Chapter 21: Su City Stage

"Brother Ning, how is your injury?"

Wei Fan knocked on Ning Xuan’s door and found that Ning Xuan’s complexion had improved considerably.

He was slashed by the Tiger King. Originally, the injury wasn’t too severe, but during the healing process, something Wei Fan said made him laugh, causing his True Qi to go astray, nearly costing him half his life.

"After resting for another three or four days, I should be fine."

Ning Xuan invited Wei Fan in and casually poured a cup of tea: "Hmm... I haven’t seen you for two days, and Brother Wei, your demeanor seems even more outstanding."

Having comprehended the Sword Intent, Wei Fan underwent a tremendous transformation on a mental level, appearing colder and sharper than before, with more penetrating eyes.

Even though Ning Xuan didn’t know he had comprehended the Sword Intent, he sensed the change in Wei Fan’s spirit and demeanor.

"Brother Ning, you have an exceptional insight. I’ve made a minor breakthrough in Martial Arts, and didn’t expect you to notice it."

Wei Fan took a sip of tea. Among so many at the Government Office, Ning Xuan was the first to notice his change.

After a while, Su Xuerong, who heard the commotion, also came to Ning Xuan’s room.

"It seems you’re eager to quickly join the Demon Suppression Bureau!"

Su Xuerong still didn’t show much kindness to Wei Fan, remembering how Wei Fan had earlier said she was old, and she didn’t even call him by name when speaking to him.

She roughly guessed Wei Fan’s purpose was to see if Ning Xuan was recovering, and once he was better, to quickly head back to Su City to inform the guide about Wei Fan’s matters.

Wei Fan nodded: "I indeed wish to join the Demon Suppression Bureau. My cultivation is at the True Qi Ninth Layer, and without an Acupoint Realm cultivation technique, I haven’t been able to break through."

Both nodded, understanding Wei Fan’s feelings.

Ning Xuan said: "Brother Wei, there’s actually no need to rush. You have extraordinary talent, but I notice your True Qi isn’t very robust. It appears your Dantian isn’t expansive enough, capable of holding about ten years’ worth of Power at most.

In my opinion, you should now find a Martial Arts technique to expand your Dantian, allowing it to accommodate more True Qi.

If your Dantian can be expanded two or threefold, perhaps after entering the Demon Suppression Bureau, one day you might stand shoulder to shoulder with those Demon Fiends of the bureau.

By not expanding your Dantian now, once you break through to the Acupoint Realm, the size of your Dantian will be fixed.

You probably don’t know of those few demon spirits from the Demon Suppression Bureau. They didn’t rush to break through while in the True Qi Realm, but expanded their Dantian to hold five or sixty years’ worth of Power, establishing their position as demon spirits, unmatched among their peers. No matter who they encounter, they can overpower them with their robust True Qi."

Indeed, the amount of True Qi is very important.

A person with only the First Layer of the Golden Bell Shield, no matter how powerful his Martial Technique is, can’t defeat someone with the Golden Bell Shield at the Seventh or Eighth Layer.

Others don’t even need to use any Martial Technique. They can defeat you with their vastly superior True Qi alone.

Wei Fan frowned: "Are there still Martial Arts that can expand the Dantian? Where can I get them?"

Although he’s capable of even slaying True Realm Great Demons right now, his knowledge of Martial Arts is still shallow.

This is the first time he’s heard of Dantian-expanding Martial Arts.

His cultivation progress has been stunted because his Dantian has reached its limit in storing True Qi, unable to hold more.

If he could expand his Dantian to accommodate more True Qi, he wouldn’t be in a hurry to break through.

Because he heard Ning Xuan and the others talk about cultivation directions in the Acupoint Realm, the main point being to open acupoints in the body that can store True Qi, increasing one’s True Qi capacity.

Su Xuerong said: "You don’t even know about these things? Don’t tell me your Martial Arts weren’t taught by a master, and you’ve only cultivated those Martial Arts taught by the Government Office yourself."

The things they’re discussing are common knowledge to anyone with a bit of background or anyone who has spent long enough in the Jianghu.

With Wei Fan’s skills, not knowing such common knowledge could only mean he doesn’t have any master and hasn’t been a Martial Artist for long.

Wei Fan didn’t say anything, simply looking at Ning Xuan.

