chsdbacks Chapter 32: Lanjiang Prefecture City
Chapter 32: Lanjiang Prefecture City
Zhang Ping felt his mind was in a mess.
Water control?
This is clearly a world of martial arts, so how come there are methods of cultivating immortality?
He couldn't help but double-check the information on the panel; the handwriting was clear and there were no mistakes.
An indescribable, strange feeling crept into my heart.
Thinking of the strange and unpredictable abilities of demons, the tip of the iceberg gleaned from ancient texts came to mind.
Controlling water? It doesn't seem... too outrageous?
But if a martial artist like myself were to truly acquire the ability to control water, what would that be? Wouldn't it be a divine skill? Especially that water spirit root, it sounds ridiculously magical.
My emotions were turbulent and complex, but they were quickly replaced by a burning anticipation.
If we can truly control the water, our strength will increase dramatically!
This is a divine ability that every martial artist dreams of! Within the Wei Kingdom, no top martial artist has ever been known to possess such a skill!
"I wonder if this stone can be removed..." Zhang Ping walked around the altar twice, his gaze fixed on the heart of the mountain swamp pierced by the longsword.
Will pulling it out rashly lead to unforeseen consequences?
He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grasped the icy, sharp hilt of the sword, tentatively lifting it—
Not moving.
Zhang Ping raised an eyebrow and tore off his clothes without hesitation.
Divine power!
His bones and muscles crackled, his blood and qi surged, and his body suddenly rose to the top of the cave, transforming into a three-meter giant! His bulging muscles were filled with explosive power.
"Get up!"
With a low growl, the muscles in his arms bulged, and an immense force suddenly erupted!
The longsword scraped against the altar, making a teeth-grinding creaking sound, and slowly withdrew outwards!
clang--!
The moment the longsword left his body, the entire altar suddenly erupted with a deep, dazzling black light! The intense light was like needles, causing Zhang Ping to instinctively close his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again a moment later, the black aura swirling around the altar had vanished without a trace. The stone lay intact in its original spot, with only a clear sword mark remaining in the center.
"Phew—it's done!" A surge of joy welled up inside me.
He quickly packed the stones into his backpack and carefully hid them among the collected stones, making them appear completely normal.
He then slung his longsword over his shoulder, showing no further hesitation, and strode down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, he could see Lu Feng waving to him from afar.
Qin Hu stood with his arms crossed, clearly impatient.
"You little brat, you got back just in time, didn't you?" Qin Hu glared at him irritably, his gaze then falling on the longsword on his back.
"Where did this sword come from?"
"I picked it up on the mountain. It's probably some unlucky guy's belongings. He just took it because it looked sharp," Zhang Ping replied casually.
Qin Hu curled his lip in disgust: "Dead people's stuff, it's really unlucky, best to avoid it."
"Okay, okay," Zhang Ping replied casually, not caring at all.
The group reunited and returned to camp.
Back at the camp, we saw many crude wooden rafts on the open ground, clearly for crossing the river.
The night was silent.
The next morning, the cold wind felt like a knife scraping against your face.
The river crossing has begun.
"Brother Qin, martial artists cross rivers... all by this method?"
Zhang Ping stood at the front of the raft. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a chill was in the air. Looking out, hundreds of rafts floated on the wide river, a spectacular sight, yet also strangely eerie.
At the stern of each raft, one or more martial artists roared and exerted their power, surging their qi and blood, and slamming their palms against the water!
The powerful force stirred up a large spray of water, propelling the raft upstream. The speed was indeed impressive, but the scene...
"Not exactly."
At the stern of the raft, Qin Hu was continuously circulating his qi and blood, and each exertion propelled the raft forward.
He took a moment to scratch his arm.
"Normally, we'd take a boat if there were one. But this area around the Ghost River is so remote, there's not a single boat in sight. We'll have to rely on our own strength to push ourselves across."
"Then why doesn't anyone come here to ferry people and make money?" Zhang Ping asked, puzzled.
Qin Hu looked at him as if he'd heard a joke, turning to stare at him like he was a fool: "You don't expect people like us to obediently pay for a boat ride, do you?"
Zhang Ping: "..." He silently swallowed his words.
……
After crossing the Ghost River, the journey became much smoother.
This place is close to the prefectural city and is within the influence of the Lanjiang Prefecture's Demon Extermination Division. There are more and more villages and towns along the way, and the traces of demons have decreased sharply.
The team moved around frequently, stopping often to resupply and rest.
A month later.
The majestic city of Lanjiang stands before us.
Upon first seeing the prefectural city, Zhang Ping truly understood what martial artists meant to this world.
The city wall is over fifty meters high! Like a black iron behemoth stretching across the plain, it silently proclaims its inhuman power.
