Chapter 703: Reflecting Inner Visions, Killing Without Trace

The young man rides the wind from Donglai, fine snow unfurls along the riverbank.

No need to say the lone boat is cold under the straw raincoat, deep within lies the realm of Penglai.

On the riverbank stands a solitary stone monument, about a yard high, weathering the wind and snow. The south side is inscribed with the characters ‘Donglai,’ and the north side with ‘Sanshan,’ amidst the distant snow-covered mountains and desolate countryside.

“Hiss hiss hiss!”

Suddenly, the Rice Hat Wanderer opened his eyes, a hint of light blue radiance flowed between his pupils. He grasped into the void, causing waves within the sea of consciousness of the Mud Ball Divine Palace, and the surging spiritual power shot out and transformed into a light blue long saber in his hand.

The saber’s edge cut through the sky, the young man wielded it with ease, smoothly executing a series of consecutive slashes.

The cold light fell on the trees a yard away, bursting with astonishing power. Blades of light sliced through the tree trunks effortlessly, as if cutting through tofu.

“Boom boom boom——”

Trees as thick as a bowl were snapped mid-trunk, the cut surfaces smooth as mirrors, even from a yard away, showcasing the sharpness of the light blue long saber.

Myriad Phenomena Concentration Divine Technique (Great Success 1%)

Comprehension: 245 (Heavenly Star Descending)

“Is the inner contemplation reflecting the outer scene…”

Su Mu looked at the Myriad Phenomena Concentration Divine Technique shimmering on the comprehension panel with contemplation. Previously, he only used this technique within Bai Jiao Mountain to replicate martial momentum.

At present, most of Su Mu’s martial arts had reached a very high realm, making rapid progress difficult in the short term. Additionally, the cultivation of techniques like Flood Dragon Shocking Skill and Three Profound Forging Lungs Technique required gradual progression, prompting him to focus on enhancing martial arts previously touched upon lightly.

Half a month after leaving Donglai County, aided by the formidable comprehension of 245 points, cultivating the Myriad Phenomena Concentration Divine Technique encountered little resistance, smoothly advancing to great success, already reaching the technique’s third level.

The third level of the Myriad Phenomena Concentration Divine Technique is the realm of myriad phenomena, characterized by the ability to reflect the inner scene visualized within the sea of consciousness into reality, transforming it into actual external scenery.

Such is the light blue saber in Su Mu’s hand — not a real weapon but an amalgamation of spiritual power.

“Slightly weak, its current destructive power roughly corresponds to the most ordinary sixth-grade Dharma Artifact. However, as my spiritual power enhances, the reflected external scene will also improve, making it quite a remarkable skill.”

With a thought, the light blue saber in Su Mu’s hand melted away like snow, transforming into a stream that enveloped his body and in a breath became a heavy suit of armor.

If the Sea Tide Gang Leader Zhao Lei were alive, he would readily recognize this armor as the fourth-grade Black Scale Armor he wore during his lifetime. More astounding was its lifelike appearance, with every scale distinctly visible.

Then, Su Mu thought again.

The armor transformed into a long bow, a great axe, a wolf fang club, and even a miniature divine arm crossbow within a breath.

With interest, Su Mu shifted through over ten items before slightly raising the corners of his mouth, retracting the reflected external scene. At this moment, a mild ache throbbed at his brow — feedback from the rapid expenditure of spiritual power over a short duration.

“Sanshan County, let’s take a look.”

Su Mu unfolded the sheepskin map in his hand, his gaze landed on the large mountain city nestled amid the northern mountain range, deciphered the directions, he then briskly stepped towards Sanshan County.

Sanshan County, southwestern in Qingzhou, named for the county’s two dragons, plum blossom, and white crane mountains standing tall. The mountains are steep, rich with spiritual plants and rare herbs, the county’s numerous medicinal shops thrive, about two to three-tenths of Qingzhou’s medicinal resources originate here.

Every spring and autumn, merchants gather, loaded camels and horses traverse the roads, precious goods fill the markets, pill furnaces smoke and sparks day and night, though a mountain town, the roads are well-connected.

In the blink of an eye, three more days passed.

Qingfeng Crossing Cicada (Great Success 21%)

“Why would there be the sound of cicadas in such cold weather?”

“You must have misheard, Lin Leader.”

“Yes, none of us heard the cicada sound you mentioned.”

On the official road to Sanshan City, a merchant caravan with escort flags inscribed with the Feng family emblem and dark background quietly moved forward. A middle-aged man dressed as a Darts Master looked puzzled, the surrounding escorts exchanged confused glances, all saying they didn’t hear any cicada sounds.

“We must be exhausted from continuous travels over the days, everyone is mentally fatigued. I recall there’s an inn ahead.”

“Indeed, let’s rest for a while. The rest is all official road, within three days we can reach the Commandery City!”

A plump middle-aged man draped in animal fur proposed, his face, somewhat bluish from the long travels, reflected his status as a merchant from a small family in Sanshan County. He hired a group of escorts to protect the goods; the carriage carried medicinal materials procured from counties along the way.

The weather has yet to warm; currently, it’s a prime time for medicinal prices to rise.

“Yes, Master Liu.”

The man referred to as Lin Leader nodded in response; the cicada sound he heard was likely a mirage. Now that the wealthy merchant employer suggested it, he readily agreed.

The dozen members of the Feng family Escort Agency were all adept martial artists, moving nimbly along the official path towards a village via a crossroads, soon a familiar inn appeared before them.

The inn’s wine flag fluttered, the aroma of alcohol and meat drifting through the cold wind into people’s nostrils.

“We’ve made it… I’ll cover this meal, treat the escorts at the agency. Lin Leader, please arrange accordingly.”

The wealth merchant couldn’t help swallowing a large gulp of saliva upon smelling the aroma of the meal, he instructed before hastily heading towards the inn, planning to first rent a room and have a hot bath; the discomfort brought by sleep on the carriage was making his backache flare up.

All the escorts were also secretly swallowing, touching their lips and feeling relieved inside — finally, no need to eat the rock-hard dry rations.