Qinghe City.
County Government Office.
The County Magistrate Chen Fan called over the County Magistrate Chen Dao, County Captain Zhang Long, and others, took out a portrait, and said:
"This person is named Qi You, a Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator, known for using live people to raise ghosts and refine corpses. His methods are cruel, and he may have already fled into Qinghe County!"
"The notification from above states that anyone who captures or kills him will receive a reward of one thousand taels of silver and a middle-class martial arts technique."
Hearing about the middle-class martial arts, Chen Dao, Zhang Long, and the others all felt their breathing quicken, their eyes showing eagerness.
But thinking that the opponent is a Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator, it was like a basin of cold water poured over them.
In this Extraordinary World, neither the County Magistrate, County Magistrate, nor County Captain are ordinary people, or rather, those with status are basically not ordinary people.
If you can't cultivate immortality, can't you practice martial arts?
However, their strength isn't considered strong, with County Captain Zhang Long just having completed Refining Flesh and stepping into the Body Refining Third Stage - Refining Tendons Realm.
County Magistrate Chen Dao is still at the Second-Layer Body Refining - Refining Flesh.
Facing a Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator, they likely have little chance of winning.
Cultivators have a great advantage in the early stages because martial artists need to get close to kill cultivators.
While cultivators have many means, it's generally hard for martial artists to get close.
For example, Qi You, at Third-Layer Qi Refining, can briefly perform Sword Flight, which is a dimensional reduction attack against early-stage martial artists.
Not to mention the talismans, flying swords, and such.
Zhou Chen was able to eliminate Qi You by surprise, and because Zhou Chen is an archer, his archery had reached a master-level, catching Qi You off guard.
"County Magistrate Chen, you are responsible for posting notices and spreading the word!"
"Yes, sir!"
"County Captain Zhang, you'll have to work hard. Keep an eye on the county's security. If Qi You is in the county, don't let him massacre ordinary people!"
"Yes, sir!"
After assigning the tasks, Chen Fan turned and left.
Chen Dao and Zhang Long each left as well.
"A Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator..."
Thinking of what the County Magistrate had said, Zhang Long couldn't help but think of Zhou Chen.
A Divine Archer poses a great threat to a cultivator with low cultivation.
What a pity.
Zhang Long shook his head. Zhou Chen was too weak to pose a threat to a Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator; at least one must succeed in Refining Skin, which means being a Second-Layer Body Refining martial artist.
If Zhou Chen were at the Second-Layer Body Refining, combining with a group of City Guard and constables, they might have a chance at taking down the Third-Layer Qi Refining evil cultivator.
"Why think so much, whether we can find the opponent is still unknown!"
Zhang Long collected his thoughts, stopped overthinking, and just hoped the opponent wouldn't cause trouble in his domain.
...
Dahe Village.
Zhou Chen, weary and cautious throughout his journey, finally returned home.
Aside from Qi You's assassination attempt, he didn't encounter anything else unusual on the way.
"Brother Chen, you're finally back!"
At the door, Qin Hongyu, who had been eagerly waiting, upon seeing Zhou Chen, her nervous and worried eyes revealed joy, as she rushed into Zhou Chen's arms like a swallow returning home.
"I'm back!"
Zhou Chen hugged Qin Hongyu's soft and curvy waist, lifted her, and walked into the house.
Qin Hongyu wrapped her arms around Zhou Chen's neck, her long, straight legs coiled around Zhou Chen's strong and slender waist, her eyes full of laughter.
Seeing Zhou Chen, her previously unsettled heart finally found peace.
"Brother Chen, are you hungry? I've made dinner, just waiting for you to return!"
"I wasn't hungry initially, but since you mentioned it, I'm really hungry now!"
Zhou Chen smiled and kissed her on the face.
Qin Hongyu's pretty face blushed slightly, she got down from Zhou Chen, and hurriedly went to the kitchen to bring out the heated meal.
Zhou Chen put down the bow and arrow, medicinal herbs, and the cloth and thread he bought along the way, and sat down to have dinner with Qin Hongyu.
"Brother Chen, why did you buy so many medicinal herbs?"
