This token was about six inches long, three inches wide, and three-tenths of an inch thick.

Its front was engraved around the edge with a chart of the twenty-eight lunar mansions, while its back was embossed with a landscape of mountains and rivers.

Text was inscribed on it.

’[Great Yu Profound Yellow Decree: Martial Arts Record].’

’Sect: Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect.’

’Bearer: Chen Shanhe.’

’Realm: Mortal Martial Arts, Huajin.’

’Record No.: Guangwu, Year 13, 629.’

...

At a glance, Qin Fang was taken aback.

To his surprise, the heading wasn’t "Great Yu Dynasty" as he had expected, but rather something called the "Great Yu Profound Yellow Decree."

The content was also completely different from an identity document. Other than the name, it contained none of the usual information, such as place of origin, age, or physical description.

At the very bottom, six more lines were carved.

’He who bears this decree is as the Sect Master in person.’

’Within the lands of Great Yu, passage is granted everywhere.’

’Bonded by Qi and Blood, verified by the light of the soul.’

Qin Fang’s gaze flickered. He turned the token over; there was more writing on the back.

’Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever the rivers and mountains stand.’

’Mountain passes shall not obstruct; prefectural offices shall grant passage.’

’Demons shall retreat, and evil spirits shall not encroach.’

’Admonition:’

’Bear this decree and defend righteousness; the heavens shall judge your Martial Arts.’

’If this oath is violated, you shall be slain by gods and men alike.’

’Thirteenth year of the Guangwu reign, Great Yu. Produced under the supervision of the Martial Arts Records Division, Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect.’

...

Qin Fang’s brows furrowed as he read the words.

There wasn’t much text, but it revealed incredibly important information...

’Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect... Supervised by the Martial Arts Records Division?’

’So, this Martial Arts Record... wasn’t issued by the Great Yu Dynasty? It’s from a... Sect?’

’The reign year is Guangwu thirteen... and right now it’s Guangwu twenty-nine. Does that mean Chen Shanhe obtained this Martial Arts Record sixteen years ago?’

Qin Fang’s brow furrowed...

’Looks like this Martial Arts Record holds some significant secrets... Sects... the Imperial Court...’

He fell silent, his fingers tracing the surface of the Martial Arts Record.

After a moment, he let out a soft sigh and put it away.

’I’ll hold onto it for now. Once I figure out exactly what this Martial Arts Record is, I’ll decide how to handle it.’

’So it seems Chen Shanhe had a sect backing him?’

’The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect?’

’...I hope this doesn’t bring a master or someone similar out of the woodwork.’

’But that’s probably unlikely.’

’Otherwise... why would he have stayed at the True Martial Boxing Hall all this time?’

Done with his thoughts, Qin Fang searched the area again. All that was left were some miscellaneous items and an assortment of bottles and jars. Not knowing what they contained, he decided to leave them untouched.

He stepped outside. Seeing the ground littered with the bodies of the True Martial Disciples, his eyes flickered. Then, with a single motion, he departed the valley.

Xile had been wandering nearby. When it saw Qin Fang, it happily trotted over and panted at him.

Qin Fang stroked Xile’s head. With a flicker in his eyes, he mounted the large dog and patted its neck.

"Let’s go. We’ll check the cliff’s edge."

The "cliff’s edge" he spoke of was, of course, the sheer cliff carved out by the giant hand.

Upon hearing his words, Xile took off at a run, its speed astonishing.

In less than the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the sheer cliff came into view.

Then, he spotted several disciples from the True Martial Boxing Hall.

Since he hadn’t made any special effort to conceal his approach, the True Martial Boxing Hall disciples also spotted him immediately.

Their faces paled in an instant as they cried out in alarm, "It’s Qin Fang!"

Qin Fang was slightly surprised that the disciple knew his name.

’But he quickly understood... Chen Shanhe must have told them.’

Seeing the disciples immediately panic, Qin Fang couldn’t be bothered to waste words on them.

His eyes swept the ground and noticed a scattering of gravel. Still mounted on the dog, he bent at the waist, scooped up a handful, and straightened up, flinging the stones in a single motion.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Right now, Qin Fang’s Hidden Weapons might not be very effective against a Huajin Martial Artist, but against a Mingjin or Anjin Martial Artist... they were less like a pistol and more like a sniper rifle!

A series of sharp whistles cut through the air, followed by a chorus of blood-curdling screams.

As Xile galloped past, bloody holes appeared in the foreheads of all seven or eight True Martial Disciples. They froze on the spot before collapsing to the ground, dead.

...It caused not even the slightest stir.

Xile halted at the cliff’s edge. Qin Fang, sitting straight on the dog’s back, looked out once more at the Five-Finger Swamp Country...

...No matter how many times he saw it, the sight of this landscape, a display of power that could reshape heaven and earth, still left him profoundly shaken.

He watched quietly for a while. Seeing no one else around, and no sign of Treasure Fish or Demons in the river below, he finally patted Xile’s neck.

"Let’s head back."

With a happy pant, Xile turned and took off at a swift run.

In less than two hours, he was back at his shelter.

After stowing away the silver taels and his other belongings, Qin Fang went to the edge of the waterfall and once again began to study the Profound Nether True Water Scripture in his hands.

After studying it for a long while, he let out a deep sigh and gazed up at the sky.

The sky was growing dim...

’It’s only been a little over two months since Master and the others left, and there are still four months until the next examination for a Martial Arts Record... If I can break through the Divine Gate before then...’

A glint appeared in his eyes.

He could hardly wait.

’I have no idea how long this Contemplation will take...’

’In any case, I have to try!’

’I’ll see if a month is enough to break through the Divine Gate.’

’If I succeed, my cultivation will definitely take another leap forward.’

’I might even generate True Essence.’

’It won’t be too late to head to the Prefecture City after that.’

’And if I really can’t break through...’

’There’s still plenty of time, so it won’t cause any delays.’

Deciding to act at once, he stopped hesitating and began to earnestly study the "Contemplation Chapter."

The full name of the Contemplation Chapter was the "Profound Nether Realm-Breaking Awl." It was divided into three stages, with the final stage involving condensing one’s Spirit into a Spiritual Awl to ultimately break through the gate.

’The first stage is... Condensing Thought into Sand...’

’To take one’s scattered Spirit and begin to concentrate and stabilize it...’

He studied the first stage carefully, reading it over several times. Then, he took a deep breath and began to practice.