He Should Have Died Long Ago

Ye Huan opened his eyes. The entire aura he projected had changed. This was the transformation brought about by three months of advanced training in the Taiyin Sect. Unblocking an acupoint in martial arts was really just part of the gains from this training. The more important part was intangible. Vision, knowledge, understanding of the martial world, experience sparring with all kinds of advanced martial techniques, social grace, befriending outstanding peers, and more. Everything was different now! Yet Ye Huan felt no joy at all; he even sighed softly. Relying on a lost art like Iron Cloth Shirt, he had been able to battle Night Owl—who had opened six acupoints—and barely survive. It showed that the martial techniques Night Owl possessed were rather mediocre as well. And in the Taiyin Sect's entrance test— Zhang Beisheng possessed the Crane-Controlling Hand, specifically meant for countering hard-conditioning arts, and had three other secret techniques under his belt. Xia Luoning had deduced his vital point simply from a brief clash. The starting gap between people was truly vast. Perhaps one day... Would he have to step out of this small city on the empire's frontier? Ye Huan's eyes flickered, but he suddenly shook his head instinctively. Being on the frontier meant being overlooked. A small city meant there were no outrageously formidable masters—unlike that elderly man who presided over the testing ritual, who could see through everything and had even laid a trap for him. No peerless masters, no attention on him. Quietly cultivating in a place like this was the right choice! As for learning high-level martial arts, he could completely rely on the "identity challenge" behind each person's identity tag to pursue advanced training! That reminded him of something. He had already challenged "Xia Li"'s identity, entering the Taiyin Sect to become an official disciple. Would another "identity challenge" appear behind her identity tag? Suddenly, a new line of information surfaced in his mind: "If a target possesses multiple Identity Achievements, once you successfully challenge one Identity Achievement, their identity tag will display the next Identity Achievement." So that was it. A monstrous prodigy like Xia Luoning certainly wouldn't be limited to a simple Identity Achievement like "Joining the Taiyin Sect." She definitely had other achievements! Then he would wait until tomorrow. —Perhaps tomorrow he could challenge her again! Ye Huan set his mind at ease, closed his eyes, and silently contemplated that movement technique from the Taiyin Sect, Three Skims of the Flying Swallow. What a fine movement technique! Every move and posture was nimble and unconstrained, its subtle uses endless! Should he keep it as an ace up his sleeve, or sacrifice it, turning it into skill points to upgrade the techniques on his skill tree? Instinctively, Ye Huan really wanted to keep it. However— Three Skims of the Flying Swallow had a flaw that wasn't quite a flaw. Once mastered, whether walking, sitting, or resting, a core weight-lightening formula would circulate automatically, driving the muscles, qi, and blood throughout the body, circulating energy at every moment. This was the root foundation of the Taiyin Sect's movement techniques. Only by cultivating it to an advanced stage could one practice the sect's higher-level movement arts. That was where the trouble lay. This was the Bureau of Investigation. Song Fushan by his side was no ordinary martial artist either. Not to mention "Xia Li," who came directly from the Taiyin Sect! The Bureau of Investigation was a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; there might well be other experts. Working here, circulating a Taiyin Sect movement technique in every daily move—sitting, walking, standing—was an absolute taboo! If they spotted the slightest trace— Would he even get to keep his life? True, he could conceal the technique and only use it at critical moments. But what if, in a life-or-death pinch, he instinctively used this movement art with them present? Wouldn't they recognize it at a glance? How would he explain it then? In this world, prominent clans and sects placed extremely strict restrictions on the transmission of their martial arts. An outsider practicing Taiyin Sect techniques would trigger an uproar and definitely be seized and interrogated down to the last detail! Rather than worrying day and night, it was better to... Stay alive. His sole objective was to survive