Qin Hongyu asked with concern, looking worried:
"Are you sick?"
"Don't you know how strong I am? How could I be sick?"
With Zhou Chen's current cultivation at the Second-Layer Body Refining - Refining Flesh, he was virtually immune to diseases, stronger than an ox.
"Look at you, acting tough!"
Qin Hongyu couldn't help but roll her eyes, giving Zhou Chen a large piece of meat.
After the meal, Qin Hongyu cleared the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash up.
Zhou Chen didn't follow her to the kitchen but returned to his room to check the items in Qi You's storage bag.
Although his knowledge was limited, he had a 'grandpa' with him.
Though this 'grandpa' was a beautiful female ghost, whose knowledge and strength were not that exceptional, they were enough for Zhou Chen's current needs.
When Fengxia was first brought into the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror by Zhou Chen, she was a bit puzzled. But she found the space inside to be extraordinary and beneficial for her recovery and cultivation, and so she grew fond of it.
She was also more satisfied with Zhou Chen.
Of course.
She also realized her Lifebound Soul Seal was absorbed by this treasure. To break free, she would have to kill Zhou Chen and refine the treasure, otherwise, it was impossible.
This was why Zhou Chen wasn't afraid to expose the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror.
Because even if Fengxia were captured, she couldn't reveal the secret of the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, and Zhou Chen could even kill her from a distance with a mere thought.
Under Fengxia's guidance, Zhou Chen inspected the items in the storage bag.
A lower-grade magical artifact flying sword.
Several lower-grade talismans.
Nine low-grade Spirit Stones.
A copy of Chang Chun Skill, a basic cultivation technique common in the cultivation realm, used by many loose cultivators which can be cultivated up to the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining.
A copy of Netherworld Skill, Qi You's cultivation technique, similar in level to Chang Chun Skill but more powerful, faster in cultivation, yet an evil technique.
Zhou Chen planned to cultivate Chang Chun Skill.
"Fengxia, how do I check Spirit Roots, do I have any Spirit Roots?"
Zhou Chen was a bit expectant; although he might be able to rely on the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror for cultivation even without Spirit Roots, what if he turned out to be a rare cultivation genius?
"Master, detecting Spirit Roots requires a special detection stone, but if I enter the Master's body, I can also view the Master's Spirit Roots!"
"Then take a look for me!"
Zhou Chen said immediately.
Since Fengxia's Lifebound Soul Seal had already merged with the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, Zhou Chen wasn't worried about any harm from her.
"Yes, Master!"
As Fengxia's words fell, Zhou Chen felt an ice-cold aura enter his body, but the sensation vanished instantly.
Fengxia returned to the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, hesitating to speak:
"Master, you are..."
"Just say it!"
"Master, you have Five Elements Wasted Spirit Roots!"
"..."
Zhou Chen raised his sword-like brows; could it be that he is the protagonist?
Many protagonists start with such a setup.
Actually, Five Elements Spirit Roots are not wasted roots. On the contrary, they are very comprehensive and powerful, but they consume more resources and slow down cultivation, hence gradually regarded as wasted roots.
"Master, actually Five Elements Spirit Roots can allow for cultivation, just... just a tiny bit slower, and consume a tiny bit more resources!"
Fengxia thought Zhou Chen was disheartened and quickly comforted him: "Besides, the Master is exceptionally talented in martial arts, and becoming a martial arts powerhouse one day isn't inferior to cultivators!"
"I don't need your comfort!"
Zhou Chen continued to inspect.
A copy of Breath Concealment Technique, capable of concealing aura; the first layer prevents someone a level higher from seeing through it, and the second layer prevents someone two levels higher, and so on.
When the Breath Concealment Technique is cultivated to the ninth level of Great Perfection, it can prevent someone a major realm higher from seeing through it.
For example, if someone in the Qi Refining Realm practices the Breath Concealment Technique to perfection, it can prevent a Foundation Establishment Realm powerhouse from seeing through it, and the Breath Concealment Technique is applicable to both cultivation and martial arts.
"This Breath Concealment Technique must be practiced!"
...