Becoming an immortal from a canal worker

Breakfast consisted of porridge and pickled vegetables.

Old Liu filled two bowls and placed them on the stone table. He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of pickled vegetables, and said nothing.

The shadow of the soapberry tree in the courtyard fell obliquely on the bluestone slab, and the chirping of birds came intermittently from the other side of the wall.

Chen Ping took a sip of porridge and said, "I promised the Bai family that I would go to Tianyan Prefecture with them."

Old Liu paused for a moment as he picked up some pickled vegetables with his chopsticks.

He didn't speak immediately. He lowered his head, took a sip of porridge, chewed it a couple of times, and then his gaze fell on the table for a moment.

"Tianyan Prefecture."

There was something in his voice, it was hard to tell if it was a sigh or something else: "That's a good place. When I was young, I heard people say that of the five prefectures in Lichuan, Tianyan Prefecture was the most lively. Martial arts practitioners were everywhere, and all the capable people flocked there."

He paused, looked up, and glanced towards the courtyard wall.

"If I were decades younger, I'd love to go and see it too."

A gust of wind blew from the top of the wall, rustling the leaves of the soapberry tree.

Old Liu lowered his head, slowly finished the porridge in his bowl, shook his head after a while, didn't say anything more, put the bowl on the table, got up and walked towards the kitchen, his steps a little heavy.

Chen Ping sat there and finished the rest of the porridge.

The rice grains at the bottom of the bowl had cooled down and had a slightly astringent taste.

After finishing his meal, Chen Ping sat cross-legged beside the stone table, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

The blood and qi circulated heavily in the meridians, thicker than yesterday, each flow carrying a dull, oppressive feeling, like silt being squeezed in a pipe.

My heart clenched suddenly.

prick!

The sharp, needle-like pain emanated from my chest and lasted for two or three breaths before dissipating, leaving behind a dull heat.

He slowly exhaled, sensing the movement within his body. His qi and blood had calmed down somewhat, becoming a little deeper than yesterday, but that hurdle was still far away.

When the sun was at its zenith, there was a knock on the courtyard gate three times.

Hu Qian pushed the door open a crack, poked his head in, and clapped his folding fan twice in his palm: "Young friend Chen, the time has come, let's go."

The carriage rumbled onto the official road. The sun was blazing, and the poplar leaves on both sides of the road were drooping and withered. Even the wind was hot.

About an hour later, on the south street of Shanyang City.

Bai Ming was waiting at the door. When he saw Hu Qian and his group arrive, he cupped his hands and said, "Manager Hu, Brother Chen, please come in."

Inside the main room, eight tables were arranged in a row, and the three groups of people sat down in their respective positions.

On the Qingyi Society's side, Hu Qian sat in the middle, with Chen Ping to his right.

At the White Gang's table, Xie Xiao sat on the far side, dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit. He stood up straight as Hu Qian entered, clasped his hands in greeting, and smiled broadly, saying in a cheerful voice, "Manager Hu, how have you been? It's been several months since we last met. I've missed you dearly."

Hu Qian unfolded his folding fan, smiled, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Thank you for your hospitality, Steward. Thanks to you, everything has been going well lately."

Xie Xiao laughed and sat down.

Shi Haobo, holding a teacup, turned and glanced at Hu Qian, then bowed slightly, his voice three degrees quieter than Xie Xiao's: "Manager Hu."

Hu Qian nodded: "Manager Shi."

With those two sentences, the formalities were over.

Shi Haobo, holding his teacup, slowly shifted his gaze from Hu Qian to Chen Ping's face. After a moment, a smile appeared on his lips, and he said in a low voice, as if casually, "It's been several months, and Chen Honggun is still as dashing as ever."

The meaning behind those words doesn't need to be thought about too much.

Chen Ping lowered his eyes, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and didn't look at him.

The main room fell silent for a moment.

Shi Haobo's eyes darkened slightly. He withdrew his gaze, placed the teacup back on the table, and started spinning the iron gall again.

At the table of the Dahe Gang, Lu Chengye looked around first, then grinned when he saw Chen Ping, raised his chin at him, pulled out a chair and sat down casually.

The man next to him was burly, with broad shoulders and a thick back, and an old scar on his neck. After entering the room, he glanced around and found a corner to sit down.

At the White Gang's table, Ghost Hand Zhang sat at the far end, leaning against the back of his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his eyelids half-closed, as if he were resting.

Bai Chongshan picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, placed the walnut on the table, and spoke calmly, "Now that everyone is here, let's begin."

He scanned the room and said, "The Bai family's three granaries near Shanyang City, along with their stored grain, are for sale together. The highest bidder wins, starting at three thousand taels. The rules are that simple."

Hu Qian lightly waved his folding fan and spoke first: "Three thousand taels, the Green Robe Society will accept."

Xie Xiao, holding his teacup, said unhurriedly, "Three thousand two."

Lu Chengye stroked his chin: "Three thousand three."

The three parties went back and forth, each adding one hundred and two hundred, the price gradually climbing up. The atmosphere in the main room was unhurried, but everyone's eyes were filled with calculation.

Just then, Ghost Hand Zhang slightly raised his eyelids.

