novelraw Chapter 22 – Yun Niang?
Chapter 22 – Yun Niang?
"Right now, the priority is to enhance my own strength. Although the three Sword Talismans are powerful, they can't withstand the constant depletion by the person behind the scenes. External items are ultimately just that..."
Chen Shi muttered to himself.
The intelligence capabilities of the person behind the scenes were terrifying.
It seemed that no matter where he hid, they would eventually find him.
In the simulation, even after obtaining the Sword Talisman and Ancient Jade, and retreating into the mountains to live in isolation, he still couldn't escape death.
What he needed now was strength. As long as he displayed enough talent in the early stages, he could follow Song Qingwei to the Spirit Sword Sect for cultivation. By then, even if his mediocre aptitude was exposed, he could stay in the Spirit Sword Sect and avoid participating in the Song family's True Dragon Selection, perfectly dodging the life-and-death crisis that might occur at the Divine General's Manor three years later.
He could even continue to befriend Song Fan, and when Song Fan grew stronger, he could repay the favor by helping him perform a Soul Search on Elder Wang, trying to uncover the mastermind who seemed to be a "fellow countryman."
This plan seemed feasible.
Song Fan, although vengeful, was also a person who valued relationships deeply.
If you ignored his unlucky streak.
He was still worth associating with.
Having made up his mind, Chen Shi turned his attention back to the simulator rewards.
Green Talent · Sword Maniac.
He automatically ignored it.
If he chose this talent, would he still be himself?
Not at all.
In some sense, he would be "killed" by the simulator, reduced to a "puppet" of sorts. It wouldn't be him playing the simulator, but the simulator playing him.
That left Bronze Bones and Sword Intent.
After a brief consideration.
Chen Shi gave up on cultivation level and directly chose Sword Intent.
Bronze Bones could be tempered at any time with a few simulations, but without the Sword Maniac talent, even if he practiced for a hundred years, he might not be able to bring an Earth Grade Martial Technique to the Beginner level, let alone comprehend Sword Intent.
Although he didn't know how powerful Sword Intent was, Li Ping had mentioned that it was the key to reaching the innate realm.
It certainly wouldn't be weak.
Moreover.
This was an Earth Grade supreme martial technique!
It already fell within the realm of absolute skills, a treasure of the clan that even direct descendants of the Song family in the Divine General's Manor might not have seen.
As Chen Shi made his choice, a sword move called "Heaven and Earth Sword Slash" naturally emerged in his mind.
Accompanied by a profound Sword Intent.
This Sword Intent didn't feel sharp like a blade.
Instead, it was calm and vast.
This vastness was full of oppressive force, like an iron-gray sea silently rising.
Beneath the calm, there was a turbulent eruption.
An eruption powerful enough to cut through anything.
"Sword Intent... how terrifying!"
After absorbing this Sword Intent, Chen Shi felt incredibly powerful.
With a sword in hand.
His strength increased a hundredfold.
At least he could defeat a hundred of his former self!
A Yellow Grade Martial Technique could allow a martial artist to unleash 1 to 3 times their strength.
A Profound Grade Martial Technique could unleash 10 to 20 times their strength.
An Earth Grade Martial Technique could reach a terrifying 40 to 80 times.
According to the information in his mind, his Heaven and Earth Sword Slash was an explosive martial technique, and being an Earth Grade supreme technique, even at the Beginner level, its explosive power had reached a terrifying 60 times!
Adding in a bit of Sword Intent.
It could increase his strength by approximately 10% more.
Equivalent to 66 times!
In terms of power.
It almost rivaled those who had mastered Earth Grade supreme martial techniques!
However, this move had a drawback: with his current strength, he could only unleash one sword strike.
After one strike, he would be exhausted.
"With my current cultivation, I don't know what rank I can achieve in the Alpha Battalion Tournament. If I can make it into the top ten, wouldn't I be able to get free access to the Song family's Spirit Pool every time I simulate? Even a pig could temper Golden Bones with that!"
Chen Shi thought excitedly.
But then he calmed down immediately, because he was out of money.
He only had 150 points of gold left.
It seemed he could only borrow some from Lin Qiushui and see if he could earn some Destiny Points.
As the mother of a Child of Fortune.
She shouldn't be any worse than Lin Manqing, right?
***
"Cloud Moon Pavilion?"
Li Pao was taken aback, then smiled ingratiatingly, "Brother Chen, you're asking the right person. I'm familiar with Cloud Moon Pavilion. It's located in Chang Le Lane, not far from the Divine General's Manor. Before I joined the manor, I often begged for food there. Speaking of which, I have to thank the owner of Cloud Moon Pavilion. If it weren't for her, I might have frozen to death on the streets."
Chen Shi was a bit surprised, "You know the owner of Cloud Moon Pavilion?"
Li Pao quickly nodded, "I've seen her a few times. Ten years ago, when there was a famine in the countryside, I fled to Liangzhou City and saw her distributing porridge to help the victims. Even my current job is thanks to her."
Chen Shi nodded, "Tell me more about the owner of Cloud Moon Pavilion."
Li Pao said, "The owner of Cloud Moon Pavilion is called Yun Niang. She's the widow of an officer from the Divine Might Army, a very capable person. In just four years, she made the tavern business the largest in Chang Le Lane. A few days ago, I saw her taking her son to the Martial Practice Field for the Elementary Class, but it seems he wasn't selected in the end."
After a pause, Li Pao added, "Oh, and Yun Niang's son is said to have a marriage connection with the daughter of a steward from the Song family."
After hearing all this information.
Chen Shi was quite certain that Yun Niang was indeed Lin Qiushui.
He asked, "Do you know where Yun Niang lives?"
Li Pao replied, "In the Virtue Abode of the outer courtyard. Yun Niang's late husband had many military achievements, and the Song family, in recognition of his outstanding service, specially granted her a residence."
Hearing this, Chen Shi was a bit surprised.
With Lin Qiushui's connections, when she first successfully framed him, it was enough to have him executed by dismemberment.
It seemed Elder Wang had secretly "protected" him.
Which is why it was changed to exile.
But then, he became curious.
He remembered that in the third simulation, he had forcefully taken Lin Qiushui once. At that time, he must have been completely overwhelmed by lust.
For someone to make him lose his senses like that, how beautiful must she be?
Thinking of this.
Chen Shi sat up a bit straighter, "How is Yun Niang's appearance?"
Li Pao was stunned.
Then he became animated.
He began to describe Yun Niang's beauty with all the vocabulary he could muster.
Chen Shi listened for a while.
Ultimately, he extracted the core element: Damn, a fairy.
This made him a little curious about Lin Qiushui...