with foolproof vigilance! As long as he survived, day by day, he would inevitably grow stronger. He must never compromise his own safety over a single technique! "Sacrifice this technique. Allocate the gained skill points to Iron Cloth Shirt," Ye Huan stated. "Gained two skill points." "Points allocated." "Commencing cultivation of Iron Cloth Shirt." In a trance, Ye Huan entered a flourishing martial age. With his hard-conditioning art, he journeyed everywhere to issue challenges, seeking out experts to spar and hone his skills. By this time, he was entirely different from before. Toward Iron Cloth Shirt, he no longer simply trained in stubborn isolation; instead, he incorporated more observation and reflection. The entire cultivation process became completely different as well. The Taiyin Sect cultivation experience obtained through the Identity Achievement settlement greatly broadened Ye Huan's horizons and martial understanding. —The "Identity Achievement settlement" was effectively a powerful supplement to the "Daily Settlement," a "challenge-based" settlement built on top of it. It shored up Ye Huan's shortcomings in every aspect! Lost in the illusion, Ye Huan wandered through this martial world, traveling from place to place and issuing challenges to thoroughly temper his martial arts. More than half a year later, he found a secluded mountain range to live in seclusion. He cultivated bitterly day after day without pause, never breaking his routine through wind, frost, rain, or snow. A full year passed like this. Then another year. At the end of the third year, amidst a fierce blizzard, he finally emerged from seclusion. With that, the skill-point cultivation came to an end. In an instant, Ye Huan opened his eyes in the office, dropped into a stance, and stirred the blood and qi throughout his body. His entire frame felt like tempered steel and iron—impervious to fists and kicks, impenetrable to blades and spears. He waved his palms, performing the three forms of Iron Cloth Shirt. They flowed like smooth clouds and flowing water, flawless and complete, carrying an indescribable, profound grace. The power of these three moves far surpassed what they once were. More importantly, practicing Iron Cloth Shirt to this degree was truly reaching the pinnacle: even his vital point was gone. —Iron Cloth Shirt reached Great Perfection! Ye Huan let out a long breath. Having no vital point truly set his mind somewhat at ease. Ye Huan even had a faint inkling that if he invested more skill points, Iron Cloth Shirt would begin to transform. From Iron Hand to Iron Cloth Shirt, it had already undergone one metamorphosis. If it continued transforming, it would evolve into a higher-level martial art! What would that be? Ye Huan half-closed his eyes, subduing his curiosity, and set his stance in the office to continue his stance training. The office telephone suddenly rang. Who would call this late? Ye Huan broke his stance, walked over, and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" "Asleep yet?" Song Fushan's voice came through. "Section Chief, I'm answering the phone, so of course I'm not asleep," Ye Huan said. "Kuangxi Road, late-night barbecue stalls. I'm introducing you to a few friends. Get over here quickly." After saying that, Song Fushan hung up. Ye Huan slowly replaced the receiver and stood there for a moment. Section Chief Song—the man who had fought his way through enemy lines alone to earn the moniker "Lone Wolf," who never drew attention to himself at work, and who preferred to slack off and idle away his days. The Section Chief Song whom Ye Huan had interacted with for days without ever seeing him call anyone, possessing virtually no outside social life. The Section Chief Song who knew Ye Huan had just killed someone and had told him to get a good night's rest. Suddenly calling him out to eat? Ye Huan fished out his cell phone and dialed Song Fushan's number. After a brief wait, Song Fushan's yawning voice sounded: "Why the hell are you calling me so late, kid? Can't sleep after killing someone?" "Section Chief, you didn't call me to get barbecue?" Ye Huan asked. "What? I never called you. Where did you get that idea?" Song Fushan's voice instantly lost all traces of sleepiness. "The caller dialed the landline—our Mysterious Affairs Section landline," Ye Huan said. "Interesting... Daring to use my name to set an ambush for my subordinate. Where did they tell you to meet?" Song Fushan's voice turned calm, devoid of emotion. "Kuangxi