Chapter 196: Advancement

Su Wangchuan truly had not expected Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao to be willing to give up the Yulong Gang’s stability, status, and benefits to follow him into the prefectural capital. He felt a faint warmth in his chest, but he also had his own view of the matter.

“Since you are determined to come with me to the Caobang, I can agree,” Su Wangchuan said. “But before I set out, you must break through to become First-Rank Martial Artists.”

“The prefectural capital is full of experts. Without the strength and cultivation of a First-Rank Martial Artist, you will not be able to help once you get there. You might even drag me down. You would be better off staying in the Yulong Gang as helm leaders or as the ones in charge of an escort agency.”

“You have at most one month.”

Su Wangchuan made the decision with decisive finality.

Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao immediately straightened, their faces lighting up with smiles.

“Senior Brother, do not worry! We have actually already broken through to become First-Rank Martial Artists.”

During this period, influenced by Su Wangchuan, the two of them had not wasted time. Not only had they trained all of the gang’s First-Rank martial arts to the realm of Practice Makes Perfect, they had also pooled the money they had saved and purchased several Second-Rank martial arts from the studio side. They had long since begun cultivating Second-Rank martial arts.

“You broke through?” Su Wangchuan asked.

“You two hid it pretty well.”

Su Wangchuan realized there was still a gap between himself and Yang Feiyue. At the very least, when it came to discernment, he was nowhere close.

The two scratched their heads in embarrassment.

“We just thought 《spirit realm》 is so dangerous. Senior Brother, you have been so low-key yourself, so we learned from you—hide our rank, play the pig to eat the tiger.”

“Good!”

“Very good hiding.”

Su Wangchuan threw back his head and laughed. “When I break through to the Second Rank, with you two First-Rank Martial Artists and Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu—those two should be close to breaking through to First Rank as well—our group of five will not be bullied so easily in the prefectural capital.”

“Yes!”

“All right!”

“Go back and train hard.”

“I need to push for Second Rank as well.”

At his command, the two rose and left.

Just before he went out, Bai Yuhui seemed to remember something. He turned back and asked, “Senior Brother, you have not cultivated the Qingzhu Gang’s 《Underwater Killing Techniques》 yet, have you?”

“That is right.” Su Wangchuan nodded. “I have not started training that technique.”

“Senior Brother should practice it. I have heard it is a martial arts manual treasured by only a handful of gangs. It might be a niche cultivation method.” Bai Yuhui spoke in a mysterious tone.

“A niche cultivation method?”

Su Wangchuan’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief. “How do you know?”

Bai Yuhui actually knew about niche cultivation methods!

Bai Yuhui blinked.

“My surname is Bai.”

“...”

A thunderclap flashed through Su Wangchuan’s mind.

Bai Yuhui.

Bai Jingtang.

“You and Captain Bai are—!”

“She is my older female cousin.”

After saying that, Bai Yuhui smiled and turned away.

Su Wangchuan stood there with his mouth slightly open in shock.

He finally understood why Bai Yuhui could know about “niche cultivation methods.”

He also finally understood why Bai Yuhui insisted on going with him to the prefectural capital.

This fellow had an enormous backer in the prefectural capital.

Captain Bai!

Bai Jingtang—who was about to break through to become a Fourth-Rank Martial Artist—was his older female cousin!

And he had never noticed that rare surname.

“And one more thing.”

Bai Yuhui seemed to recall something else and turned back again.

“The shortcut to cultivating 《Underwater Killing Techniques》 is similar to 《Archery》. You can raise its cultivation realm very quickly.”

“Good.”

“I understand.”

With Bai Yuhui’s reminder, Su Wangchuan felt as if he had found a priceless treasure.

Once he logged into the game, he immediately went to test it.

He picked a set of water gear stitched from snakeskin from the treasury. Before dawn, he leaped down from the dock and slipped into the river.

In the river, many fish were still sleeping, suspended in the water without moving.

Su Wangchuan gripped a Hundredfold Steel Dagger in each hand, quietly moved closer, and opened one fish’s belly with a single slash.

He summoned the Status Panel.

He saw the experience for 《Underwater Killing Techniques》 jump once, reaching 1/100.

Relying on the convenience provided by 《Water-Submerged Breath Regulation Art》, Su Wangchuan quickly searched for the next target...

Gurgle.

Another fish surfaced with blood trailing behind it, belly turned upward.

After about twenty minutes of nonstop work...

Su Wangchuan surfaced to breathe.

On the shore, he circulated 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 for dozens of cycles.

Then he jumped back into the water.

The cultivation method for 《Underwater Killing Techniques》 was completely different from other martial arts manuals.

At critical moments, he needed to gather momentum, borrowing the inertia of the current and the explosive force of that stored power to accelerate instantly and strike down a target. It truly was a niche cultivation method.

“Ding!”

System Notification:

“《Underwater Killing Techniques》 has advanced to ‘Minor Mastery.’ Reward: 1 point of stamina.”

Su Wangchuan’s eyes brightened.

Huh!

It actually increased stamina—a niche cultivation method that boosted stamina attributes!

Not bad.

No wonder Bai Yuhui and Hong Kaibao had broken through to First-Rank Martial Artists so quickly.

He kept diving and killing fish in the water, killing them until the sky finally brightened. At last!

A second system notification arrived:

“Ding!”

“《Underwater Killing Techniques》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: 2 points of stamina.”

Su Wangchuan climbed ashore. Seeing his stamina attribute reach 38 points, he could not help laughing freely.

“Hahahaha...”

“Refreshing!”

An unexpected delight.

He had gained 3 stamina from 《Underwater Killing Techniques》.

Once he cultivated 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 to ‘Entry-Level Mastery,’ his stamina would reach the height of 42...

Ignoring the astonished, respectful, and awed gazes from the people on the dock, Su Wangchuan sat cross-legged in his snakeskin water gear and circulated 《Qingcheng Heart Method》 until his stamina recovered and warmth spread through his whole body. Only then did he accept the cloak Chen Ergou handed him. Eating a meat bun as he walked, he returned to the hall.

After changing clothes in his room, he noticed Wang Yuehui had already logged off to rest. So at the Training Grounds, he began cultivating 《Green Bamboo Staff Art》 again, launching his final push!

Before noon, the system notification sounded:

“Ding!”

“《Green Bamboo Staff Art》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: 2 points of strength.”

Su Wangchuan silently clenched his fist.

Good!

His strength attribute had broken through to 41 points.

His second attribute had met the requirement.

Next...

Only the last attribute remained: stamina.

He glanced at 《Qingcheng Heart Method》...

499/500!

His eyes narrowed slightly. Su Wangchuan sat down cross-legged in silence. Following the guidance of the heart method, a warm current rapidly circulated through his body.

As cycle after cycle completed, his body grew comfortable, his breath became long and steady, and he gradually sank into it.

He did not know how much time passed.

“Ding!”

“《Qingcheng Heart Method》 has advanced from ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ to ‘Entry-Level Mastery.’ Reward: 3 points of stamina!”

His stamina attribute officially broke through the 40-point threshold!

“Ding!”

As expected, the system notification arrived:

“Congratulations. You have officially broken through to become a Second-Rank Martial Artist.”

“Reward: 2 free attribute points.”

“Permission granted to cultivate Third-Rank martial arts!”

Su Wangchuan suddenly drew in a deep breath. He felt comfortable from head to toe, as if his bones had entered a new balance. When he moved, his tendons and bones rang together, releasing a chain of faint cracking sounds.

Second Rank!

He had advanced!

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