His gaze fell on Chen Ping, lingered there for a moment, and he frowned.

He stopped pointing, leaned close to Xie Xiao's ear, and said in a very low voice, "This kid doesn't seem right. His aura is much deeper than when I last saw him."

Xie Xiao's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at Chen Ping and asked in a low voice, "What do you mean?"

Ghost Hand Zhang stared at Chen Ping, his voice tinged with gloom: "He's probably about to break through to the Blood Refinement stage."

Shi Haobo snorted coldly, his voice extremely low: "You dare to show yourself before even breaking through? You're just asking for death."

Chen Ping picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and didn't look at them.

He knew very well that Shi Haobo was at least at the level of Ming Jin, or even An Jin.

But with his superhuman speed, he was confident that he could escape unscathed if the other party really made a move.

He was confident he could escape.

Not worth looking at.

The bidding continued to rise, reaching four thousand taels. Lu Chengye stroked his chin, glanced at the White Gang's table, and then stopped.

Hu Qian followed suit at a leisurely pace, increasing the amount to four thousand two.

There was a moment of silence at the White Gang's table. Xie Xiao picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and didn't follow up.

Hu Qian unfolded his folding fan, patted it twice, and looked at Bai Chongshan: "Four thousand two hundred taels, Qingyi Society."

Bai Chongshan picked up the walnut, twirled it twice in his palm, and nodded: "Deal."

When the event ended, everyone got up and walked out.

Stepping out of the main room, the sun was setting in the west, and the heat on the south street had dissipated somewhat compared to noon.

Xie Xiao walked last. After exiting the Bai family's gate, he slowed his pace by half a beat. Without looking up, he put his hands behind his back, lowered his voice, and said in a voice only the two people beside him could hear, "It's alright. Once Prefect Qian leaves, this kid will surely die."

Chen Ping continued walking forward without stopping.

It was already evening when we returned to Qingkou Town.

The summer heat had mostly dissipated, and the courtyard was much cooler. Old Liu had left a plate of food on the stone table, covered with a bowl.

Chen Ping erected a wooden stake in the yard and took out Jingye.

Several very fine scratches were worn on the thick, dark blue blade. The cloth strips on the handle had been replaced twice, but they still felt just as rough to the touch.

He stood still, focused his energy in his lower abdomen, and lowered his center of gravity.

The knife starts from a low position on the right, follows an arc, and is propelled by the rotation of the waist and hips. The force originates from the ground, penetrates segment by segment, and finally pierces the blade.

All thirty-six moves can be performed in one go.

A line of small print flashed across my retina:

[Vast Ocean Blade Technique, Proficiency +1]

[Current Progress: Completed 1/1500]

Vast Ocean Sword Technique, perfected!

The moment he mastered the sword technique, countless martial arts experiences flooded into his mind.

The knife became increasingly comfortable in his hand, and as he walked, he suddenly noticed that something was different.

The Nightfall seemed weightless in his hand, moving with perfect ease and control.

Each strike, without the need for deliberate effort, the momentum of the blade arises on its own, like a surging tide, arriving naturally without being pushed.

Sheathing the sword is not the end, but a preparation; the force of the next strike will always overpower the previous one.

He slowed down and went through the thirty-six moves again, this time very slowly.

When the movement is slow, the knife strikes like an undercurrent, revealing nothing, but every inch is imbued with force, like water churning beneath the surface of the sea, deep and thick.

In moments of urgency, the force of the blade suddenly explodes, releasing all the pent-up energy. Each strike is heavier than the last, like a tsunami crashing against the shore, causing the sky to collapse and the earth to split.

Chen Ping stopped and stood still, clutching Jingye in his hand, something slowly settling in his heart.

Vast ocean.

Sea person.

It can be as slow as an undercurrent, or as fast as a tsunami.

One defends, one attacks; one yin, one yang; one strength, one gentleness.

This sword technique actually aligns with the principles of Yin and Yang.

Chen Ping wrapped Jingye up, slung her over his back, and sat down at the stone table.

The leaves of the soapberry tree were still rustling, and the yard was very quiet.

He went over it in his mind.

Six months.

After refining and condensing blood, breaking through the Refining stage, and moving towards the Bright Strength stage, one should be able to achieve this before the Dragon Head Sacrifice.

However, above Ming Jin there is An Jin, and above An Jin there is Hua Jin. If one encounters a Hua Jin opponent before the Dragon Head Sacrifice, the outcome is still uncertain.

Today, Shi Haobo's eyes were filled with undisguised murderous intent, which was clearly visible on his face.

An enemy that neither he nor Chen Ping could kill now was a thorn in his side.

He glanced into the void, and a panel appeared.

[Skill: Stabilizing Water Stance (Mastery)]

Current progress: 995/1000

[Effects: Pure Qi and Blood, Stable Foundation, Circulation Without End, Refined and Self-generated]

My gaze fell on the water-fixing pile column. The progress bar was right in front of the threshold of completion, just one step away.

Chen Ping stared at the line of words and tapped his finger lightly on the stone table.

If the water-stabilizing piles are successfully completed, the situation will be different.