Cyan Yang City.
One of the cities under Min Nan County's jurisdiction, slightly bigger than Mu City and quite prosperous. Most of the residents rely on the Grand Canal for their livelihood.
Cyan Yang City has three major clans.
They are the Gao Family Manor, Li Family Manor, and Ling Family Manor. The three families hold almost equal power.
The Gao Family Manor is located within Cyan Yang City.
It covers more than ten li, with Manor Master Gao Yuan, whose mastery of the Lightning Sword Technique is unparalleled.
Manor Master Gao Yuan, upon hearing news of his second brother Gao Yang, sprinted out of the manor. Behind him followed a maiden in purple, skin as white as snow, about fifteen or sixteen years old, and a middle-aged man around forty.
"Brother Lin, you've met my second brother Gao Yang? Where is he now?!"
Gao Yuan invited Lin Chang'sheng into the manor's main hall, served him tea, and hurriedly asked.
"Manor Master Gao, please accept my condolences."
Lin Chang'sheng spoke in a deep voice.
Gao Yang was dead, so he said it plainly.
"Ah? My second brother, he........"
Hearing Lin Chang'sheng's words, Gao Yuan looked incredulous, his expression mournful. The middle-aged man and the girl in purple beside him also wore faces of grief.
"Brother Lin, my father... what happened to him?"
Especially the girl, whose delicate body trembled as she stepped forward, voice shaking, eyes on Lin Chang'sheng.
"Here's what happened. At Lonely Wolf Mountain outside Mu City, I came across a middle-aged man who'd been poisoned. Knowing his time was short, he paid me 30 taels of silver, asking me to deliver news to the Gao Family Manor. Just after, the poison took him."
"I buried him there and came here, as promised, to inform you."
Lin Chang'sheng glanced at the girl and spoke with gravity.
"Poisoned? Brother Lin, do you know what kind of poison my second brother was hit with?"
Gao Yuan's face twisted in grief as he asked.
"I know nothing of poisons, not sure of the type. When I saw him, his face was pitch black, his wound ran with black blood. He said the one who ambushed him was Ling Ziyu, the Heaven-Drilling Falcon."
Lin Chang'sheng replied, voice somber.
"Ling Ziyu! Him...!"
Gao Yuan looked stunned at Lin Chang'sheng's words.
Ling Ziyu is the third son of the Ling Family in Qingyang Town. One year ago, Ling Ziyu invited second brother Gao Yang out. But why would Ling Ziyu betray my brother?
"Here's the place where I buried Gao Yang. You can go see it. I've delivered the message and kept my promise, so I must take my leave." Lin Chang'sheng drew out a hand-drawn map of Lonely Wolf Mountain and gave it to Gao Yuan.
He had prepared it in advance.
When he headed to Min Nan City, the Gao Family Manor could use the map to recover Gao Yang's remains and bury him in their ancestral tomb.
"Brother Lin, you've done a great kindness for my family, burying my second brother. Why not stay a few days at the manor and let us show our hospitality?"
Upon hearing Lin Chang'sheng's words, Gao Yuan checked his sadness and spoke.
"Thank you for Manor Master's kindness. But I must go to Min Nan City and won't trouble you. You can head to Mu City and find the burial site with my map."
Lin Chang'sheng cupped his fists.
Yin Qi Invasion still ails him, so he has to hurry and seek stronger cultivation techniques, blend them with the Sun and Moon Breathing Technique, and upgrade to a higher level.
"Oh, is there something Brother Lin is heading to Min Nan City for? Maybe we can help?"
Gao Yuan cupped his fists, asking.
He actually hoped Lin Chang'sheng would take him to recover his brother's remains, and also felt it was a shame not to properly thank Lin for delivering the message.
"Manor Master Gao, do you know where I might hear news of the Golden Bell Shield's cultivation technique after the sixth level?"
At Gao Yuan's question, Lin Chang'sheng's heart stirred. Gao Yuan had roamed Jianghu for years—maybe he knew something.
"Further cultivation of the Golden Bell Shield?"
"I do know a bit..."
