The oil lamp was dim, casting shadows that flickered on Qin An's face.
Although the book was damp, it did not hinder Qin An's reading.
He needed to practice as a dancer, but Qin An wanted first to finish reading this hand technique and see if he could gain any insights.
With his scholar profession as support, Qin An finished the entire book in just half an incense stick's time.
The Fiery Palm Skill is a bare-handed cultivation technique. When executed, the palms become like iron, with qi at constant collisions on the palms. When struck, the colliding qi carries high temperatures, capable of burning enemies.
Qin An mused to himself: "I don't have a gift for bare-handed techniques, so I'm not sure if it will work."
Currently, he only had three talents, and none of them were for bare-handed cultivation techniques.
Even though he didn't know if it was viable, it didn't stop Qin An from trying.
Qin An followed the moves of the Fiery Palm Skill, began circulating his qi within his body, and infused it into his hands.
At that moment, a line of smoke appeared before him, condensing into words.
[You've cultivated the Fiery Palm Skill, triggering a Qi Concealment Realm Heart Method proficiency]
Qin An was slightly taken aback.
When he saw the Golden Finger appear, he thought it was the blacksmith's talent being triggered because, after all, the blacksmith talent allowed him to perfect the Mountain-Picking Fist.
But to his surprise, it was the scholar talent.
Although puzzled, Qin An continued to watch.
[You drew inspiration from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill, used fiery qi to infuse your palms, and began improving the Fiery Palm Skill]
[Your qi and blood are being heavily consumed]
Qin An felt his stored Blood Crystals quickly depleting.
[You sat in seclusion for years without understanding, one day you suddenly thought to practice the Mountain-Picking Fist]
[Your qi and blood are heavily consumed]
[You gained insight from both the Mountain-Picking Fist and Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill, merged them with the Fiery Palm Skill, and created a new Body Storage Realm cultivation technique]
[Named it Red Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand]
[Red Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand (Initial Mastery)]
A flood of information flooded Qin An's mind.
When Qin An finished absorbing it, his eyes shone slightly with light.
The Golden Finger could continue being developed!
He never expected that he could combine existing techniques and talents for this deduction.
The Fiery Palm Skill was first similar to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill, triggering the scholar talent, and later combined thanks to the blacksmith talent.
There was some connection here, which Qin An found very complex, probably involving various details.
But he found this complexity also very simple.
In the future, whenever he had a cultivation technique, he should try it; triggering it meant there was a connection, it's that simple.
His internal qi and blood were somewhat depleted, causing Qin An's steps to be a bit unsteady.
The qi and blood stored from Mr. Eagle had long been exhausted, and he'd also used his own qi and blood.
"Blood Crystals are truly a treasure, I can't let go of any demons in the future."
Qin An decided firmly, raised both hands, which immediately turned a deep, fiery red.
The Red Flame Mountain-Breaking Hand combined the strengths of both; it had the force of the Mountain-Picking Fist and the searing heat of the Fiery Palm Skill.
When punching, supplemented by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill, it could not only kill with force but also erode the enemy's whole body with high temperatures.
This night, all the cultivation techniques Qin An had learned, though only initially mastered, reached the Body Storage Realm, greatly boosting his strength.
"Rest first."
Qin An felt the emptiness inside him, hung the bell, and fell onto the bed.
The qi circulation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Skill was slowly repairing the damaged qi and blood...
...
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, several days passed.
In these few days, Ding County was calm and peaceful.
Only the county office was shrouded in ominous clouds.
In the courtyard of the county office, a headless corpse lay on the ground.
The body had been soaked in water for some time, turning pale and swollen, nauseating to behold.
But the head beside it and the token at the waist revealed the identity of the corpse.
The coroner finished the autopsy, respectfully cupping his hands towards the middle-aged man on the left: "Mr. Wang died under a swift blade."
The middle-aged man was clad in a blue official robe, with distinguished features, and long, sideburns hanging from both temples.
Upon hearing the coroner's words, the middle-aged man's face was as dark as water.
All the constables around were silent, not daring to make the slightest move.
Mr. Zhang remained silent for a long time, then said: "Bury him."
Only then did a few constables breathe a sigh of relief, hurriedly tidying up Mr. Wang's body and quietly leaving the county office.
The coroner bowed and withdrew.
Only a few constables were left on the scene, all with heads lowered, not daring to meet the County Magistrate's gaze.
Mr. Zhang waved his sleeve and turned around: "Come in."
The constables, slightly trembling, followed Mr. Zhang into the main hall.
Mr. Zhang sat on the chair, his eyes calm: "Tell all the recent deeds of his, if there's any falsehood, I'll skin you alive."
The leading constable shivered and knelt: "Master, this may be related to Qin An."
"Qin An?" Mr. Zhang frowned and said: "Who is he?"
The constable immediately recounted the entire incident and added a sentence.
"Mr. Zheng's cause of death was recently discovered, the body had signs of chill, seemingly related to the Cold Source Heart Skill, and the River Saber Sect lost their Heart Method not long ago..."
Mr. Zhang pondered for a moment, then beckoned to the constable: "Come over here."
The constable shivered slightly, cautiously walking to the side, ready to speak.
At this moment, Mr. Zhang picked up the inkstone beside him, pressed down on the constable's head, and smashed it hard.
Blood splattered, staining Mr. Zhang's forehead.
The constable struggled ceaselessly, but he couldn't escape Mr. Zhang's grasp, pitifully wailing.
Mr. Zhang, face unmoved, smashed repeatedly.
Only when the constable stopped convulsing did Mr. Zhang throw the inkstone on the ground.
The inkstone broke in two, and the remaining constables trembled, not daring to speak.
Mr. Zhang wiped the blood off his face, saying: "This person envied Mr. Wang, lured him to Qingquan River to kill him, he's already been dealt with."
The constables nodded repeatedly.
The smart constables already understood Mr. Zhang's intentions behind this action.
This was a warning to them.
Such an important matter, they dared to conspire with Mr. Wang and hide it; Mr. Zhang must establish authority.
Dare they say a single word in dissent?
Mr. Zhang took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the bloodstains with utmost elegance: "You just said, it's very likely that Qin An took the Cold Source Heart Skill?"
The constables continued to nod.
Mr. Zhang stood: "Go to the River Saber Sect, Cangyuan Mountain, and Cyan Snake Valley, summon Mr. Liou and the other two forces to the county office."
"Spies must die, and so must Qin An; the county office cannot have unstable elements."
"Ding County must develop according to my ways."
A constable subconsciously asked: "If we act in the county city, what if we don't cover our tracks and the Evil Extermination Bureau finds out..."
Mr. Zhang glanced at the constable: "Who said anything about acting in the county city?"
The constable gasped.
Mr. Zhang's voice turned cold: "Do you know the difference between me and Mr. Wang?"
The constable hurriedly shook his head.
Mr. Zhang's eyes were dark and cold: "I like to go all in, especially now, since I'm already at the end of my rope, I might as well burn the boats."
"Feiyun Gorge is just a local power, it's nothing!"
"The other three forces have roots in Lingzhou. I actually hope Qin An will take them down."
"When that time comes, after offending the Lingzhou powers, Qin An won't be able to escape!"