At the end of April, with birds chirping joyously, the blind youth in a mysterious robe sat in the courtyard.

Without seeing the glitz of the world, his heart was instead filled with tranquility.

The closer the chaos approached, the more peace he needed to maintain within himself.

He glanced at the panel:

[Attribute Points: 146 points]

[Realm: Yellow Level Grade B]

[Cultivation Technique]

True Form of Xuanwu (4 Forms) (Yellow Level Grade B) (Perfection) (+)

Flying Wheel Force (Yellow Level Grade C) (Uninitiated (2/4))

Cleave Force (Yellow Level Grade C) (Uninitiated (1/4))

Barbarian Bear Force (Yellow Level Grade C) (Uninitiated (0/4)) (Conflicts with existing techniques)

...

Among them, "Cleave Force" was acquired from the "exchange" with Giant Axe Martial Arts Hall and unexpectedly aligned; "Barbarian Bear Force" was acquired from the "exchange" with Great Bear Martial Arts Hall, but he wasn't as lucky with that one.

After obtaining them, he began trying to practice them himself.

His practice speed was very fast, and he was cultivating from a position of "looking down from high above."

Shouldn't someone at Great Perfection of the Form Realm be extremely fast when starting to practice techniques of the Force Realm?

Indeed it was so, and Song Cheng felt that his practice was progressing smoothly.

Yet, after a full eight days, his Flying Wheel Force had barely advanced by 2 points, and Cleave Force took four days to advance by 1 point.

At this moment, he had two options: one was to deduce the battle method of the True Form of Xuanwu; the other was to practice Flying Wheel Force or Cleave Force.

'80 points, deduce the True Form of Xuanwu, until successful.'

The youth made his decision.

In an instant, a profound sensation surged through him.

Integrating form and intention, Gang Qi naturally emerged. In fragments of time, he practiced day and night based on "Transforming into Jiao," but it still wasn't enough.

So he stepped into the arena, becoming a gladiator, and then sparred with faceless opponents.

In the unceasing battles, he honed techniques that conformed to the integration of form and intention.

Finally, in a life-and-death fight, he narrowly won and also comprehended a move that was evolved from "Transforming into Jiao": Shadowless.

In the gladiatorial combats, where situations change in the blink of an eye, you need not only strength but also speed to seize that sliver of opportunity for life.

While "Transforming into Jiao" still carried a shape, "Shadowless" was as formless as the Jiao dragon.

A single slash delivered with extreme speed.

Gradually, he became a consistent winner in the arena.

The move Shadowless caused the audience to occasionally shout out excited cries like "Blade King, the Shadowless Blade King" during their cheers.

But he knew it wasn't enough.

His technique could still give birth to even greater power.

He had not yet pursued the moves corresponding to his technique.

Day after day, year after year, he sought that more exquisite blade skill, yet he found himself unable to break through the realm of "Shadowless."

His physical strength began to wane, white hair started appearing at his temples, and the crowd in the stands changed again and again, also growing tired of him, the man who just wouldn't leave the arena.

Finally, one day, he faced an extremely strong bladesman.

This bladesman was far superior to the average contestant.

Perhaps, the audience had grown tired of him and sought a master to end his run?

He wasn't afraid and, as usual, swung his blade to fight.

But he had grown old and weary.

His "Shadowless" was no longer as fast, while his opponent was incredibly fierce, relentlessly assaulting him to the point where he had no strength to fight back.

All he could do was barely resist, using "Shadowless Blade" not for killing but for desperate defense.

At that moment, he suddenly realized something: perhaps... his empty left hand could be matched with a shield. With a shield, wouldn't the combination of blade and shield, one for offense and one for defense, be perfect?

Maybe this was the terrifying move he had been searching for in his youth, one that could unleash the power of his technique.

One thought seemed to span many years.

The youth opened his eyes once more.

The panel had changed:

[Skill]

Xuanwu Style Two (Yellow Level Grade B) (Blade and Shield) (Minor Accomplishment (4/32))

The deduction was successful on the fourteenth try, and the remaining points were all allocated to Xuanwu Style Two.

Song Cheng looked at the Minor Accomplishment Xuanwu Style Two, knowing that this so-called "Minor Accomplishment" was actually the First Move he had mastered—Shadowless.

As for the Second Move, he had only just begun to get a hint of it.

...

The youth glanced at the data: 90~149, the upper limit had increased by 8 points.

After a moment's thought, he continued to add points.

'29 points, comprehend Xuanwu Style Two.'

As the points were allocated, the progress of Xuanwu Style Two instantly changed to "Great Achievement (1/64)".

The mysterious sensation emerged once again.

In that "Time Fragment," he had once more become a youth, but this time, his left arm bore a large shield as tall as half a person.

He decided to hone his skills with the blade and shield on the battlefield.

On the battlefield, where blades show no eyes, he was like a man submerged in raging waves, struggling daily within them and sharpening his skills...

After one major battle, he finally comprehended a move— "Jiao Mountain."

The shield was like a mountain, concealing the individual.

But the mountain was also filled with deadly threats, ready to take the life of anyone who entered, much like a mountain hiding a man-eating Jiao dragon, hence the name "Jiao Mountain."

