Why do I have so many masters?

Chapter 114 Madness (2/2)

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Wang Anfeng this time did not break through to the Eighth Rank of Cultivation.

However, his innate talent had finally shrugged off the suppression of the backlash from Dragon Qi and began to emerge gradually, like a pearl whose surface dust had been wiped away, only now revealing its true luster. Born with long and uninterrupted meridians, his Inner Strength already matched that of an early Eighth Rank Martial Artist.

It was only that he had not yet fully breached the second barrier, unable to continue accumulating Inner Strength, and thus could not further refine his Golden Bell Shield Martial Body.

But this was not a problem. After a period of adaptation, perhaps half a month at most or merely a few days at least, he would naturally progress to the third barrier of the Golden Bell Shield with no further obstacles, as easily as water flows along its course.

To ensure he was prepared and did not miss the chance of a natural breakthrough, Ci Yuan had called Wang Anfeng to a Quiet Room to meticulously impart to him the scriptures and key points of the third barrier of the Golden Bell Shield using the Dharma of Buddhism's Thunderous Sound. Before the two set off, the blue-robed Scholar had obtained from him the Wooden Sword that had been carried for a long time.

Atop a solitary peak.

The Scholar had a cold expression, holding the Longsword horizontally in front of him. His right hand grasped the sword hilt and his left hand swept along the Sword Edge, afterward bending his fingers to lightly flick the blade.

Although it was a Wooden Sword, at that moment it emitted a long-lasting hum, resonating endlessly.

This sword had been with Wang Anfeng before he was Ninth Grade, and as a 'Plot Weapon,' a special kind of weaponry, it was extraordinary. Although it couldn't possibly remain undamaged forever, unless it clashed with a Divine Weapon, breaking this Longsword would be as absurd as a fool's dream.

Wang Anfeng would soon make his breakthrough to the Eighth Rank, and he had wanted to replace his weapon with something stronger. Yet after much deliberation, he realized that conventional weapons might not necessarily be better than this so-called Wooden Sword, which simply could not compare to the sharpness of higher quality sword weaponry.

With this thought, the Scholar slightly furrowed his brows and his gaze fell upon the package inside.

The extraordinary materials within, appearing golden but not jade, were piled up, flowing with a faint glow, evidently not ordinary objects.

.........…

In the Wind Character Tower.

Recently, Wang Anfeng's mood had been very good, with his Internal Strength Martial Body being refined closer to perfection; breakthrough seemed not far off.

With ample Inner Strength, he could also afford to use the Martial Arts that Bo passed down to him a bit more liberally.

He had never used that Rushing Thunder Step before.

But Mr. Ying had instructed him to not practice that Qinggong just yet, for reasons unknown. Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

Overall, his Martial Arts had entered a stage of somewhat rapid progress, but he did not know when he would be able to ascend to the Seventh Rank Realm. He had experienced many things over the past year and gradually understood, just as the senior Jiu Zizai had said, that only when one's Cultivation reached the Seventh Rank Realm in Martial Arts.

One would qualify to personally take part in the great tumultuous events within the world of Jianghu.

And only by reaching the Seventh Rank Realm…

Could he learn about the matters of White Tiger Hall.

The youth muttered to himself, unable to suppress thoughts of the past six months' events; his Master who had fallen into devilry, the White Tiger Hall Martial Artists who pursued him, and the lead from Gongsun Jing that there was a White Tiger Hall stronghold in North Martial State City.

But wasn't White Tiger Hall an organization that even senior Jiu Zizai approached with caution?

Why would it manifest so easily within a State City?

The youth's thoughts meandered far for a moment, when suddenly hurried and heavy footsteps approached, bringing a rush of cold air against the room's warmth, making Wang Anfeng instinctively shiver.

Regaining his senses, he turned to see a figure in black attire, Yan Ling, striding into the Wind Character Tower, his expression grave, far from his usual demeanor. Acknowledging the greeting, students with just a nod, he walked past briskly.

His right hand was partly enveloped by his black sleeve, intricate with complex patterns, and the half-exposed palm was wrapped with a bandage, clutching a sheathed broadsword. His eyes were filled with cold sharpness, such that the usually amiable brother who liked asking 'Do you understand or not?' now emitted an aura of 'keep away.'

It was only at a time like this that the students who usually made light of him remembered.

That this elder brother Yan Ling, apart from being the 'Don't know' brother, the obtuse young man known for his wooden head and never offended by friends' teasing, was also the top disciple of the Military Family at Fufeng Academy, an outstanding figure among the younger generation.

With his Martial Arts reaching the Eighth Rank, exceptional in combat, his name appeared on the Terrestrial Fiend List.

Wang Anfeng watched Yan Ling walk to a section to look for books, feeling somewhat puzzled. He knew Yan Ling fairly well, knowing that he demanded from himself to act according to proper etiquette. Such behavior was clearly the result of some special circumstances.