Gao Yuan looked thoughtful. "In Min Nan City, the Chen Family cultivates the Golden Bell Shield. Not sure which levels, but it's their secret family technique..."
Gao Yuan was well aware.
The Golden Bell Shield has twelve levels.
Currently, only the first five levels are common knowledge, as basic fare.
But levels six and above are all family secrets, rarely passed to outsiders.
"Min Nan City's Chen Family—alright, thank you, Manor Master. I'll take my leave now."
Upon hearing all that, Lin Chang'sheng felt his trip was not wasted; he'd found a clue to the Golden Bell Shield's remaining levels. If the Chen Family had them, then there must be a way to get them!
"If Brother Lin insists on going, I won't keep you. Brother Lin, wait just a moment!"
Gao Yuan sighed, then told third brother Gao Jin to prepare some traveling money.
......
At the manor gate, the Gao Family had a servant bring a pure white horse, its back loaded with a bundle. Speaking to Lin Chang'sheng, he said, "Brother Lin, you buried my second brother. The Gao Family cannot thank you enough. The journey to Min Nan City is long—please, take this horse to ease your travels!"
"Manor Master Gao, you're too kind. I've already accepted 30 taels of silver from the second master as my payment. How could I take anything more?"
Lin Chang'sheng modestly waved a hand.
"Don't be so formal, Brother Lin. If you don't accept, my heart will not rest easy!"
"If you return someday, I hope you'll visit us at the manor!"
Gao Yuan spoke seriously.
"Since Manor Master insists, I'll gladly accept."
Seeing Gao Yuan's persistence, Lin Chang'sheng did not refuse any longer. He took the horse and bid farewell.
He hadn't ridden before, so this journey would be a chance to learn.
"Big brother, the Ling Family was never mortal enemies with us. Why would Ling Ziyu ambush second brother? Could it be...?"
Standing nearby, third brother Gao Jin watched Lin Chang'sheng leave, thoughtful.
"Where are you going with that, Jin? Brother Lin isn't that strong and couldn't hurt our second brother. Even if he did, would he come to our manor or kindly bury our brother?"
Gao Yuan sighed. "Next, to Mu City. We'll bring back your second brother's remains for burial! As for the grudge against the Ling Family, we'll investigate slowly. Since the cause was poison, clues must remain on the body!"
"We have to find the killer. We can't let our brother die without justice!"
"Yes, big brother!"
Gao Jin nodded.
"Ziyue, you go with Uncle to Mu City too!"
Gao Yuan glanced at the purple-clad girl, eyes ringed red, and spoke.
The girl, dressed in purple, was Gao Yang's only daughter, Gao Ziyue.
"Alright."
Gao Ziyue nodded.
......
"Hyah!"
"Da-da-da!"
On the main road, the pounding of hooves echoed—a lone rider speeding by.
On the horse sat a youth in blue, gripping the mane and pressing his legs to the flank. On his back was a Black Blade and an old cloth bundle. It was Lin Chang'sheng.
The journey continued.
Those first two days, he barely knew how to ride and moved slowly. After that, his speed picked up.
After eight days, he finally glimpsed Min Nan County City.
His cultivation had also reached its peak thanks to frequent use of Qi Blood Pills, with no way to advance further.
[Cultivation: First-class (12499/12500)]
"If I find and fuse a new cultivation technique, could I step into the Martial Arts Grandmaster realm?"
Lin Chang'sheng wondered to himself, eager for the Grandmaster stage.
"That Divine Eagle has been circling overhead since I started!"
Suddenly, Lin Chang'sheng noticed a black Divine Eagle circling above, eyes cold.
He remembered this eagle. It had followed him for five days, never leaving his sight!
"Finally—a chance arises!"
At that moment, Lin Chang'sheng saw the eagle swoop lower, about forty zhang off the ground—perfect for a bow shot!
He immediately took the Iron Embryo Bow off the saddle, nocked an arrow, and infused it with peak first-class qi force. The Feathered Arrow screamed through the air, piercing the Divine Eagle overhead!
"Screech!"
The Divine Eagle cried out in agony, tumbling to the earth!