Chapter 123 - 120: The Grace of Recognition

In response to Bian Yixia’s inquiry, Zou Feng answered without hesitation, "Miss, it’s like this. My cultivation has been going very smoothly lately, and I feel like I’m very close to the Seventh Grade!"

"So, while I still have this momentum, I want to build up my foundation as quickly as possible and prepare to break through to the Seventh Grade!"

He was, for the most part, telling the truth.

After hearing him, Bian Yixia froze for a moment, then let out a snort of laughter.

"Heh, how long ago did you reach the Eighth Grade? If I recall correctly, it’s only been about two months, right?"

"And now you’re telling me you’re about to reach the Seventh Grade!?" Bian Yixia’s reaction was perfectly normal. After all, advancing at such a speed was truly absurd.

Zou Feng simply nodded and said with a wry smile, "Miss, I’m telling the truth..."

He knew she most likely wouldn’t believe him, but he couldn’t think of a better excuse on the spot.

Bian Yixia rolled her eyes at him. "In that case, you’re even more of a prodigy than the True Disciples of the Celestial Essence Sword Sect..."

"Alright, enough with the jokes. Is it your Tribulation-Indestructible Body? Is it showing signs of breaking through to the Realm of Refined Skill?"

She had been sparring with Zou Feng constantly, so over time, she naturally discovered that his Tribulation-Indestructible Body had already reached the Realm of Integration and Mastery. It was impossible to hide it from her.

Therefore, she knew very well that it was genuinely possible for Zou Feng’s Tribulation-Indestructible Body to break through to the level of Refined Skill while he was still at the Eighth Grade.

Since telling the truth hadn’t worked, Zou Feng could only go along with her theory. "Uh... you’re right. You’re as perceptive as ever, Miss. My Tribulation-Indestructible Body is indeed about to reach the Realm of Refined Skill..."

This was also true, and Zou Feng took a moment to check his status.

"Tribulation-Indestructible Body (Integration and Mastery), Progress: 77%"

He was indeed getting quite close to the Realm of Refined Skill.

When Zou Feng admitted it, Bian Yixia’s eyes instantly lit up.

"Attaboy, kid!"

"If you can truly master your Cultivation Skill to the level of Refined Skill while you’re still at the Eighth Grade, it’ll be a huge help for your future advancement to the Seventh Grade, and even for breaking through to the Gang Qi Realm!"

With that, an expression of regret appeared on Bian Yixia’s face. "To be honest, I regret not having mastered my Cultivation Skill to the level of Refined Skill back when I was at the Eighth Grade. I managed it after reaching the Seventh Grade, but now I always feel like something is missing!"

"You’re the impressive one, kid. A bright future ahead of you!"

One could tell that Bian Yixia was genuinely pleased with Zou Feng’s progress and wasn’t just offering empty pleasantries.

Her tone as she praised him gave Zou Feng a strange impression. ’After sparring together for so long,’ he wondered, ’has she started to see me as a junior brother, or maybe even a disciple?’

’Of course,’ he mused, ’it’s also possible she just sees me as the most promising rising star in the entire Black Flood Dragon Gang.’

"Follow me!"

After her praise, Bian Yixia beckoned to Zou Feng, then turned and headed out of the Practice Room.

’This looks promising,’ he thought.

Zou Feng immediately followed her.

Before long, he had followed Bian Yixia to a room at the very top of the Dragon Gate Boat.

He knew this was Bian Yixia’s quarters, though he had never been inside before.

As Bian Yixia led him toward her private chambers, Zou Feng didn’t let his mind wander to improper places.

The reason was simple. Having spent so much time with her, he understood Bian Yixia quite well. He knew this Martial Fool had no interest in anything besides her training.

Entering Bian Yixia’s room, Zou Feng was taken aback.

The entire room was almost completely bare of furnishings, taking "minimalism" to an extreme.

There was a wooden bed frame with no sheets or bedding, a square table, and a backless wooden stool.

There wasn’t even a wardrobe; her clothes were simply hung on a bamboo pole propped up as a rack.

There were only seven sets of clothes hanging on the pole.

Six of them were identical sets of Martial Attire.

This was why it always looked as if Bian Yixia never changed her clothes.

The last set was a bit more ornate, likely reserved for more formal occasions.

After all, as the "Miss" of the Black Flood Dragon Gang, she couldn’t completely neglect her image.

What struck Zou Feng as odd, however, was that he didn’t see any nightclothes.

’Did she put them away beforehand, or does she have the habit of sleeping naked?’ he wondered.

For a woman with such good looks to have a room like this, Zou Feng couldn’t help but feel a sincere admiration for Bian Yixia.

This woman was a truly pure Martial Artist.

She was completely focused on the Martial Dao, unwilling to be distracted by any external matters.

’That’s something I could never do,’ he admitted to himself.

After all, if Liu Xian’Er, the courtesan from Furong Pavilion, had truly taken a fancy to him that night and had a sudden change of heart, he definitely would have stayed over...

But Zou Feng was more inclined to believe in a balance between work and rest, so he didn’t think there was anything wrong with having a normal person’s desires.

’As for a pure Martial Artist like Bian Yixia,’ he reasoned, ’the only reasons she would become the Acting Gang Leader must be, one, to repay her adoptive father, Deng Guangxin, for taking her in, and two, because even the most ascetic Martial Artist still needs sufficient resources for their cultivation.’

"Sit."

Pointing to the lone stool, Bian Yixia walked straight into a partitioned-off section of the room.

This time, she didn’t motion for Zou Feng to follow.

Just a few moments after Zou Feng sat down, Bian Yixia emerged from the inner room carrying the head of a Demon Beast.

He could tell it was a Demon Beast at a glance because, while it greatly resembled a deer, it had a third eye on its forehead.

The third eye was currently open, and just looking at it made even an Eighth Grade Martial Artist like him feel uneasy.

After placing the Demon Deer Head on the table, Bian Yixia said, "A Celestial Eye Cloud Pattern Deer. This is the prize from last night’s hunt."