Chen Ming looked at the unconscious Jin Jianxiong and fell into contemplation. Were they too weak, or was he too strong?

So far, he had fought with three individuals of the Sixth Pin rank, and he hadn’t even fully unleashed his swordsmanship before one conceded, another fell, and the third turned to flee.

This seemed a bit odd.

Chen Ming couldn’t help but recall what Zhou Weihao had told him about the categorization of cultivation techniques. He mused internally, "Could it be that the gap between Supreme Divine Skill and third-rate techniques is this vast?"

Upon further thought, it was very likely that Gao Mingchuan, Jin Jianxiong, and Cao Jiahui hadn’t broken through to the Fifth Pin rank at their age due to limitations of their cultivation techniques.

The poorest techniques Zhou Weihao mentioned were third-rate, but that didn’t mean there weren’t worse ones. The ones they practiced probably couldn’t even reach the Fourth Pin rank, being substandard techniques.

Chen Ming quickly grasped the key issue.

The True Qi of Supreme Divine Skill not only acts as a physical attack but also carries magical damage. Those substandard techniques lack even magic resistance, so once they engage with him, they quickly falter.

So, the essence of the matter was still that these three from the Sixth Pin rank were too weak.

If he had encountered someone from a noble family at the Sixth Pin rank, they wouldn’t be so incompetent.

"It looks like the fact that I possess Supreme Divine Skill can no longer be concealed,"

Chen Ming thought to himself.

Of course, this kind of thing couldn’t be hidden anyway, unless he never sparred with anyone.

Besides, given his extraordinary rate of improvement, even the dullest person could surmise that he harbors some secret.

This was also why he was reluctant to go to Jiangzhou City.

At this moment, Chen Rui, having learned the fight was over, hurried over. Seeing his younger brother standing there unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t ask why the fight occurred, instead contemplating how to handle the aftermath.

He inquired, "How should we deal with him?"

Chen Ming pondered and replied, "Send two people to take him back. His home is located..."

Chen Rui suddenly dismissed everyone around them, pulled his brother aside, and asked in a low voice, "Will just letting him go cause future trouble? Should we..."

He made a hand gesture, suggesting a downward slash.

Chen Ming was surprised, genuinely not expecting his elder brother to say such words, and couldn’t help but stare at him for a while, his feelings mixed.

On the one hand, he was pleased with his brother’s growth.

On the other hand, seeing the heart of his always kind and gentle elder brother become cold and ruthless, he felt somewhat saddened.

He said, "There’s no need, it’s just a sparring match. There’s no deep hatred."

After saying this, he distinctly noticed Jin Jianxiong’s tense body, seemingly "unconscious," relax, but didn’t expose him.

Seeing Chen Ming say this, Chen Rui nodded and went to call someone over.

...

This was merely a minor episode and didn’t greatly affect Chen Ming. After sending the person away, he returned to his usual routine of eating and reading.

Until the moon rose high above, Chen Ming sent Chunxiang and Xiaxiang to rest and sat alone by the window, engrossed in a book titled "East Sea Travelogue."

The book detailed the customs of various island nations in the East Sea.

He was deeply absorbed when suddenly his ears twitched, and he alertly said, "Who’s there?"

"It’s me."

A figure flipped into the courtyard from outside, with a voice that was all too familiar.

Chen Ming immediately recognized the visitor, and curiously asked, "Deng brother?"

It was Deng Ziyang.

He walked over, opened the door, allowing Deng Ziyang to enter, and curiously asked, "Why not come through the front gate?"

Climbing over walls at such a late hour was quite rash. Deng Ziyang wasn’t normally one to do such things, so there must be a reason.

Tonight, Deng Ziyang looked different from usual, his expression stern, dressed in dark attire to avoid recognition.

He asked an odd question, "Chen brother, do you trust me?"

Chen Ming also became solemn and decisively answered, "I do."

"That’s good. Someone has been plotting against you recently. It’s best to be cautious when going out these days. Don’t ask where this information comes from. When the time is right, I’ll explain it to you."

After finishing, Deng Ziyang instinctively glanced around the area, then lowered his voice further, "Don’t mention my visit tonight to anyone. I must leave."

With that, he departed.

Chen Ming didn’t stop him or ask further questions, but his expression grew more serious.

In fact, ever since Deng Ziyang resigned from the Six Gates, saying he wanted to venture into the pugilistic world and then returned, Chen Ming had noticed he had changed a lot, appearing to carry many secrets, becoming more silent.

Yet, Chen Ming didn’t probe, just as Deng Ziyang hadn’t inquired about his secrets before.

He could sense that Deng Ziyang was deliberately distancing himself, as though a barrier had formed, no longer as close as before.

This scenario, he had experienced in a past life, when friends from middle school gradually drifted apart after entering college.

Until tonight, when Deng Ziyang covertly came to his home to warn him of someone harboring malicious intent, Chen Ming realized that Deng Ziyang’s deliberate distancing might be an effort to avoid dragging him into trouble.

Chen Ming sat by the window, pondering for a long time, no longer reaching for the unfinished book on the table until the oil lamp extinguished on its own.

Finally, he opened the panel and allocated all his experience points to "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship."

Knowing danger lurked, strength must first be enhanced.

[Level: 41]

[Current Points: 0]

[Cultivation Techniques: Iron Horse Stance (Fifth Level Perfection), Three Yang Body Refining Skill (Ninth Layer Perfection), Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill (First Level 36999/100000)]

[Martial Skills: Three Talents Fist (Accomplished), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Accomplished), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Accomplished), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Accomplished), Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship (Proficient 91321/200000)]