Road, late-night barbecue stalls," Ye Huan said. "Go to sleep. I'll handle this personally." With that, Song Fushan promptly hung up. Ye Huan quietly put down the phone. Ding! The cell phone rang again. "Hello?" "Is this Mr. Ye from the Bureau of Investigation? Your takeout delivery is here—where would you like me to leave it?" "I never ordered takeout. Whatever you're holding, throw it away immediately, understood?" "Huh? Yes, yes!" The call disconnected. Ye Huan's brow furrowed slightly. Who is targeting me? The moment the thought popped into his head, the figure of a girl immediately surfaced in his mind. That seemingly pure, flawless, composed, and graceful girl in white. An Qi. How did she become a Cardinal of the Black Tide Cult? We clearly grew up together—why is she so set on coming after me? Ye Huan pondered for a while, unable to make sense of it. He simply tossed the phone aside and resumed his stance training. Regardless, growing stronger could never be wrong. He had to seize every minute and every second to increase his strength. Surviving another day meant growing stronger for another day! ... Elsewhere. On the outskirts of the city. Inside an abandoned villa. The girl in white stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the gloomy sky. "Lord Cardinal, preparations are complete," a subordinate reported in a whisper. The girl looked back. In the center of the room sat nine men and women, bound tightly with ropes and completely unable to move. "He didn't leave the Bureau of Investigation?" the girl asked. "No," the subordinate replied. The girl thought for a moment, then chuckled softly. "He must have verified it and mobilized other experts. In that case—" "Have our people withdraw from Kuangxi Road immediately. Don't let the Bureau's experts catch wind of their whereabouts." "Yes," the subordinate complied. Just then, another subordinate hurried in and said urgently, "Milord, Song Fushan appeared on Kuangxi Road and captured several of our people." "So fast?" The girl was surprised. "He is too strong; our people couldn't resist him at all." "What about the bomb?" the girl asked. "Song Fushan discovered it right away. He actually knows bomb disposal techniques, Milord." "This Song Fushan is certainly no ordinary man... Forget it, if they're caught, they're caught. They're just peripheral members anyway." As the girl spoke, she walked step by step to the center of the room, looking at the nine bound individuals. A warm, gentle smile suddenly appeared on her face as she spoke: "Who is willing to sacrifice themselves?" The captives stared at her, not understanding what she meant. "Whoever is willing to sacrifice themselves, I will release the rest of your family and let them live," the girl in white said. A young girl suddenly struggled to her feet. "Please kill me, and spare my family," the girl said. "Very well," the girl in white agreed cheerfully. She waved a hand wrapped in roaring flames. With a single flash, the young girl was incinerated into nothingness. Grief-stricken, the crowd wept in unison, eyes fixed on the girl in white. "Eight people left..." The smile never wavering from her face, the girl in white continued, "I misspoke earlier. Her life can only buy freedom for one person. Who among you is willing to sacrifice themselves again?" "This time, whoever is willing to die can save two lives." The father stood up, his face etched with profound sorrow. "Please kill me." "As you wish." The flames engulfed another person. "Congratulations, three of you have now survived. Is anyone else willing to sacrifice themselves for their family?" the girl asked. A white-haired grandmother stood up. "Very good. Seeing as you are so advanced in years, I'll tell you the truth." Smiling sweetly, the girl in white stepped forward, took the grandmother's hands, and whispered softly into her ear: "I lied to you." Boom— Flames surged, incinerating everyone to ash. Only the girl remained standing amidst the fire, unable to stifle her giggles. She seemed to find the whole affair utterly amusing—until a colossal woman's head emerged from the towering inferno, at which point she finally curbed her laughter. "Nine is the ultimate number, a ritual number bound to receive my response. My Cardinal, you have offered nine souls to specifically summon my descent. For what purpose?" the woman's head asked. "Great Master, please help me eliminate Ye Huan," the girl prayed devoutly and solemnly, clasping her hands to her chest. "—He should have died long ago."