This was a technique integrating both offense and defense, a solid shield combined with the Shadowless Blade to form a lethal maneuver.

However, while he had comprehended it, he was still not proficient enough.

At the same time, he felt that the mountain was only beginning to take shape, but it still wasn't tough enough.

He needed more time to practice this move.

...

The youth opened his eyes and looked again, but the data hadn't changed.

Why?

Didn't he take the shield?

He frowned slightly, got up, and went out to the practice field, where numerous guards and even some children were practicing martial arts. He glanced over the weapons rack, didn't "see" a "shield," and hurriedly ran off again.

Some guards who had just thought about greeting their young master stopped in confusion as he suddenly ran off, while someone next to them said, "Maybe the young master is crazy about training," and another added, "With the young master being so powerful, if he weren't obsessed, how could he be?

We all need to learn from the young master." Another person mocked, "If you had one-tenth of the young master's talent, then you could talk about learning from him..."

Today, Gao Lin, who was conducting training with the elite guards, coughed and shouted, "Focus!"

Everyone immediately fell silent.

But Gao Lin was also curious.

What was the young master looking for?

...

Eventually, Song Cheng, led by Ling, entered the storeroom and took a fine iron round shield that could cover half of his body.

The moment he grasped the round shield, his data jumped dramatically, from "90~149" to "93~164".

Not only the upper limit had changed, but the lower limit had as well.

Was it because the shield had a combat power of 3?

Was this encouraging him to carry more weapons?

No...

Weapons aren't just for holding, they need to be used. They need to become one with the wielder.

With this in mind, the youth adjusted the strap of the round shield and slung it onto his back.

Ling looked at him in astonishment.

'Young master, you... use a shield?'

Song Cheng said, "I'll give it a try."

Ling was speechless.

A shield, who in the martial arts world would use such a thing? At best, they are equipped by frontline heavy infantry who face cavalry in the military.

Song Cheng didn't explain further, but carried the shield on his back, leaning on his blade.

Appearance isn't that important; what's important is that with this, he was at his strongest.

Nine days ago, he had shown Sister An the extent of his strength.

But in the blink of an eye, he had already become stronger than he was then.

He never had a limit.

He was always quickly leaving yesterday's self behind.

Nine days ago, his peak was no longer the peak...

Because he had climbed even higher.

This is the advantage of "leveraging power" and being in a "stable environment."

...

...

That evening, when the three ladies saw Song Cheng's new look, they all smiled.

Madam Tong laughed the hardest, clutching her belly in uncontrollable laughter and mocking, "What's with carrying a shield?" Ying restrained her laughter, while Miss An covered her mouth with her hand.

However, once Chenyu confirmed that her man indeed needed a shield, she didn't say another word, dispatched a guard, took some gold, and rushed to the Prefectural City to find the weapon forging master "Master Shui Mo" to craft a superior "Mechanical Shield."

A shield is too inconvenient, but a "Mechanical Shield" is like a ball; when needed, just trigger the mechanism in advance, and the ball quickly extends into a large shield.

The item is useful but burns through funds, and anything with "mechanical" in its name isn't cheap.

But ordinary people don't even know about such "Mechanical Weapons."

This is the advantage of being well-informed.

With money, you know where to spend it and whom to give it to, instead of "replacing an iron hoe in your home with a golden one."

...

...

Meanwhile, as Miss An's dispatched guard was heading to the Prefectural City, a group of six cavalrymen were rapidly approaching Shanghe County.

The two at the front were an old man and a young man.

The old man had a dignified appearance with a weathered face, carrying a long blade on his back.

The young man, however, was cursing and complaining, "My butt hurts from the jolting;" after a few curses, he said, "Mr. Wang, how can my sister be so immodest? She hasn't seen me for so long and just randomly picks a stray man, and even a blind one at that? Tsk tsk tsk, how desperate must she be?"

The elder reminded him, "That blind man is at the Peak of the Force Realm."

The young man laughed coldly, "Even at the peak, there are differences. No matter what, can he compare to you, Mr. Wang?"

The old man smiled proudly.

Graced by the trust of the family head, he had been taught the "Extreme Force."

Now he had cultivated the "Extreme Force" to Perfection, and combined it with the "Willow Brushing Force," creating a double-force spiraling blade strike.

At the Peak of the Force Realm, he was not someone ordinary peak figures could compare with.

This elder was none other than the An Family's Mr. Wang, and the young man was Chenyu's elder brother—An Changsheng.

Back in the family, when the patriarch heard about "An Chenyu's unauthorized marriage," he was extremely angry and decided to teach this wild girl, who had lost her mother early, a lesson.

The An Family was a prestigious clan with clear hierarchy and respect for seniority. How could she be so disrespectful to family rules?

Hence, "The An Family's number one expert" Mr. Wang was dispatched, accompanied by An Changsheng, to Shanghe County.

This time, they would seize the seal and then escort An Chenyu back to the An Family in the Prefectural City to face family discipline!

...

...

Appendix: The update schedule is now fixed. Hereafter, updates will be at 12 noon and 5 pm.

This should also make it easier for friends who follow the updates closely.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.