What could have happened…

Could it be that Sister Zhao was in some kind of trouble again?

The youth flipped through the pages of the book in his hands, his thoughts wandering aimlessly.

Three Hours later, he learned how naive he had been.

He had overlooked Yan Ling's true identity.

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Yan Ling, born into the Dharma family,

That afternoon, the academy's masters announced to all the students, forbidding them from going out. The masters were guarding every entrance and exit, turning the academy almost into a state of martial law. Furthermore, masters from the Dharma and Military families, carrying sharp blades on their backs, hurriedly left the academy, with many exuding a hard-to-ignore murderous intent.

Wang Anfeng noticed something was amiss and asked around the familiar students, but not a single one knew the reason. In the end, it was Su, the yin-yang gambler who was the best at gathering information, who let him know the real cause.

Today in Fufeng County City, a murder took place.

To be more precise, it should have been after midnight last night.

Su Wenchang's face was somewhat pale.

He had not wanted to speak of it, but unable to withstand Wang Anfeng's repeated inquiries and thinking of the latter's status as a martial artist on the Constellation Ranking List, with superior swordsmanship not comparable to them, who hadn't entered any rank, and also considering the pressure of keeping this matter to himself was too much, he finally opened up.

Once he started talking, it was as if he was venting his own inner worries and pressures, sparing Wang Anfeng from having to ask, spilling everything out.

It was a murder case, a brutal one at that.

A massacre of an entire family.

A family spanning three generations, seventeen people in all, were slaughtered without exception.

It was said that the faces of the victims were all sliced into unrecognizable fragments. It wasn't until the next day, when the neighbors didn't see the family come out, that they suspected something was wrong. After barging in, they discovered the tragedy and were scared senseless. Once they came to their senses, they immediately reported it to the authorities.

A year ago, Yan Ling's cultivation had already reached the Eighth Rank, and his teacher had recommended him to the Ministry of Punishment. Today, he was one of the first to be assigned to the case in secret, coming to Wind Character Tower to search for similar cases, aiming to find clues to bring the perpetrator to justice.

As he spoke of this, the color drained further from Su the gambler's face, looking even more ghastly.

Although he was extremely talented, he was still just an ordinary scholar who grew up in the academy, never having seen the bloodshed of Jianghu or fought in a life-or-death battle. He had heard of similar incidents before and would lament the dangers of Jianghu, but to have it happen so near, the feeling was completely different.

He wanted to laugh to relieve the pressure in his heart, but no smile came.

It is well known that the patrolling martial artists in Fufeng County City are around the Ninth Grade, which is the level of a Deputy General in an ordinary county city, capable of fighting lions and tigers. They patrol the area in groups of three.

To commit such a crime silently and unnoticed, the assassin or murderer must either be a martial artist above the Eighth Rank or skilled in the light-footed technique of concealing one's breath.

And judging by how they managed to hide the blood and prevent any scent of blood from leaking, it's likely they are seasoned hands.

Speaking to this point, Su Wenchang shook his head, then again advised Wang Anfeng not to leave the academy during this time. With such a major case happening, every level of the county's government agencies was mobilized, and a result would likely be reached soon. Then, excusing himself, he went to his master's place.

Wang Anfeng stood there, watching him leave, feeling a chill in his heart. The joy he felt from his breakthrough in cultivation vanished in an instant.

As soon as Su Wenchang mentioned the case, he had already understood.

Faces slashed beyond recognition.

Assassins. Murderers.

The youth slightly closed his eyes and unconsciously clenched his hands, recalling the experiences of Ah Ping and the assassin he had encountered. A strong sense of self-reproach rose within him, coupled with confusion.

Danfeng Valley...

To dare to commit such slaughter within the counties of Great Qin... With Great Qin's military preparedness, it was only because they had not anticipated these martial artists would act so madly. Should they seek to truly catch them, even with the vastness of the county city, not one could escape within three days. They would all be beheaded publicly, without mercy.

Could these evil sect martial artists be insane?

...............

Fufeng County City· Ministry of Punishment Office.

Deputy Chief Arrestor Zhu Jian'an's eyes were bloodshot.

Following the notice from that steward of the archives, they had already located one of Danfeng Valley's hideouts. Because they didn't know if this was the only base, they hadn't acted rashly, fearing they might startle the snakes. Instead, they sent martial artists to tail them daily, preparing to follow the trail and eliminate the hidden danger all at once.

They hadn't expected that the disciples of Danfeng Valley would commit such a heinous crime.

Did they wish for Danfeng Valley to be trampled by Great Qin's frenzied Iron Cavalry?

Zhu Jian'an ground his teeth, a surge of killing intent flowing in his heart.

Had these martial artists lost their minds?!

PS: Second update