to pack her bags and move in with me that very night!"

...

’The Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step is mastered, and my speed and agility have increased again. Now that my Martial Arts have reached a divine level, my cultivation is getting faster and faster. At this rate, I can probably break through to the Perfection realm with the Thunder Collapse Step in less than a month!’

Su Yu looked at his status panel with satisfaction, planning his next steps.

’According to Master, there are just over twenty days until the city’s martial arts dojos hold their alliance conference. There’s bound to be some sparring and fighting then. At my current cultivation speed, my Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist will definitely break through to the Skilled level, and I’ll enter the Mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm.’

’And with my current physical talent, even if the Mo Yuan isn’t finished in time, with the buffs from Ape Shadow Swift Wind, Ape Demon Baleful Aura, and Five Senses Divine, I’ll have enough power to fight above my level and defeat a late-stage Flesh Refining Realm expert!’

’However, precious medicines and treasured fish are getting harder and harder to come by. With the Black Lotus Sect drawing ever closer to Black Stone City, prices throughout the city have skyrocketed, and all the families are hoarding whatever good things they have.’

Su Yu glanced at his Breakthrough Point information again.

[Breakthrough Point]: 0 points (Progress 12%)

Having not consumed any precious medicines or treasured fish for the past few days, his Breakthrough Point progress was accumulating at a snail’s pace, which gave him a bit of a headache.

’The monthly shares from the Yang, Jiang, and Cai Families have all been delivered. It’s about five ordinary treasured fish and one stalk of wild ginseng. The three better-quality precious medicines—the Nine Yang Blood Orchid, the Purple Marrow Dates, and the red dragon earth ginseng—should be saved as an energy source for my White Ape Transformation. I can’t eat them casually.’

’By that calculation, even if I eat all the treasured fish and the wild ginseng, it will only increase my progress by thirty or forty percent. I’ll still be a long way from a single Breakthrough Point. And the techniques I can break the limit on now require at least two Breakthrough Points. Sigh, I don’t have enough resources!’

...

「The next day」

Su Yu was practicing his fist techniques when a deeply penetrating laugh echoed from outside the courtyard.

"AHAHAHAHAHA..."

Following the hearty laughter, Qian Wenhao of the Qian Family Fishing Team, travel-worn and led by Li Da, strode through the gate with the gait of a tiger. "Brother Su, it’s been a while!"

Su Yu slowly withdrew his fist, exhaling a long plume of white vapor. He walked forward with a smile. "Brother Qian, please, come inside to the main hall."

The two entered the main hall and took their seats. Yaya deftly served two cups of hot tea before obediently excusing herself.

Su Yu picked up the exquisite Ru-ware teacup, gently blowing on the floating tea leaves. He smiled, "Brother Qian, try this Bixue Maojian tea."

Qian Wenhao gulped down the entire cup of tea in one go and spoke directly, "Brother Su, I’m a straightforward man, so I’ll get right to the point."

"Please speak freely, Brother."

"My young miss, Qian Qinghong, mentioned before that she wanted your help with a trip to the depths of the Black Water River. Do you remember? The preparations on her end are complete, and we set sail in three days. I was wondering if you could lend us a hand this time, brother?"

Su Yu didn’t answer immediately. He lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and a flicker passed through his eyes as thoughts churned in his mind.

’The strangeness has died down for now, so the dangers in the upper reaches of the Black Water River have been greatly reduced. What’s more, not only have I entered the Flesh Refining Realm, but several of my Martial Arts have also been mastered through breaking their limits. My strength now is on a completely different level.’

’And I happen to need more resources like treasured fish right now. If I can score another windfall, I might be able to rapidly boost my strength again.’

As the situation in Black Stone City grew more bizarre and unstable, the sense of urgency in his heart intensified.

’In peaceful times, the strength of the Flesh Refining Realm would be enough to run wild in the Outer City. I could marry eight or ten beautiful wives and concubines, sunbathe and stroll with my pet birds every day, and live comfortably as a wealthy man. That would be no problem at all.’

’But not now. That’s just a pipe dream!’

’The entire Northern Liang Province has fallen, and the Black Lotus Sect’s army could be at our borders at any moment. When the day comes that the city falls and the enemy is at the gates, forget the Flesh Refining Realm—even a Muscle Forging Realm master wouldn’t be able to guarantee their own survival!’

He weighed the pros and cons in a matter of seconds.

Su Yu set down his teacup and looked up at Qian Wenhao. "Brother Qian, you’re being too formal. I’ve always considered Miss Qian a friend. Since she’s the one asking, I’ll help. We’ll set out together in three days."

"That’s great!" Qian Wenhao was overjoyed and slapped his thigh. "Brother Su, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you! You agreed without even asking about the reward. It’s worth it for my young miss to have a friend like you! But she did say she’ll definitely give you a satisfactory reward."

"Oh? Brother Qian, what reward does Miss Qian plan to offer me?" Su Yu was also a little curious. Qian Qinghong had always been generous.

She had given him the Bibo Fish Dragon Skill and sent him treasured fish several times... She had never let him get the short end of the stick, which was one of the reasons Su Yu had agreed so readily.

Hearing this, Qian Wenhao grinned and decided to be mysterious. "AHAHAHA, I can’t make that call. The young miss has given her orders. The day before we depart, she will personally visit you to discuss it. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!"

"In that case, I will await Miss Qian’s visit," Su Yu said with a light chuckle.

’Since Qian Qinghong considers him a friend, then he, Su Yu, is not an ungrateful person. It’s only right to help her with her expedition, as long as it’s within his power.’