Zhou Weihao and Gu Yuantao planned to depart for Jiangzhou City in two days and wanted to invite Chen Ming to join them.

The World’s First Pavilion’s re-establishment of the Cyan Cloud Ranking is such a grand event that even someone as indifferent as Gu Yuantao doesn’t want to miss it.

Chen Ming could only politely decline.

He still had many things to handle and couldn’t leave yet.

So he agreed with them to meet in Jiangzhou City in two months.

...

Over the next few days, Ding Guangsheng turned Qingfeng City upside down, first destroying the Four Seas Trading Company’s shops in the city, then various warehouses, and finally the fleet.

Initially, the people of the Four Seas Trading Company could remain inactive, but once the ships were destroyed, they were finally unable to sit still and dispatched several strong individuals to respond.

That day, it was said that the battle was so intense that the skies and earth darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and even nearby mountain tops were leveled.

Of course, these accounts were heard from others and are likely exaggerated.

As for the outcome of that battle, opinions varied.

Some said Ding Guangsheng was killed on the spot.

Some said Ding Guangsheng won, took Manager Qian’s head, avenged his great grudge, and then left.

Also, some said both sides were severely injured.

In any case, after that battle, Ding Guangsheng never appeared again.

And the Four Seas Trading Company, after this battle, was also severely damaged, taking years to recover. The main blow was that most of the ships were destroyed.

The Four Seas Trading Company did indeed change to a new manager.

Later on, Chen Ming specifically asked the woman in red who won that battle, but she didn’t answer directly, only saying, "From now on, there will only be six great sea merchants in Qingfeng City."

Chen Ming couldn’t ask further, and could only speculate from her words that the Four Seas Trading Company’s foundation might have been severely damaged.

As time passed, the storm stirred by Ding Guangsheng gradually subsided.

Half a month after that great battle.

"Finally succeeded!"

In the yard, Chen Ming jumped off the roof and landed lightly on the ground, joyfully looking at the martial skill added to the panel.

[Level: 50]

[Current Points: 200000]

[Cultivation Technique: Iron Horse Stance (Fifth Level Perfection), Yin Yang True Skill (Fifth Level 101879/1500000)]

[Martial Skill: Three Talents Fist (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Mastery), Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship (Proficient 21667/500000), Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens (First Level 1/100000)]

[Secret Technique: Disguise Technique (Mastery)]

This lightweight skill named Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens was given to him by the woman in red, and it’s an even more exquisite skill than Divine Phantom.

Moreover, he learned it much more easily, taking less than ten days to enter the rudiments.

It seems the woman in red was right; this lightweight skill fits well with his cultivation technique.

However, this lightweight skill, when displayed, does not show proficiency but is divided into different realms like the cultivation technique.

"Should I add the points?"

After the joy, Chen Ming saw only 200,000 experience points left, and hesitated slightly.

Since breaking through to the fifth grade, apart from defeating pirates, there hasn’t been much income. To participate in the World’s First Pavilion’s competition, it’s necessary to prioritize adding experience points to cultivation techniques and swordsmanship to increase his combat power.

Just then, Chunxiang walked in to report, "Young Master, Shang’an Trading Company sent a letter."

"Quick, bring it."

Chen Ming’s eyes lit up, taking the letter and quickly read through it, his face showed a look of excitement, "Finally arrived. Prepare the horses, I need to go out."

...

Shang’an Trading Company, as one of the Seven Great Sea Merchants, had a very good reputation in Qingfeng City and was considered a breath of fresh air among the sea merchants.

Chen Ming rode a carriage, led by the clerk who came with the letter, to a secluded alley where they stopped in front of a door.

"Second Young Master, the people you asked for are inside. Please enter."

The young clerk was composed, showing neither arrogance nor subservience. Being sent by Shang’an Trading Company to liaise with Chen Ming, he was certainly not an ordinary clerk.

Following him in, Chen Ming stepped into a somewhat aged courtyard.

Inside, he saw five people either standing or sitting, all stopped their actions to look over at him with varied expressions—some dissatisfied, some wary, some evaluating...

The young clerk introduced, "These five are guards with fifth grade cultivation from the trading company, just returned from overseas yesterday."

"Hmm, very good."

Looking at the five in front of him, Chen Ming was very satisfied.

Last time, holding a token from Celestial Dao Alliance, he went to Shang’an Trading Company and borrowed two fourth-grade offerings to resolve the matter with Qi Family. He also made a request for them to arrange some fifth-grade martial artists to spar with.

It’s been almost a month, and after several urgings, they finally arranged five people.

From Shang’an Trading Company’s sluggish response, it seems they were quite unwilling but dared not defy the order.

With a token in hand, it’s vital to make full use of it.

Having the authority, it’s a waste not to use it.

Watching the five people, Chen Ming’s gaze turned fervent, "You five are my seniors. Please kindly guide me. Who would like to start?"

"I’ll go!"

A tall woman stepped forward. She had the rare short hair of this era, wheat-colored skin, dressed in black, accentuating her fiery figure.

She looked around thirty, with a wild look in her eyes.

Chen Ming had seen some female martial artists, but never one as bold as her.

The woman didn’t introduce herself, just started attacking, clearly showing disdain for him.

Moreover, she struck with lethal intent, evidently wanting to embarrass him greatly on the spot.

As a fifth-grade fighter clawing her way from the lower ranks, she naturally harbored hostility towards privileged young masters.

In her view, if Manager Gong himself ordered that the five of them accompany this young master for "sparring," then he must be the son of someone significant behind the trading company.

It’s no wonder she thought this way; she spent most years overseas, rarely returning, unfamiliar with Chen Ming’s reputation.

The same thoughts were shared by the other four.

...

"Well done!"

Facing the woman’s saber strike, Chen Ming immediately felt immense pressure.

The strike, though seemingly simple, blocked all his escape routes. Her saber technique, far superior to "Old Man Wan."

This was the first opponent, after breaking into fifth grade, who made him feel pressure.

"Flowing Fire Shocking Sky"!

Chen Ming chose to take it head-on.

With a loud sound.

Tremendous powerful energy exploded, the hot aura momentarily suffocating the breath of the four watching nearby. Their gazes intensified, no longer nonchalant.

This youth possessed such intense True Qi, clearly a formidable foe.

The young clerk had long since slipped away.

Observing a battle between fifth-grade martial artists is not something anyone can casually spectate; lack of strength makes it easy to get accidentally injured.

The two combatants simultaneously stepped back a few paces.

Evenly matched!

However, observing the woman’s flushed face, the four knew she had suffered a hidden loss.

"Again!"

The woman yelled sharply and attacked again.

However, this time she was clearly more cautious, displaying true skill, her curved blade moving unpredictably, flickering here and there.

Chen Ming countered her moves, his swordsmanship impeccable.

The other four became increasingly serious, watching the duel with unblinking eyes, even shouting in delight at thrilling moments.

Such a magnificent battle is not easily encountered.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over forty or fifty strikes.

Suddenly, the woman flickered out of the fight, displeased, "I’m done. Boring, why did you hold back? Do you think I, Yun Niang, can’t take a loss?"

[You have defeated an LV55 enemy and gained 9000 experience points]

Seeing the notification appear, Chen Ming cupped his hands, saying, "It’s my fault. The lady’s saber technique is marvelous; I wanted to see more moves, hence my retreat."

Yun Niang’s anger turned to joy upon hearing this, "Smart of you. My saber technique, incorporating martial arts from several islands overseas, is self-created. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

Chen Ming’s admiration for her grew, such inner strength, truly an extraordinary woman.