Swallowing the Stars: The Wind Sword Master.

Chapter 38 If you can't beat them, destroy them.

Winter has begun.

The wilderness area had become much quieter and colder. Some ordinary plants on the ground had withered, and some weaker monsters were not active. It had regained some of the peaceful scene from the day before.

It was a scene of a cold moon hanging in the sky, and utter silence.

Suddenly, a figure in white flashed across the ground. The snow-white combat uniform reflected the silvery moonlight. Such a color was very dangerous in the wilderness, and it was also difficult to maintain such purity.

"Kid, I thought you weren't coming out with us to hunt monsters anymore. I didn't expect you to be out here after only two months of marriage. Did you and your husband have a fight?"

Xu Liang kept babbling on and on, and every breath he exhaled condensed into white mist, as if he were running while emitting smoke.

"Uncle Xu, are you hoping we'll argue? We have a great relationship, Xiao Guai never argues with me."

Ning Ze rolled his eyes helplessly. Why think of them like that? They were just newlyweds who had only been married for two months.

This time, leaving the comfort of his home required him to grit his teeth and strengthen his resolve.

"I didn't expect you to call us out to hunt monsters together. By the way, weren't you supposed to be going to the training camp? Why haven't we heard anything about it yet?" Ma Yu asked curiously.

Speaking of this, Ning Ze was also somewhat helpless. "Maybe to the Limit Martial Arts Academy, I'm just a little genius. Who knows what kind of monsters the elite training camp is? They said we'd have to wait two months, but two months have passed and we haven't heard anything. We can't ask them. Let alone the War God at headquarters, we can't bother the Eastern Supervisor too often."

"Besides, I'm broke. I need to hunt monsters to earn some money. Even this combat suit is a D7 series Snow White set that I bought to make do for now. As for the three subsequent levels of 'Wind Slash,' I don't even dare to think about it right now."

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang's lips twitched, and he muttered, "I just don't like being with young people like you. This Snow White series combat suit costs 1.5 million for the 7th series! It can defend against attacks from a low-level lord, and you actually said it's just passable!"

In the blink of an eye, her white clothes, as white as snow, reflected a fluorescent light under the moonlight, appearing flawless. She moved with the ease of a leisurely stroll, her flowing robes making it seem as if she were riding the wind.

"It looks good, but in the wilderness..." Xu Liang shook his head, wondering what the kid was thinking.

Ma Yu frowned slightly. "7-series? The 8-series combat suit costs 15 billion at full price and 7.5 million at half price. Even if you bought the 9-series Light Swallow Longsword, you should still be able to afford the 8-series combat suit."

"I can't afford it... I didn't just buy combat suits, I also bought secret manuals." Ning Ze's eyes practically screamed "poor." He was already broke, and if he didn't go out soon, he would have to rely on his parents.

Now that I've married my wife, it's not right for me to ask my parents for money again.

Besides, his family doesn't have much money. At most, they can buy another mid-level manual, and he'll have to come out again in a month.

Ma Yu was taken aback and asked with great confusion, "Why would you buy a manual? Aren't you practicing the 'Wind Severing Slash'?"

"The first five levels of 'Wind Slash' cost 6 billion at half price, the first six levels cost 10 billion at half price, and the entire book with seven levels costs 15 billion at half price. You can't even buy them one level at a time. So I bought a book called 'Shadowless Gale,' which only has five levels of power and costs only 600 million. With the half price of 300 million, it can definitely boost my strength. Once I've earned enough money, I'll just buy all seven levels of 'Wind Slash.'"

Ning Ze gave a more plausible reason: he actually bought not only "Shadowless Wind," but also "Nine Swords of the Wind" and "Sword Manual of Tracing the Wind."

These three manuals all contain corresponding movement techniques, but the increase in proficiency and the speed of cultivation after successful practice are different.

After successfully mastering "Shadowless Gale," one's swordsmanship proficiency increases by 20 points per hour, while movement skills only increase by 15 points. Swordsmanship proficiency increases by 2, while movement skills proficiency only increases by 1.

"Nine Swords of Wind Control" is a mid-to-low-grade sword technique, worth only 60 million, and has only two levels of power. After successful mastery, the sword technique's proficiency increases by 25 points per hour, and the movement technique's proficiency increases by 20 points per hour, resulting in an increase of 10,000 proficiency in both.

The "Tracing the Wind Sword Manual" is considered a lower-tier high-level secret manual, valued at 1.5 million Chinese Yuan. After practicing it, swordsmanship proficiency increases by 35 points per hour, and movement proficiency increases by 25 points per hour. Swordsmanship proficiency increases by 2, and movement skill refinement increases by 1.

This cultivation speed is three times faster than before!

