In the courtyard, the snow had stopped falling at some unknown point.

In the deep-set eyes of Shang Jianfei, there was a hint of sadness. "Why didn’t... you tell me, Junior Brother Huo... was in the city?"

Standing in front of him was a woman in red, wearing a spotless white cloak. She was exceedingly beautiful. At first glance, she seemed to be a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. Upon another look, she appeared to be in her early twenties, giving off a dangerous and mysterious aura.

There was worry in her eyes. "I only found out this year myself. I didn’t have time to tell you before he died..."

Shang Jianfei said softly, "He... didn’t know... anything..."

He was silent for a moment, seemingly recalling past events.

"How did he... die?"

"He was killed by a disciple named Sun Shicai. However, someone has already avenged him; it was another of his disciples. You’ve met him before, he was the one who came along with that Zhou Family boy."

Shang Jianfei fell silent again.

The woman asked, "What about your junior sister, how do you plan to handle her?"

Shang Jianfei’s eyes flickered slightly. "Don’t... harm her."

"Alright."

The woman looked at the old man standing in front of her, who was like a dying ember, and felt a surge of sadness. Then, hardening her heart, she said, "I’m leaving. Take care."

After speaking, she turned and left. A gust of wind blew by, lifting the hem of her cloak high.

...

Chen Ming waited for a while, feeling a bit bored, when the door finally opened and the old man walked in.

"Senior," he quickly bowed, while guessing what the woman had said to the old man.

In fact, from the first sentence the woman spoke, he had already made some guesses about her identity.

"Give me your hand."

Chen Ming obediently extended his hand. The old man grasped his wrist, and a look of suspicion flashed in his eyes as he exclaimed, "Fiery Sun Divine Skill?"

"Where did you learn this divine skill?"

His tone suddenly became severe, and he applied a bit more pressure with his fingers.

Chen Ming immediately felt as if his wrist was caught in an iron clamp, a chill rising in his heart. He knew that without a proper answer, he might not walk out of there alive.

So, he recounted the entire series of events of how he obtained the Three Yang Body Refining Skill and the Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill.

Shang Jianfei did not know when he had released his grip, but he listened silently. It was only after Chen Ming finished speaking that he said faintly, "So that’s it... The Fiery Sun Divine Skill was actually a family cultivation technique of an old acquaintance of mine... It’s fate that you’ve obtained it."

He paused momentarily, sighed, and said, "Since you’ve learned the Fiery Sun Divine Skill, you’re not suited to learn our sect’s martial arts."

He spoke more and more fluently.

Chen Ming could sense that after discovering he had practiced the Fiery Sun Divine Skill, Shang Jianfei’s attitude towards him had grown cold. Internally, he couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

It’s all destiny. Back then, he chose not to seek out Huo Chengkun and instead chose to refine the Three Yang Body Skill. That decision led to today’s outcome.

Certainly, if at that time, he had visited the Iron Horse Stance and achieved the Fifth Level Perfection, and really apprenticed under Huo Chengkun, he might have died during the Horse Bandits’ attack.

It can only be said that some things are unattainable.

"However—"

The old man changed his tone and said, "When I was young, I inadvertently acquired a sword technique, and it suits you well. If you are willing, I can teach you."

What he meant was, I cannot pass on our school’s legacy to you, so I will compensate with this sword technique.

"I am willing,"

Chen Ming immediately bowed.

His original aim was merely to learn a secondary sword technique. Now that goal was finally achieved, though it came with its own twists and turns.

...

Thereafter, Chen Ming went to Prince Zhenhai’s Mansion every day to learn swordsmanship from Shang Jianfei, spending a whole month just to barely get the basics of this new sword technique.

He noticed that Shang Jianfei was almost losing his patience teaching him.

Once, the old man inadvertently said, "Back in the day, I learned it in a single day..."

A sword genius like him definitely cannot stand teaching someone like Chen Ming.

Presumably, he wondered how someone with Chen Ming’s comprehension could have practiced the Swallow Returning Sword Technique to great success.

Although Shang Jianfei didn’t voice this thought, Chen Ming knew this was what he must have been thinking.

So, after a month, when Chen Ming finally mastered the basics of the sword technique, he saw a look of relief on the old man’s face.

Chen Ming felt somewhat guilty, for although the original owner was indeed mediocre, he himself was just of average talent.

On top of that, Shang Jianfei truly wasn’t skilled at teaching others. It felt like a math genius trying to teach high school math, throwing about calculus, while Chen Ming felt it was like listening to the scriptures of heaven.

Regardless, when Chen Ming saw a new entry for Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship on the panel, he exhaled a breath of relief. At least he achieved the basics.

