[Qin Zheng]
[Lifespan: 70 (17)]
[Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique (Third Layer), Black Evil Palm (Little Achievement), Cicada Shedding (Perfection), Ghost Head Saber Technique (Perfection)]
[Merit: Seven Taels and Two Qian]
[Current Martial Arts·Black Evil Palm can be improved, requires Eight Qian of Merit, do you want to improve?]
[Current Martial Arts·Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique can be improved, requires One Tael of Merit, do you want to improve?]
The Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique had been elevated to the third layer.
His merit had also accumulated to seven taels and two qian.
This was aside from the remaining two qian of merit he had before leaving and the four taels and three qian of merit obtained from eliminating the remnants of the Cicada Gang.
After deducting the one tael needed to enhance the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique later,
it meant that he had earned two taels and seven qian of merit from killing Shi Dian.
Although this was the most substantial amount of merit Qin Zheng had received in a single instance, it did not seem to match the difficulty of the task.
However, Qin Zheng also understood that the merit rewarded by the Merit Scroll was measured according to the sins of the person killed, and not by their strength.
Therefore, those with weak strength but deep sins were the optimal targets for harvesting merit.
Having these thoughts, Qin Zheng then looked at the leather in his hands that detailed martial arts.
Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique!
The first thing that caught his eyes were these five strong and powerful characters.
Immediately afterward, Qin Zheng's gaze was immersed in the cultivation method below.
A moment later, the Merit Scroll trembled slightly, revealing a new line of text.
[Detected Martial Arts·Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique, it can be refined, requires One Tael of Merit, do you want to refine it?]
Without any hesitation, Qin Zheng immediately thought to himself, "Refine!"
It was only one tael of merit, after all, and he currently had a full seven taels—he did not feel any pain in spending it!
Afterward, one tael of merit was deducted, and a warm flow quickly emerged inside his body, incessantly blending into his skin.
A moment later, the enhancement was complete, and he mastered the martial art entirely.
Qin Zheng stood up and poked his skin with his finger.
He only felt that beneath his wheat-colored skin there was a toughness akin to cowhide.
But this was not the most significant change.
With a thought, Qin Zheng's skin began to emit a faint golden glow.
He could feel that in this instant, the hardness of his skin had increased by several levels!
This Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique indeed was a technique that enhanced his body's defense!
A trace of joy surfaced in Qin Zheng's heart.
He could not further improve the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique for the time being, and he also had to avoid exerting a force exceeding one thousand jin as much as possible.
So at this moment, having a Body Protecting Divine Skill that strengthened defense was perfect timing.
Moreover, with Shi Dian dead, the blade that had been hanging over his head since his arrival had disappeared.
Without the danger, there was no longer an urgent need to improve his martial arts rapidly.
He would slowly heal his inner body, accumulate merit, and transport vitality to temper his body.
After all, his current approach was to develop slowly and quietly amass wealth.
At the same time, he would also try to find some Inner Strength.
Having the Merit Scroll did not mean he could only learn from books that documented martial arts.
Both the Ghost Head Saber Technique, which he had refined initially, and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, which was the foundation of his existence, were refined from objects.
He could also look for objects and try one by one to see if he could discover martial arts from them.
With this in mind, Qin Zheng looked again at the Merit Scroll.
The Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique, as a defensive method, was only at the beginner level and needed to be improved further.
However, at this time, the Merit Scroll showed that improving the Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique required three taels of merit.
This was the largest consumption Qin Zheng had ever encountered so far.
Even the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, for every increase, only required one tael of Merit.
Qin Zheng slightly furrowed his brow, not quite understanding the problem.
However, fortunately, he currently possessed an abundance of Merit, and after a brief consideration, he chose to upgrade.
This time, an even more vigorous and surging warm current flowed forth, greatly enhancing the strength of his skin.
But the change was not limited to the skin alone!
At this moment, Qin Zheng only felt his spirit suddenly empty.
Then a warm current emerged from the void, continuously nourishing his spirit.
That comfortable sensation almost made him unable to resist indulging in it.
After a moment, Qin Zheng withdrew from that state.
However, at this time, Qin Zheng found that his five senses had changed.
Or rather, they had been enhanced to varying degrees!
Moreover, Qin Zheng vaguely felt a slight swelling at his brow, as if it was nurturing something.
And this thing could help him predict danger and discern the finest detail!
The Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique was not merely a martial art that enhanced defense.
It was also a Spiritual Martial Art that improved mental strength!
A sharp light suddenly burst forth in Qin Zheng's eyes.
Spiritual Martial Arts, in the few martial arts stories he knew from his previous life, were also extremely rare.
It would seem that even in this world, they were no ordinary martial arts!
Especially the ability to predict danger, far more powerful than simply being defensively tough!
The Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique, truly worthy of the Cicada name!
Before the autumn wind blows, the cicada senses it first!
If in the future he encountered danger again, he would be able to sense it in advance and avoid it directly!
And this was only the Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique at the initial Great Achievement stage.
If he were to elevate it to the Great Achievement or Perfection stage, who knew how powerful it would become!
Qin Zheng's heart warmed, and he immediately turned his gaze towards the Merit Scroll, wanting to see if he could continue to upgrade.
Regrettably, to upgrade the Great Sun Golden Cicada Technique again, five taels of Merit were needed, but Qin Zheng only had three left, not enough for the upgrade.
"Never mind, one cannot become fat with just one mouthful, there's still plenty of time ahead, no need to rush this moment."
Qin Zheng sighed lightly and had to comfort himself in this way.
He also thought about whether he would awaken mental abilities and achieve control over objects in the void if he were to elevate this martial art to Perfection.
Although it was very unlikely, who could be certain?
After pondering for a while, Qin Zheng retracted his thoughts and calmed down.
He then took out the Mutton Fat Jade Vase he had searched from Shi Dian's body and opened it to look at the medicinal pills inside.
These should be pills that replenished qi and blood, after all, Shi Dian needed to move qi and blood day and night to break through faster, strengthening the body internally.
For Qin Zheng, this was also a good thing.
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Qin Zheng's mouth, and he then put away the pills, stood up, and went to check on the medicinal soup he had been simmering.
His wounds had not healed at the moment and would still require a significant period of time for recuperation.
Fortunately, everything had returned to peaceful, and he no longer faced the danger that could take his life at any moment.
...
A pigeon flew up from Black Goose City.
Soaring into the sky, it swept over the city below, its fields, vegetation, and forests.
After traveling a hundred miles, it finally arrived at a stronghold nestled in the deep mountains.
The pigeon glided down gently, and a burly man reached out to catch it.
He then removed a strip of paper from the pigeon's leg.
After glancing over it briefly, he turned and bellowed towards the bandits within the stronghold, "Brothers! Get ready to head down the mountain!"
Wow! Roar!
In an instant, the stronghold was as if oil had been thrown on fire, and the atmosphere exploded.