Now, the Wind Slash skill is at a perfect level of 59107/100000, which has exceeded 33333 proficiency and reached level 6 in power!

In terms of the sheer number of power levels, it's equivalent to the fifth level compared to other techniques. This includes the user's own power, plus five levels of power application.

Ning Ze decided to at least gain 7000 proficiency points in the wilderness this time, so that his power level would reach 7, which is equivalent to the sixth level of "Wind Slash". Then he would enter the elite training camp.

Even if the geniuses there are the strongest, they can't directly cultivate to perfection. "Wind Slash" is a top-level secret manual. Even if he can't suppress everyone, he should be about the same as everyone else.

The entire War Squad fell silent. Ever since Ning Ze announced his intention to buy the complete "Wind Slash," no one knew what to say.

The entire set, priced at half price, costs 150 billion Chinese yuan. Even with the combined savings of the six of them and Ning Hua, it wouldn't be enough.

"Kid, this time we're going to City 003, which you've been planning for so long. Everyone's following you, but you need to tell us your strength now."

Xu Liang, abandoning his previous frivolous manner, spoke with utmost seriousness.

They are not afraid to just go to the outskirts and skirt the edge of the road, unless they encounter an accident, otherwise the level of danger is acceptable.

However, given Ning Ze's fighting style, this wasn't a stroll in the suburbs. If they were actually in the city center, lords would be everywhere, and they wouldn't be able to escape.

"Uncle Xu, don't worry. Since I dared to send everyone there, I'm confident I can guarantee everyone's safety." Ning Ze's voice was calm yet confident. "With my current strength, even if we encounter a lord, I can make sure everyone escapes. I'm going there to make money, not to die." He really didn't even have a hundred million. This time, he was determined to make a fortune!

"Xiaoze, we believe in you. Although we may not be as strong as you, we won't hold you back when we take a trip around City 003."

Zuo Xingyuan also replied with an arrogant expression.

In fact, their War Squad was not weak to begin with. Even without Ning Ze, they could still make a name for themselves in City 003.

The reason I didn't go there before wasn't just because there were too many monsters, but more importantly, because there were too many people.

The city ranked third in all of Asia is not only a place where martial artists from China come to hunt monsters.

Even in special times, when people from different countries no longer harbor much hatred, the allure of profit remains. The martial arts teams that have appeared there are incredibly strong, making it far too dangerous for a weaker team like the Warfire Squad to go – there are too many unforeseen circumstances! The more money you make, the more dangerous it becomes!

Things are different now; this kid has amazing combat power, so he naturally has the ability to cause trouble.

Based on Ning Ze's previous fighting style, they would only go to assist in the battle, with Ning Ze handling most of the action himself. As long as Ning Ze dared to go, they would naturally dare to go as well.

"Thank you, uncles."

After Ning Ze expressed his gratitude, he seemed to want to say something, but then stopped.

Given his current strength, which has reached the level of a war god, and the fact that he's here to make money, the previous profit-sharing method is definitely no longer applicable.

But to say this without even seeing any prey, and without demonstrating any strength, is just making everyone feel uncomfortable.

If he doesn't kill enough monsters this time, he can discuss it with his uncles again. Each of them will have at least several hundred million yuan, so it will be much easier to negotiate. None of his uncles are greedy people.

……

Inside a lavishly decorated villa in Yangzhou District.

A disheveled, greasy-haired young man, reeking of alcohol and utterly颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it conveys a sense of decadence, listlessness, and apathy), lay on the sofa. Bottles were scattered around the table and under the table, and cigarette butts littered the exquisite marble tiles. The entire room reeked of a strange odor.

The phone rang.

He drank his beer while looking at the message on his phone, his eyes glazed over.

The War Squad has left the wilderness area.

"Sizzle!"

The wine bottle fell to the ground and shattered.

Zhai Yanke suddenly stood up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and hurriedly walked towards the second floor.

Just then, the villa door suddenly opened, and Zhai Bifan walked in. He shouted angrily, "You're acting like this again! The company is so busy, why don't you help me deal with this? Who are you trying to impress?"

The core business was investigated, the company went bankrupt, and Qihang Group's business shrank significantly. Zhai Bifan was released after a month, but fortunately Zhai Yanke handled it well, which put his mind at ease.

But as soon as he returned, Zhai Yanke changed his tune again. He was both annoyed and helpless. He was already exhausted from the work at the company and had no time to take care of his son.

Zhai Yanke calmly turned his head and met his father's gaze. Seeing his father's disheveled appearance, his confidence greatly diminished, he was completely devoid of his previous arrogance and domineering attitude.

He witnessed the entire process of this change firsthand and realized that his father was just an ordinary person.

Because even the smallest thing at the company can cause setbacks, and being busy with company affairs, money is what sustains this person.

