Chapter 48: Here Comes the Benefit, Breakthrough in Cultivation

"So that’s how it is. I was wondering why you’ve changed so much lately, turns out that’s the reason!"

This news made Shi Sheng’s face light up with understanding.

It seemed like everything he couldn’t figure out before now all made sense.

",,,,"

Watching Shi Sheng like this, Si Nan couldn’t help feeling a little speechless.

Come on, you’re only realizing it now? That thing from the other night, did you just let it go in one ear and out the other?

Si Nan was used to Shi Sheng’s slow reactions by now. He just shot him a look but didn’t say anything else.

The question of Ye Liuyun’s identity—

—didn’t cause much of a stir among the other Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Most people were only a bit surprised when they first heard, then just went about their business. Pretty much no one really cared.

It’s like they’ve already seen so much outrageous stuff before, so something like this just isn’t a big deal at all.

At most, it made some schemers realize—

—that even though Sheng Li was gone, there must be someone else backing up Ye Liuyun now.

Otherwise, there was no way Ye Liuyun could’ve kept his post as a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

,,,

That night, when he got home—

Sheng Lanzhi greeted him with a bright, beaming smile.

"Welcome home, sir!"

Xing’Er quietly followed beside Sheng Lanzhi.

Ye Liuyun glanced at Xing’Er, then turned his gaze to the all-smiles Sheng Lanzhi.

Isn’t it true that the wheel of fate turns? In the past, it was always Xing’Er who greeted him at the door. This was the first time Sheng Lanzhi had come out to welcome him.

Ye Liuyun didn’t pay much attention to it—he just handed his outer robe to Xing’Er in passing.

"I was reading some case files today, so I got back a bit late."

"Sir, hard work is all well and good, but you should still take care of your health and get some rest."

Sheng Lanzhi’s smile looked perfectly natural. Say what you will, but women really are born actresses; you couldn’t tell anything was off at all.

"I’ve already had someone prepare dinner in the back yard, please eat first, sir."

"Sounds good!"

Ye Liuyun didn’t refuse.

At the table, Sheng Lanzhi personally poured Ye Liuyun some wine, and after he’d had a few cups—

She finally took out a booklet from her sleeve and handed it to Ye Liuyun.

"What’s this?"

Seeing the characters ’Overlord Saber’ written on the cover, Ye Liuyun raised his brows. He didn’t even need to think—this had to be a saber skill.

"I noticed you liked saber skills, so I kept an eye out in particular."

"This Overlord Saber is a secret, never-taught technique of the Overlord Blade Sect. But I have a brother-in-law who’s on good terms with the sect, so I greased some palms. It wasn’t cheap, but as long as you like it, that’s all that matters!"

The way she said it, it was like getting this saber skill was no big deal at all.

But Sheng Lanzhi then went on to explain in detail how she managed to get her hands on the saber skill.

It all sounded like she did it casually, but actually, every word was calculated.

"Thanks for your trouble."

Ye Liuyun didn’t refuse. As for Sheng Lanzhi’s little tricks, he had no intention of exposing them either.

See? This is what you get for keeping Sheng Lanzhi alive.

"As long as you like it, sir, that’s all that matters."

Seeing Ye Liuyun say that, Sheng Lanzhi’s smile grew even brighter.

She filled Ye Liuyun’s wine cup again.

,,,

After a few more rounds of drinks, Ye Liuyun had the maids help the ’lightweight’ Sheng Lanzhi back to her room.

And as for Ye Liuyun himself—

He started carefully studying the saber skill. With his extraordinary comprehension and saber skill talent, he could confirm after one read-through that this was a cultivation technique on par in quality with Blazing Blade Skill.

The fact Sheng Lanzhi could get him a technique like this left Ye Liuyun quite satisfied.

"Not bad."

When he got back to the courtyard—

He found that the once rather empty yard was now filled with all sorts of training equipment, all kinds of weapons neatly lined up in their racks.

No need to guess—the arrangement was definitely Sheng Lanzhi’s doing.

Even if it was a little sneaky, you had to admit—she had some brains to pull this off.

He casually grabbed a hundred-forged steel saber from the rack. After a couple swings, he had to admit—the quality was top-notch.

He then followed the instructions in the Overlord Saber manual and began training on the spot.

Just like its name, the Overlord Saber is an incredibly aggressive saber skill—pure offense, no defense, big moves, bigger power.

The whole concept is to break all techniques with sheer force.

,,,

"Huff!"

After swinging the saber for about half an hour nonstop, Ye Liuyun finally stopped.

He took a moment to regulate his breathing and circulate his inner strength.

"Took this long just to get through the basics—definitely not something you’d find at a street stall!"

The more advanced the cultivation technique, the harder it is to train.

Relying on his comprehension and saber skill talents, he still needed half an hour to just get started with Overlord Saber. That alone showed how precious this saber skill was.

Of course—

If others knew Ye Liuyun only needed half an hour to get started with the Overlord Saber, they’d probably be green with envy.

Lots of people train through the dead of winter and the heat of summer, spending years—

—but forget getting started, they can’t even see a glimmer of hope.

"Talent Entry System!

Host: Ye Liuyun!

Realm: Innate, middle stage!

Martial Skills: Wind-Slaying Saber Skill, Cangyang Force, Pine Wood Saber Skill, Jade Shatterer, Blazing Blade Skill, Phantom Ninefold Body, Overlord Saber,

Talent Entries: Luck (Purple), Iron Bones (Purple), Man-Blade as One (Purple), Extraordinary Comprehension (Purple), Swordsmanship Talent (Blue), Extreme Yang Constitution (Purple), Scent Recognition (Blue), Traceless Steps on Snow (Purple),"

During a short rest, Ye Liuyun took a look at his character template.

His realm really had broken through.

Back when he first started training Phantom Ninefold Body, he’d already felt close to a breakthrough.

Now having started on Overlord Saber as well, Ye Liuyun’s cultivation was firmly at Innate, middle stage.

"Next, I’ll focus on Phantom Ninefold Body and Overlord Saber."

With Traceless Steps on Snow, that purple-quality qinggong talent, training Phantom Ninefold Body should be a breeze.

The other techniques were all basically mastered; only these two new ones had just been started.

Ye Liuyun knew very well—quality matters more than quantity with cultivation techniques.

Just like some people go around picking up moves from every school. It sounds impressive, but it’s all too scattered and shallow.

At best, you might be able to pick on ordinary folks. But face a real expert? They’ll shatter you with one blow. If you just master one or two techniques, at least you won’t embarrass yourself like that.

Just as Ye Liuyun was resting—

—about to resume training,

"Hm?"

He seemed to notice something, and looked toward the courtyard wall.

In the moonlight, a figure in a white gauzy dress floated over the wall like a fairy.

"You?"

The newcomer was none other than Yan Shuzhu’s bodyguard, Lv Lan.

Only, the Lv Lan he’d seen before, like Yan Shuzhu, had always been dressed as a man. He’d never expected that once Lv Lan put on women’s clothes—she’d look this good.

,,,,,,