Chapter 437: The Sword Art Reaches Peak Perfection

The moment Yan Tiannan died, Wangchuan notified Li Na and Su Wan to come upstairs.

With reddened eyes, Su Wan walked up to Wangchuan and said,

“All the paperwork and records for the Warring States Building and the Red Moon Mall have been updated.”

“From now on, you are my boss.”

“...”

Wangchuan nodded silently.

“My condolences.”

Su Wan drew in a deep breath and said,

“The most grief-stricken person is not me. I will bring Boss Yan’s family downstairs and handle the funeral arrangements. Leave everything here to me, and you and Li Na should go back and make your preparations.”

“Now that the Crimson Pavilion has already begun moving in the Capital, barring any surprises, they will either go back into hiding or cause the imperial court trouble once more before the New Year. You should return as soon as possible and take charge of your hall. I will handle the affairs here.”

“Alright. Thank you for your hard work.”

Wangchuan nodded.

“If you need any help, speak up at any time.”

Then, carrying the gaming helmet, he left the Warring States Building with his group.

...

After returning to Sanjiang Studio,

Wangchuan could not forget that shadow...

The figure had struck like lightning, robbing Yan Tiannan of all power to resist in an instant, as though it had struck a precise acupoint and shattered his will to fight altogether.

“Ultimate Art 《Bone-Piercing Art》.”

Wangchuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had cultivated and mastered 《Wind Fills the Vast Sky》, and had felt that it was already an exceedingly domineering Ultimate Art. Yet compared with 《Bone-Piercing Art》, it still seemed to fall slightly short.

The Crimson Pavilion’s 《Bone-Piercing Art》 was a consummate killing technique!

And there was no telling just what realm that assassin had cultivated it to.

“In the future, if I run into Crimson Pavilion assassins, I still need to be extremely careful.”

He put on the helmet and entered 《spirit realm》.

“Ding!”

System prompt:

“《Raging Tide Sword Art》 has risen from ‘Integration’ to ‘Perfect Mastery.’ Reward: +4 Agility, +1 Spirit!”

“Ding!”

System prompt:

“《Basic Sword Technique》 has risen from ‘Perfect Mastery’ to ‘Peak Perfection.’ Reward: +4 Agility, +2 Spirit!”

Wangchuan was startled at first, then overjoyed.

After 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 broke through, 《Basic Sword Technique》 had also broken through in turn, entering the realm of Peak Perfection.

That was truly an unexpected delight.

Before his death, Yan Tiannan had helped him break through four realms in one breath!

A total gain of 20 attribute points!

He had profited enormously!

He immediately summoned his Status Panel to check:

Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 43/100)

(Life Profession: Blacksmith)

(Combat Profession: Fourth-Rank Martial Artist)

Strength 97; Attack 32–33;

Agility 147; Defense 29.4; Speed +147;

Stamina 104; HP 1040/1040;

Spirit 51: Internal Energy 510/510.

Free Attributes: 0 (Assignable)

Wonderful!!

“Hall Master!”

Lin Jiahe and Wang Yuehui had already logged in and were calling out from the courtyard.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, Wangchuan pushed open the door and walked out.

Aside from those two, Chen Ergou, Zhao Heiniu, Su Yun, Su Qi, and Li Qing were all there as well.

Wangchuan gave his orders:

“We’ve just received news that Crimson Pavilion assassins have appeared in the Capital and assassinated multiple fifth-rank martial artists. From this moment onward, the hall and all the branch helms are to heighten their vigilance and go on full alert! Double posts during the day; at night, the Deputy Hall Master will lead the patrols personally and strengthen night patrols!”

“Yes!”

Chen Ergou and Zhao Heiniu accepted the order.

“Li Qing! The task of screening the city is yours. Keep a close watch on every unfamiliar face and keep your eyes sharp!”

“This subordinate obeys!”

Li Qing cupped his fists forcefully and answered in a ringing voice,

“This subordinate will personally keep watch over the hall. I absolutely will not let a single suspicious person slip inside.”

Then he left.

“Su Yun, Su Qi!”

“This subordinate is here!”

“From today onward, the two of you will take turns standing night watch. Remain on heightened alert.”

