Last night, I went to bed late, and using the Entering the Divine State technique left me feeling exhausted.

The sun was already high in the sky when Chen Tang slowly woke up.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw a round, chubby face staring at him, studying him intently, with eyes like tiny green beans full of adoration.

"Whoa..."

Chen Tang was startled. He pushed away the old man's chubby face and sat up, looking at the other person with uncertainty.

What was that old man's look supposed to mean?

Surely, he didn't have some sort of peculiar fetish.

Although I want to learn something from him, I have my limits and principles!

"Old man, what are you doing so early in the morning?"

Chen Tang spoke to him more casually now that he was familiar with him.

The old man asked, "What's your plan for today?"

"I'll take a stroll outside and then come back to practice my martial arts."

Chen Tang got up, rolled up his blanket, quickly had a simple breakfast, and headed out the door.

He wandered around the streets, listening to the chatter of neighbors, and quickly realized that news of last night's events had spread.

However, the Black Water Gang hadn't involved the government office, seemingly wanting to handle it themselves.

The Black Water Gang's reaction was within his and Meng Liangyu's expectations.

The two of them discussed many things last night, including the plans and directions for the future, and had largely finalized them.

Last night's incident might not necessarily lead to an all-out war between the two gangs, as there was still room for explanation and negotiation.

When the time comes, they'll need to deliver a formidable blow so that there's no way for them to retreat!

Chen Tang made a loop around and arrived at the blacksmith shop, seeing that Old Sun wasn't busy. He said, "Uncle Sun, how's business these days?"

"Chen Tang, huh."

Old Sun got up with a smile and said, "Business is so-so, just the same old, barely making a living."

Seeming to remember something, Old Sun leaned in and whispered, "Chen Tang, did you hear? The guy who got your dad thrown in jail, Cui Yong, was killed a month ago, along with Master Chai from the Evil Wolf Gang. Both of them were done in!"

"Yeah, I heard."

Chen Tang nodded.

Old Sun said, "Whoever did it, these two deserved it."

"Sigh, I thought that with Master Chai dead, we'd get a little breathing room. But this area got taken over by the Black Water Gang, and the protection fees haven't lessened at all."

Old Sun didn't have many people to talk with usually, so once he grabbed Chen Tang, he couldn't stop talking.

Chen Tang didn't have the heart to interrupt and just listened quietly.

Old Sun's child was taken away for forced labor years ago and died out there. His wife was so heartbroken that she passed away years ago as well.

He's been left alone, barely making ends meet with his blacksmith shop, being bullied and extorted by gangs and government offices, with no choice but to endure.

What else can he do besides endure and resign himself to fate?

If Chen Da'an were still alive, they would probably be chatting idly like this, comforting each other and seeking solace from their worries.

After a long while, Old Sun realized he had been rambling, and he smiled sheepishly, "When you get old, you get chatty. Don't mind me. Chen Tang, are you here to buy something?"

Chen Tang smiled and nodded, saying, "I'll buy some lead blocks."

"What are you buying lead blocks for?"

Old Sun asked curiously.

Chen Tang said, "Not much, just practicing a bit to regain my strength."

"How many pounds?" Old Sun asked.

"About two hundred pounds."

Chen Tang thought for a moment and said.

Two hundred pounds?

Old Sun was taken aback and quickly said, "Chen Tang, your body was seriously injured. You need to recover gradually, don't overextend yourself."

Chen Tang smiled and didn't explain.

Seeing Chen Tang's insistence, Old Sun went into the shop and picked out some lead blocks, packed them in a burlap sack, and tried to lift it but shook his head, "I'm too old to lift this. You give it a try, and if you can't, I'll take some out."

"Thank you."

Chen Tang took out a silver ingot, placed it in the shop, and then lifted the burlap sack full of lead blocks, and turned to leave under Old Sun's astonished gaze.

The weight of two hundred pounds wasn't too heavy for him.

Back home, Chen Tang took out some needle and thread, planning to sew the lead blocks into his clothing to wear them anytime.

But he was completely clueless about sewing.

Just then, Zhiwei saw this and took on the task.

With some free time, Chen Tang went to the yard to practice the Tiger Subduing Fist again.

The chubby old man saw this and thought, here's my chance!

"Tsk!"

The chubby old man watched for a while and kept shaking his head, making a strange sound.

Chen Tang ignored him.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

After a while, the chubby old man pursed his lips, making another noise.

After a few sets of punches, Chen Tang broke a slight sweat and finally stopped, asking, "Old man, what's with all the tsking? Am I doing something wrong?"

This kid finally asked me! I was holding it in!

"If I'm not mistaken, you've reached the Ninth Grade in your cultivation."

The chubby old man said, "But you're still practicing this Tiger Subduing Fist, which won't get you to the Eighth Grade Bone Transformation Realm. You need to practice the corresponding Bone Transformation Technique to advance further."

Chen Tang said, "I haven't fully refined the Ninth Grade Rebirth Realm and haven't planned to practice the Bone Transformation Technique yet."

"Nonsense!"

The chubby old man frowned and said, "You have the strength to draw a Four-Stone Bow, and you've even cultivated Copper Skin. Who says you haven't completed the Rebirth Realm? That's misleading!"

Chen Tang said, "From what I know, above the Ninth Grade, there's the Extreme Realm, where you'll shed your Copper Skin and return to simplicity."

The chubby old man's expression shifted slightly.

The Extreme Realm, he had certainly heard of it.

But throughout history, very few have been able to cultivate to the Extreme Realm.

And Chen Tang wasn't supposed to know.

He had long suspected that Chen Tang had a master behind him.

Only now was he truly convinced.

This person's knowledge isn't bad, to even know about the Extreme Realm!

The chubby old man pondered, "There is indeed talk of the Extreme Realm, but cultivating it is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Since you have such aspirations, I dare not say much."

Saying this, the chubby old man felt like he'd failed to impress again.

He couldn't lose momentum.

The chubby old man forcefully changed the topic, "That being said, your previous Quick Blade Thirteen Forms is too lousy, practicing it is a pure waste of time."

Chen Tang said, "I've learned a new Cultivation Technique for the Fast Saber."

"Oh?"

The chubby old man glanced sideways, feeling disdainful inside, "Tell me about it."

When Chen Tang tells him, he can compare it with his Wind Chasing Swift Saber, and the results will be obvious!

"I don't know what it's called."

Chen Tang picked up a piece of firewood from the corner, then drew his saber and began chopping at the piece of wood, saying, "All I know is I need to keep practicing like this."

"The Firewood Splitting Blade Technique, huh? Haha..."

The chubby old man gave a casual glance and couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly!

The chubby old man's laughter stopped abruptly as he seemed to think of something, frowning slightly, his eyes fixed on the continuously chopping blade in Chen Tang's hand.

The blade struck the wood, but each stroke closely followed the contour of the wood, leaving it undamaged!

"This is..."

The chubby old man's expression turned serious, his pupils contracted, and he exclaimed, "Burning Wood Saber!"

Chen Tang wasn't surprised that he identified his technique and asked, "Old man, didn't you say you knew the Wind Chasing Swift Saber? How about teaching me, so I can practice it too."

The chubby old man turned dark with embarrassment and gritted his teeth, "You brat, are you doing this on purpose to spite me? Choosing not to learn the good stuff and learning to taunt people instead! No matter how fast the Wind Chasing Swift Saber is, it can't match the Burning Wood Saber!"

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