Chapter 142: Chapter 138: Second Grade Master

After leaving the Chen Mansion, Zhuang Xiaotian pondered how to execute the task Chen Ming had entrusted to him on the way back.

This was the first time Chen Ming had asked him to handle something, so he definitely had to do it beautifully.

For him, creating a new identity wasn’t difficult. These years with the Six Gates hadn’t been in vain; adding a household registration was an easy task.

However, this kind of fake registration would easily be exposed upon investigation; it definitely couldn’t be done this way.

He needed to think of a flawless method that no one could find fault with.

This was a bit challenging.

As Zhuang Xiaotian was lost in thought, he met up with several of his subordinates, and it was almost time to return to the government office. Suddenly, he heard a loud "bang" in the sky.

Startled, he looked up, only to see a firework appearing in the sky.

"Something’s happened!"

This was a special signal from the Six Gates. If they encountered an unbeatable enemy, they’d release a firework to summon nearby members for support.

This signal evoked unpleasant memories for Zhuang Xiaotian. The last time they saw such a signal, a team of theirs went to provide support, and in the end, three out of seven died.

Within the Six Gates, many called this signal the "death knell." Encountering it was akin to the tolling of a death knell.

In Six Gates, military orders dictated that ignoring the signal was a sure death if discovered.

"Let’s go."

Therefore, despite his fear, Zhuang Xiaotian braced himself and led several subordinates to the location.

...

The signal originated from Zhengming Avenue, one of the city’s most bustling streets, usually overseen by a patrol envoy with Fifth Grade Cultivation.

Coincidentally, that Fifth Grade patrol envoy was injured during a task last night.

When Zhuang Xiaotian arrived at Zhengming Avenue, the normally crowded street was deserted, everyone had fled. Just as he was searching for the "enemy," he heard a man’s voice.

"I’ve come today to seek justice from the Four Seas Trading Company. Anyone unrelated, scram!"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar?

Zhuang Xiaotian looked in the direction of the voice and saw, from afar, the site of the former Four Seas Trading Company now in ruins, with a row of collapsed stores and billowing smoke and dust above.

Is it someone causing trouble for the Four Seas Trading Company?

Could it be him?

Zhuang Xiaotian recalled that he had just heard this voice at Chen Ming’s place. It belonged to that middle-aged man named Ding Guangsheng.

Did he come to seek justice for his nephew, Ding Guangnan?

At this moment, an older voice echoed, "No matter who you are, daring to run wild at the Four Seas Trading Company means you must die!"

Boom!

Immediately following was a thunderous sound.

Zhuang Xiaotian covered his ears in pain, seeing a small shadow flying from the direction of the Four Seas Trading Company, which quickly grew larger and crashed into a pavilion not far away, collapsing an entire building.

His eyes narrowed, and shock appeared on his face, "It’s a Third Grade! Run!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already turned and started running, wishing his parents had given him more legs.

His subordinates, seeing him flee, came to their senses and followed him.

Six Gates did not tolerate fleeing in battle, but there were exceptions, such as encountering a Third Grade expert, in which case one should run as far as possible.

Encountering a Third Grade or higher expert, no matter how many people were present, was meaningless, only leading to certain death.

Zhuang Xiaotian never expected that the ragged-looking middle-aged man turned out to be a Third Grade expert!

Now, the Four Seas Trading Company was in big trouble.

...

In a secluded courtyard somewhere in the city.

A woman in red listened to the reports of two maids, "According to our informants in the Six Gates, the Sea General was captured by Li Guangjie and imprisoned in the Six Gates dungeon."

"What about Shuyu?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Her tone was calm, as if she had anticipated this outcome.

The maid replied, "It’s said she was taken by a man in black."

"Oh?"

The woman in red’s eyes flickered slightly, with a hint of surprise in her voice, "Why did that man in black take her?"

"Unclear. That man in black was highly skilled, proficient in throwing knives. At the time, Shuyu and the others were captured by the experts of Six Gates. This person suddenly appeared, throwing knives, and the Six Gates experts present all fell. He took Shuyu and left calmly, while the others took the opportunity to jump into the sea and escape."

Hearing this, the woman in red was silent for a moment before asking, "Have the Six Gates determined the identity of that man in black?"

"Not yet."

"Alright, you may leave for now."