This guy, having said so much, must’ve cultivated some Dantian-expanding Martial Arts as well.

Ning Xuan understood this, and said immediately: "I do have such Martial Arts, but it is the masterpiece of my sect and cannot be shared outside."

He then looked at Su Xuerong: "Xuerong, your Su Family doesn’t have the same strict rules as my sect. Why not gift it to Brother Wei? Just as a gesture of friendship."

Su Xuerong thought for a moment and then nodded, "I’ll give it to Wei Fan then. As long as it’s not the core inheritance, my family indeed doesn’t have such strict rules as your sect, but I hope Wei Fan won’t pass on the Martial Arts to a second person."

She also wanted to forge a good relationship with Wei Fan.

Given the current situation, Wei Fan’s talent is quite impressive. If she could lend a hand, who knows, maybe one day Wei Fan could stand shoulder to shoulder with those demon spirits from the Demon Suppression Bureau, or even surpass them.

Currently, Wei Fan doesn’t have a strong backing or foundation, but once he has these resources, who knows how far he can go.

Such a person, anyone wouldn’t mind helping out.

"Thank you, Miss Su. I assure you, I won’t pass it on to a second person!"

Wei Fan naturally nodded in agreement.

"I don’t have the secret manual on me, but I’ll write it down when I have time. You can come and get it in a couple of days."

Not being able to get the secret manual right away left Wei Fan a bit disappointed, but it was just one or two days, and it would pass quickly.

At this moment, Ning Xuan spoke again: "Brother Wei, remember, don’t rush to break through to the Acupoint Realm. Wait until your Dantian is expanded to its limit and can’t be expanded further.

The size of the Dantian in the True Qi Realm greatly affects future realms.

In my sect, there’s a senior brother who broke through to the Acupoint Realm later among his peers, while he was still expanding his Dantian. Now he’s a Celestial Expert, while his peers are still in the Acupoint Realm.

Among Martial Artists, many evaluate a person’s potential first by looking at how many years’ worth of Power their Dantian can hold.

The more Power it can hold, the higher and faster the potential for future growth.

If I hadn’t expanded my Dantian to the limit, I’d still be in the True Qi Realm now."

...

Ning Xuan and Su Xuerong took turns speaking, soon sharing many things Wei Fan didn’t know.

The Great Victory Dynasty!

The Demon Suppression Bureau!

Martial Arts Sects!

Martial Arts Families!

The Demon Race!

Heroes of the Green Forest!

Divine and Demonic Artifacts!

...

The stage in Su City is bigger and more exciting than that in Yun City. In comparison, Yun City is like a remote corner, with many things he’s never even heard of.

He chatted with the two for a long time, even ordering some drinks and dishes to their room to talk over, until Ning Xuan said he needed to meditate for healing. Only then did Wei Fan get up to return to the Government Office.

As an Arrest Officer, Wei Fan didn’t have much to do, and as long as there were no murders, he didn’t need to go out and patrol the streets.

"Chief Wei, Zhou Qi and the others were beaten!"

Just as he sat down for a while, Liu Chengzhou came to report that Zhou Qi had been beaten.

Wei Fan walked out of the hall and saw Zhou Qi and another subordinate already carried back to the Government Office.

Both had bruised faces, disheveled hair, and footprints on their bodies.

"What’s going on?"

Wei Fan leaned over to look; Zhou Qi and the other officer’s injuries weren’t severe, not life-threatening, just somewhat embarrassing.

Zhou Qi spoke in a weak voice: "The two of us were patrolling the street when we saw a shop being smashed by some people, so we stepped in to stop it.

To our surprise, not only were those people not afraid when they saw us, but they even called us busybodies and attacked us.

Among them was a Martial Artist, probably at the True Qi Second Layer, and we couldn’t beat them."

Wei Fan said with a grim face: "Where are the people who hit you? Do you know their identities?"

"They left right after beating us up; we didn’t recognize them. But one of them warned us as he left, saying if we interfere with E Shen Bang’s business again, they’d feed us to the demon fiend."

Zhou Qi struggled to sit up: "I asked the shopkeeper who got smashed; he said those people came to demand they pay a monthly fee to E Shen Bang, and when the shopkeeper refused, they were beaten and smashed."