Wangchuan had no intention of following in Yan Tiannan’s footsteps.

“This subordinate obeys!”

The two men accepted their orders.

Wangchuan then added,

“From this point on, find martial artists in the hall whose third-rank cultivation methods have reached ‘Integration’ and arrange them as sparring partners.”

At this moment, Lin Jiahe interjected,

“Hall Master!”

“In fact, this subordinate already has several cultivation methods at ‘Integration.’ Chen Gang and Li Xiangyang do as well. Both of them have third-rank cultivation methods at ‘Integration.’”

Lin Jiahe knew that the Hall Master was preparing to cultivate a body-protection technique.

Li Xiangyang and Yang Feiyue had gone out on a mission, so only Lin Jiahe and Chen Gang remained in the hall.

Without delay, Wangchuan immediately began training.

“Come.”

But suitable sparring partners were hard to find.

Whenever Lin Jiahe used a third-rank martial art that had reached Integration, it still hurt a little when it landed on the body.

Apart from 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》 being able to endure it, both 《Iron Python Body-Protection Qigong》 and 《Golden Bell Shield》 found it difficult. Each blow took away dozens of health points, making the training extremely taxing.

Wangchuan called a halt and said,

“Use a third-rank palm art.”

“Hall Master, most of this subordinate’s palm arts have already reached ‘Perfect Mastery.’ Their destructive power is no weaker than my other techniques.”

“Chen Gang, what about you?”

“This subordinate’s 《Wudang Sanshou》 only reached Entry-Level Mastery not long ago. It’s still a little short of ‘Integration.’” Chen Gang scratched his head awkwardly.

“Come!”

“I’m taking you up to the seventh floor!”

Gritting his teeth, Wangchuan decided to take Chen Gang upstairs and temporarily push the realm of his 《Wudang Sanshou》 higher through training.

The moment Chen Gang entered the seventh floor and saw venomous snakes covering the ground, he was dumbstruck.

Under Wangchuan’s repeated urging, he went in and killed more than a thousand venomous snakes. Sure enough, he pushed 《Wudang Sanshou》 up to the realm of Integration.

They resumed sparring.

Chen Gang’s 《Wudang Sanshou》 now carried a little over sixty points of attack. Going all out, it just barely shook 《Iron Python Body-Protection Qigong》 and finally caused its experience value to start rising.

Chen Gang was also delighted to discover that his own 《Wudang Sanshou》 could continue gaining experience in the process. Instantly overjoyed, he trained with all his strength.

As evening approached,

news began arriving one after another.

Yang Feiyue and Li Xiangyang returned with their teams.

The two of them had led men in assaulting four Beggar Sect strongholds, killing more than forty ranked martial artists, including one Deputy Branch Master from Qinghe Commandery and four second-rank martial artists.

Constable Captain Yu of the Six Gates came calling in great haste and requested an audience with Wangchuan.

“Hall Master Wangchuan!”

“Urgent news from the Capital! Traces of Crimson Pavilion assassins have been discovered... Those mad dogs have actually chosen the last two days before the New Year to stir up trouble, killing people in the streets!”

Wangchuan feigned ignorance and listened to Constable Captain Yu finish speaking.

“The Capital has already sent secret orders to all commanderies, instructing them to conduct a full search and hunt down Crimson Pavilion assassins. But the Six Gates has limited manpower. We need Hall Master Wangchuan’s help.”

Wangchuan asked without changing expression,

“What does Constable Captain Yu need me to do? Please speak plainly.”

“This operation by the Crimson Pavilion may very well be aimed at the leadership of the prefectural government. Our Six Gates personnel have all been sent out to hunt the killers, which has left the rear area around the prefectural offices vulnerable. There is a chance the villains may exploit that gap. I want to transfer a group of men from your hall to serve as guards for the Prefect.”

Constable Captain Yu stated the purpose of his visit:

“This force will need to remain stationed there until the end of the year.”

After thinking for a moment, Wangchuan nodded.

“That can be done.”

“I’ll assign two third-rank martial artists to lead the team, along with twenty second-rank martial artists as guards. What do you think?”

“Now that’s generous!”