After the two maids left, the woman in red had a peculiar look in her eyes, whispering to herself, "You certainly know how to surprise me..."

In truth, her greatest concern was that Chen Ming might have fallen into a Six Gates trap and been captured, which would be very troublesome.

She had informants in Six Gates and coincidentally knew about the grudge between Li Guangjie and Chen Ming. If Li Guangjie used this chance to kill Chen Ming, she would suffer a significant loss.

Unexpectedly, not only did Chen Ming avoid danger, but he also displayed great strength, injuring over a dozen Six Gates experts and rescuing Shuyu.

This truly exceeded her expectations.

She became even more curious about this man.

Just as she was contemplating, she suddenly turned her head toward a direction, a flicker of joy in her eyes, "That person has finally made a move. Four Seas Trading Company, let me see the power you have hidden in the shadows."

...

"?"

Inside a room, Chen Ming, absorbed in his book, suddenly felt a heartache, raising his head abruptly to look southeast and touching his still-pounding heart, puzzled, "What’s going on?"

"A Second Grade expert has made a move."

Su Zhining’s voice appropriately sounded in his ear, with a few traces of gravity.

Chen Ming was a bit surprised, "Second Grade? Who is that person?"

Su Zhining didn’t answer, evidently she didn’t know either.

Unable to help, he sighed. Qingfeng City was becoming increasingly dangerous. Even a Second Grade expert had appeared, causing a stir within the city.

Not to mention Zhao Shouchang wasn’t present. Even if he were, could he prevent it?

Chen Ming no longer felt like reading, so he took out the Sword Jade Elder Shang had given him, placed it on his forehead, and started comprehending the Sword Intent within.

Gradually, his mind settled, immersed in that Sword Intent.

...

After nightfall, the woman in red finally arrived. She appeared silently outside Chen Ming’s room. When she opened the door and entered, she startled him, causing him to reach for his sword instinctively.

"Red Sister! You finally made it."

Seeing the visitor, Chen Ming pretended as if nothing had happened, putting his hand back and standing up to salute.

She sat on a chair opposite him and asked, "What are you reading?"

"A body technique."

She glanced at the cover and shook her head, "This body technique is not suitable for you."

Chen Ming humbly sought guidance, "Please advise me, Red Sister."

"Your True Qi is of a Pure Yang nature, so it should be a Pure Yang Technique. This ’Divine Phantom’ doesn’t align with your technique. It’s essential to know that a cultivation technique is the foundation of a martial artist. Whether learning Swordsmanship, Saber Technique, Fist Technique, or Body Technique, they all need to complement the cultivation technique to achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"I see. But I only have this one body technique, so I can only study it for now."

"I do have a body technique that aligns with your cultivation technique. I’ll bring it to you in a few days."

"That would be wonderful. Thank you so much."

Chen Ming quickly expressed his gratitude, not declining, knowing it was a reward for rescuing Zhong Shuyu.

This Red Sister certainly knows how to reciprocate.

He recalled something and asked, "Red Sister, it seems like a Third Grade or higher expert made a move in the city today, causing quite a commotion."

The woman in red nodded, "Indeed, it was a Second Grade."

"Does Red Sister know who that senior is and why they acted?"

"That person’s surname is Ding, originally a disciple of the World’s First Pavilion. Later, after violating sect rules, he was expelled and vanished without a trace. This time, he acted, collapsing the Four Seas Trading Company’s stores and killing several of their enshrined. It’s said because his nephew was harmed by the Qian Family, so he seeks revenge against them."

The more Chen Ming listened, the more shocked he became.

So, the Ding Guangsheng who met him this afternoon turned out to be a Second Grade expert?

He was truly the simplest martial artist he had ever encountered, yet he was a Second Grade.

How unexpected.

Suddenly reminded of something, the third part of the Fiery Sun Divine Skill was still at the Four Seas Trading Company. If Ding Guangsheng destroyed the company, wouldn’t he never complete that Divine Skill?

Concerned, he asked, "Isn’t the Four Seas Trading Company finished then?"

The woman in red replied, "Not necessarily. One Second Grade may not destroy the Four Seas Trading Company, but it could severely damage them. Even a rotten ship has three inches of nails, let alone the Four Seas Trading Company?"

This assurance put Chen Ming at ease.

PS: There’s going to be a recommendation, so some book reviews have been deleted to not affect its effect. If any were deleted by mistake, please understand.