Then, he shared this good news with the elderly master.

That day, as Chen Ming was about to leave, Shang Jianfei suddenly said, "From now on, you shouldn’t come here anymore."

He paused for a moment, but didn’t say much, just saluted, "The kindness of the elder’s teaching, the junior will remember in his heart."

He knew that Shang Jianfei was actually doing it for his own good.

The cause and effect surrounding Shang Jianfei were too heavy. Being too close to him could easily draw him into the storm. It was an existence above the first grade fighting, and he, a mere sixth grade, wouldn’t even know how he died if he got involved.

...

Just after Chen Ming left, the woman in the white cloak from last time appeared in the courtyard, looking in the direction Chen Ming disappeared, "Uncle Shang wants him to stay out of it, but I’m afraid it’s difficult. He comes here every day; Zhao Shouchang has already noticed him."

Shang Jianfei resumed that withered expression again, "Whether he can break free from this vortex depends on his fate."

The woman seemed to recall something, a strange smile appearing in her eyes, "However, it seems Zhao Shouchang’s daughter has taken a liking to him. I think she will find a way to protect him, don’t you? Speaking of which, his experiences are somewhat similar to yours when you were young."

Shang Jianfei was silent.

After a long while, he finally said, "His aptitude is lacking."

The woman laughed.

She could see that too, otherwise, she would have long devised a way to bring him into her fold. Why would she let Zhao Shouchang’s daughter benefit?

...

...

"Panel!"

Chen Ming did not know that in the eyes of Shang Jianfei and that mysterious woman, he had become someone with mediocre aptitude. Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn’t care. He silently invoked his panel.

[Level: 40]

[Current Points: 3580]

[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Three Yang Body Refining Skill" (Ninth Layer Perfection), "Six Yang Qi Cultivation Skill" (First Level 230/100000)]

[Martial Skill: "Three Talents Fist" (Great Accomplishment), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Great Accomplishment), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Great Accomplishment), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Great Accomplishment), "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" (Introduction 1/100000)]

Chen Ming saw that long string of zeros behind the proficiency requirement for "Vermilion Bird Swordsmanship" and felt a little overwhelmed; just for the introduction, it required 100,000 points.

This month, he only managed to gain a pitiful 3000-plus experience points from the students.

At this rate, when could he earn enough experience points to upgrade?

"It seems there’s only that method left."

Chen Ming finally made up his mind to take action.

...

The next day, Chen Ming asked Chunxiang to deliver a letter to Zhao Xiyan, inviting her to meet at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

He had been waiting in the private room early, and it wasn’t until afternoon that Zhao Xiyan arrived, dressed in men’s clothing, holding a folding fan, looking like a graceful young gentleman.

She lifted her chin. After entering the room, she first let out a "humph" and said with a peculiar tone, "I wonder what Brother Chen has to discuss with me here?"

Her address had also changed to "Brother Chen," clearly indicating she was sulking.

She had a reason to be upset.

For the past few months, Chen Ming had seemed to be avoiding her. Several times when she went to his house, either he wasn’t there, or he was in seclusion, not even allowing her to enter the door.

She, a person so proud and lofty, after being rebuffed several times, naturally wouldn’t seek her own humiliation again.

Today, she received Chen Ming’s letter and intentionally delayed a few hours before coming, to show her attitude.

Chen Ming got up and said, "Are you angry with me?"

Zhao Xiyan turned her face away, "How could I dare?"

"Then let me apologize to you here. If I’ve done anything wrong, feel free to scold me. If that’s not enough, you can hit me too."

"Who wants to hit you? It would only dirty my... my hand." Zhao Xiyan gave a light spit, finally turning back to look at him, and when she did, she was taken aback, her bright eyes widening to the extreme, "You—"

She immediately noticed the changes in Chen Ming, not just that his Qi-Blood was full, but there was also a flame burning inside him!

Of course, she knew what that flame was.

True Qi!

He had reached sixth grade!

He had actually reached sixth grade!

Having experienced a few relationships in his previous life, Chen Ming naturally knew how to comfort girls. This was a girl-comforting technique from modern society, a complete regressive blow to feudal society here.

"I’ve been focusing on cultivation recently and have neglected you..."

A blush flashed across Zhao Xiyan’s face. She excitedly grabbed his hand, "When... when did you break through?"

The little bit of annoyance she felt in her heart had disappeared, replaced with an overwhelming sense of joy, as if it would burst open.

Chen Ming saw that she was even happier than himself and thought, the girls in this world are really easy to please.

He spoke honestly, "A month ago."

PS: Second update, requesting monthly tickets.