Such a project was simply a fantasy in the ancient dynasties of his past life!
The city gate was teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder.
The people of the prefectural city were dressed and looked much better than those in the county town. Although not everyone was well-fed and clothed, the streets and alleys were bustling with vendors, their cries rising and falling, and the crowds were dense, showing a vibrant life.
Here, as long as you have a skill, making a living is not difficult.
Upon arriving in the prefectural city, it was time for the people from all directions to part ways.
Before leaving, Lu Wanrou specifically sought out Zhang Ping and informed him of the location of the Lu residence.
"Brother Zhang, if you have any free time, you must come and visit your sister." Her voice was gentle, carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation.
"If you settle down in the city in the future, don't forget the promise we made." She blinked gently, as if afraid he would break his word.
Zhang Ping clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his expression solemn: "Sister Rou, rest assured, I will keep your promise in mind."
Then, a smile immediately spread across her face, and she changed the subject, "In addition... I would like to trouble you to help me find two more things. As for the money... could we... buy them on credit again?"
Lu Wanrou: "..." She blinked her beautiful eyes repeatedly, unsure how to respond.
……
"Sister Yan, where should we stay?"
Qin Hu had disappeared somewhere, and Zhang Ping searched around without success. He then approached Quan Hongyan and asked in a low voice.
"Don't worry, Brother Zhang, the martial arts school has its own properties in the prefectural city, so accommodation won't be a problem."
Quan Hongyan smiled as she looked at him, assuming that he was a little nervous as it was his first time visiting such a bustling place.
She still remembers when she first arrived in the city, the overwhelming prosperity of which left her speechless. It was only after her master took them around the city a few times that she was able to get used to it.
She misunderstood.
No matter how prosperous the prefectural city was, it couldn't compare to the steel jungle of Zhang Ping's previous life. The scene before him was just a grander ancient city, which only made him feel slightly novel.
"Oh, Sister Yan, shouldn't we split the money later?" Zhang Ping rubbed his hands together.
"Yes, the settlement will be made when we arrive at the martial arts school's headquarters." Quan Hongyan nodded.
"Could you... lend me some first?" His usually thick-skinned face flushed slightly, a rare occurrence for him.
It seems like we've been buying on credit more often lately, but there's nothing I can do; Madam Fu lives too far away, I can't count on her.
His savings were long gone, and he was even planning to search for other strange beast parts in the city.
"Um... okay." Remembering that this was his first time escorting goods, and according to the martial arts school's rules, he would only receive his reward on the next mission, Quan Hongyan understood and agreed.
……
Upon arriving at the martial arts school's location in the prefectural city, Zhang Ping was not staying with Quan Hongyan this time. Instead, he was assigned to a small courtyard with three unfamiliar disciples.
After receiving their share of the profits, the three of them excitedly went out together to have some fun.
Zhang Ping remained alone in the room, sitting cross-legged on the hard bed, lost in thought.
Zhang Ping
Age: 20
[Realm: Mid-stage Skin Tempering Realm]
【烙印：驴鞭纹（满）牛力纹（满）马腿纹（81％）狗鼻纹（97％）牛皮纹（42％）地龙再生（19％）鹰眼纹（85％）危险感知（29％）灵狐隐匿（31％）】
[Ruyi-shaped pattern - donkey whip pattern: The lower limbs have strong, knotted muscles and bones, indicating powerful strength.]
[Divine Power - Ox Strength Mark: Increases physical strength and enhances physical power.]
[Horse leg markings: swift gait, legs moving like a whip.]
[Dog-nose pattern: A keen sense of smell, able to pinpoint locations and detect scents.]
【Cowhide texture: Tough and durable like leather, resistant to impacts.】
[Earthworm Regeneration: Full of vitality, severed limbs can be reattached.]
[Eagle-eye pattern: Broad vision, keen observation.]
[Danger Perception: Occasionally, a fleeting glimpse of the source of danger.]
[The Spirit Fox Conceals Its Form: It conceals its breath and hides its shape, its energy and blood remaining as if shrouded in darkness.]
"The dog nose pattern is almost complete; I wonder what changes will occur."
"The earthworm regeneration and cowhide texture have been delayed due to the long journey. We need to find a way to catch up."
"And these fighting methods... are still too simplistic..."
Zhang Ping stroked his chin, his fingertips tapping lightly unconsciously.
If we can gather all the materials and imprint the power of the Water God, this weakness might be somewhat compensated for, but we can't rely on it entirely.
After all, the idea of a water-elemental root sounds mysterious, and who knows if it's even possible to find one.
A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he remembered that sword technique he had been struggling to master.
"Since I have nothing else to do... why don't I try finding a praying mantis?"