But he is different. He is a martial artist, and even though he hasn't gone to the wilderness to train, his heart won't be completely bound by money.

"I want revenge!" Zhai Yanke grinned cruelly and roared.

"Revenge?" Zhai Bifan was stunned. He asked anxiously, "How can you take revenge?"

Zhai Yanke's eyes were icy cold. "Wealth is merely an appendage to the rules of power, while strength determines everything. Perhaps our family can rise again and regain that wealth, but we won't have much power."

"I never expected Ning Ze's talent to win the supervisor's favor. Such a talented enemy must be destroyed as soon as possible. I will use other forces to finish him off, otherwise all the money you earn will be useless."

After saying this, Zhai Yanke turned and left. He silently thought to himself, "Ning Ze, I can't compare to you, I've even lost most of my family's wealth. But I absolutely will not allow you to grow up and stand in that high and mighty position to swagger at me, or even attack my family." His expression was very silent, and he added, "Like my family once dealt with you..."

Zhai Bifan was somewhat stunned after hearing these words; for a moment, he felt a strange distance between father and son. His plan was indeed to stabilize his business first before considering revenge. If that wasn't possible, staying in the base city wouldn't be a problem.

In comparison, Zhai Yanke's ideas are much more extreme, but also very realistic.

Zhai Bifan hesitated for a moment, then quickly said, "Let Hong Quan go with you. I heard that their team can even kill high-level beast generals. Let him protect you, or at least bring you back."

Zhai Yanke smiled slightly, did not turn around, and replied softly, "Dad, thank you."

Go back to the second floor.

Zhai Yanke began to wash away the smell of alcohol from his body, took medicine to clear the alcohol from his system, washed up, changed into clean clothes, and after tidying himself up, he looked refreshed.

Holding the prepared combat uniform, he went back downstairs.

At this moment, a middle-aged man who was about 1.7 meters tall, thin, and with an ordinary face was already standing in the living room waiting. When he saw Zhai Yanke come down, he calmly called out, "Young Master."

"Let's go, Uncle Hong. We're heading to the main city area." Zhai Yanke treated the middle-aged man with great politeness, because he was a high-ranking general.

Perhaps some powerful families can easily hire high-level warriors, but that's because they have stronger forces suppressing them, and there's nothing new about high-level warriors.

The reason their family was able to hire a high-ranking general was because Hong Quan and Zhai Bifan had some connections during the Great Nirvana period, and now they were offering more money.

"What is the young master going to do in the main city?" Hong Quan asked curiously.

Zhai Yanke's eyes flashed with a cold light. "Eliminate the entire War Squad!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Quan frowned deeply. "The Warfire Squad can handle high-level beast generals, so their strength must be considerable. I can't handle them on my own."

Some friendships are friendships, but he wouldn't die for this family. He only stayed with the Zhai family because they paid him more money and it was easier than going to the wilderness.

Zhai Yanke was thoroughly annoyed. This was the downside of having a retainer; they could help with money, but they would never stand by you in times of trouble. If the Zhai family were in trouble, this person would run away faster than anyone else!

He chuckled easily, "Uncle Hong, of course I wouldn't be so unwise. You'll see when you come with me."

Hong Quan nodded silently and said nothing more. He was indeed quite strong, but if this kid was really irrational, he wouldn't follow him to his death. He had already found a new family after the decline of the Zhai family.

Zhai Yanke didn't say anything more. The two silently arrived at the station, used their martial arts privileges to board the train, and headed to the main urban area.

Outside the car window, the lights were dim, like a fleeting memory.

Zhai Yanke was thinking about revenge, but he was also very depressed. He had once thought of defeating Ning Ze and then arranging for someone to kill Ning Ze.

But now, he even feels fear and dread; his heart trembles.

The rival his father had honed was now beginning to show his talent. His father, who once controlled everything, was imprisoned by a single order from Director Dongfang, simply because he had taken a liking to Ning Ze.

This made Zhai Yanke feel very apprehensive. If Ning Ze were to reach a position like Director Dongfang in the future, he would really go crazy.

"Ning Ze, you must die!"

Zhai Yanke's eyes were as cold as ice. He took out his phone as if possessed, opened the photo album, and saw a beautiful girl. Her skin was as white as snow, and her slightly chubby face had a shallow dimple when she smiled. Her bright eyes and white teeth made her look well-behaved and cute.

"Is this the girl from the Shu family? She's quite pretty. Do you really like her?"

Hong Quan, who was standing next to him, also saw the girl on his phone.

"like?"

Zhai Yanke turned off his phone screen, chuckled, and said coldly, "The more effort you put in, the more you'll naturally crave. What you can't have, you'll naturally desire."

"She got married." These were simple words, yet Zhai Yanke's hand, gripping his phone tightly, trembled slightly.

(End of this chapter)