Chapter 39: Source Point Reappears

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Source Point Reappears

「Meanwhile, in a hidden courtyard somewhere in Youlin County.」

Gu Bei’s expression was incredibly grim. On the ground before him, three bodies covered by white cloths lay side-by-side—they were none other than Zhou Yi, Yuan Shi, and Jia Pavilion.

Dark red bloodstains were visible along the edges of the white cloths.

"Three Refining Flesh Realm experts went to capture one person in the Skin Refining Realm, and they all died? Not a single one came back?" Gu Bei’s voice was hoarse, thick with unsuppressible rage.

He snapped his head up to look at a subordinate standing nearby, who didn’t dare to even breathe too loudly. "Did that old bastard Chen Xuanli make a move?"

"R-Reporting, Steward,"

the subordinate quickly bowed, his voice trembling. "According to reports from our informants inside and outside the Chen Mansion, Chen Xuanli hasn’t left the rear courtyard all night. It likely wasn’t him."

"Not him?" Gu Bei’s brows knitted together tightly.

’If not Chen Xuanli, who else in the Chen Family could have dispatched three experienced Refining Flesh Realm masters so cleanly? Could the Chen Family be hiding other Bone Forging Realm experts?’

Just then, another subordinate hurried in and whispered a few words in Gu Bei’s ear.

Gu Bei’s eyes widened in astonishment. "Li Lie is dead too?"

’Li Lie defected to us, received resources, and had just broken through to the Bone Forging Realm. He was a valuable pawn we had planted within the Chen Family, and he just died? At this critical juncture, no less?’

’Was his defection discovered, leading to the Chen Family’s hidden expert cleaning house? Or... was tonight’s operation a trap from the start? A case of the hunter becoming the hunted?’

’So who was the real hunter? The Chen Family? Or some other faction?’

Gu Bei’s eyes narrowed. Events were spiraling beyond his control and expectations.

"Relay my orders at once,"

Gu Bei took a deep breath, a decisive and ruthless glint in his eyes. "All covert cells that had direct contact with Li Lie are to relocate immediately! All recent operations are suspended! Heighten security! No one is to act without my direct order!"

"Yes, sir!" The subordinate hastily complied and withdrew.

Gu Bei stood alone in the courtyard. He looked at the three corpses on the ground, then thought of the newly deceased Li Lie, his expression flickering.

’Chen Yue... the one who was supposed to be a mere blood sacrifice... has seemingly become a deadly, poisonous thorn.’

’Losing three skilled men is a significant blow to the Divine Flame Cult’s plans in Youlin County. And the creation of the Alchemy Ghost is a matter that cannot be delayed.’

’Looks like I’ll have to find a new Alchemy Master... ’

A cold glint flickered in Gu Bei’s eyes. ’And the Chen Family... I’ll have to get the higher-ups to send more capable people over. The waters in Youlin County run deeper than I thought.’

...

Back at the Chen Family’s main residence, Li Lie’s death had caused an uproar.

The meeting hall was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was heavy and grim. Chen Jing sat at the head of the hall, with the core members of the Chen Family seated below, including Chen Yuqing.

"Li Lie’s death was no accident!" a clan elder exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table as he rose. "It must be the same group that has been repeatedly attacking Huichun Hall. They’re trying to uproot our Chen Family!"

"Our investigation has not been fruitless,"

another steward in charge of intelligence said grimly. "An organization calling itself the Divine Flame Cult has been gathering refugees outside the city. They act in secret and their methods are ruthless. The attacks on Huichun Hall and Li Lie’s death are almost certainly their doing!"

"Divine Flame Cult," Chen Jing repeated, savoring the name as chilling killing intent filled his eyes.

’It doesn’t matter who they are. To so brazenly murder members of the Chen Family and plunder our assets here in Youlin County... they must pay the price!’

"Send out the order!"

Chen Jing shot to his feet, his voice ringing like clashing steel through the hall. "Assign more men and launch a full investigation into the Divine Flame Cult! Report this matter in detail to the County Yamen and request the Government Office’s assistance in wiping them out!"

"Yes, sir!" everyone responded in unison.

Chen Yue was oblivious to the storm brewing in the outside world over Li Lie’s death.

In the room arranged for him at the Chen Mansion, Chen Yue quickly familiarized himself with the basic principles and mechanics of the Breath Concealing Technique. He then immediately began cultivating the Mountain Shattering Technique to calm the turbulent Qi Blood from the night’s repeated battles and to solidify and advance his Cultivation.

The focus before the Pill Furnace, the sweat from his training, the clear progress on his panel... these were the cornerstones of his survival.

The bloody battle in the alley was in the past. Without his daily, arduous training, the outcome tonight would have been completely different.

In the face of absolute power, all schemes, plots, and clever words were meaningless.

Power was the only true and reliable guarantee.

As the hour slid toward midnight, all was silent save for the faint sound of patrolling footsteps from deep within the Chen Mansion. The familiar ripples appeared before his eyes right on schedule.

[Daily Settlement]

[Diligent cultivation of Mountain Shattering Technique. Cultivation +15]

[Studied Secret Manual earnestly. Breath Concealing Technique EXP +1]

[Consumed Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. Minor Marrow Cleansing and Bone Forging.]

[Defeated and killed a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist. Source Point +1]

...

[Skill: Breath Concealing Technique (Entry Level 1/233)]

[Skill: Antitoxic Pill (Entry Level 177/600)]

...

[Source Points: 1]

A flood of cultivation insights and growth surged into him, but Chen Yue paid it no mind. His eyes were glued to a single line on the panel.

Source Point +1.

’It appeared again!’

The last time he had gained a Source Point was before he had even embarked upon the Martial Dao, when he had managed to kill that Chong Ghost in a moment of crisis. Since then, no matter how arduously he trained or how much he improved, his Source Points had never increased.

’I’m in the Refining Flesh Realm now, and I earned one Source Point for killing Li Lie, who was in the Bone Forging Realm. Back then, I wasn’t even a Martial Arts Apprentice, and I also earned one Source Point for killing a Chong Ghost.’ A glint of understanding flashed in Chen Yue’s eyes.

’So that’s what "achieving a breakthrough accomplishment" means... It’s about fighting above my level and killing an opponent of a higher realm.’

’If that’s true, then I’ve found a clear, viable path to acquiring Source Points.’

’It certainly won’t be easy. The higher one’s Martial Dao realm, the greater the gap between each stage. The difficulty of fighting and winning against a superior is astronomical, and the risks are immense.’

’But at least now I have a direction.’

The miraculous power of Source Points was clearly demonstrated by the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield.

A Secret Manual that was impossible to cultivate was made whole with a single Source Point, transforming the worthless into the miraculous, becoming a complete and profound Body Refining Divine Skill!

’My ability to kill a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist like Li Lie is almost entirely thanks to the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield. Its Gang Qi defense, its integration of my strength, and its rebound force were the deciding factors.’

Chen Yue felt the sense of solidity from the Gang Qi slowly circulating within him. ’As my mastery of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield deepens, this advantage will only grow. When I face even stronger opponents in the future, this might be the very edge I need to fight above my realm!’

And even if a Source Point wasn’t used to repair a Cultivation Technique, using it to directly increase skill proficiency was also astonishingly effective.

’If I were to add this one Source Point to the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, I would instantly bypass the Entry Level and reach the Minor Success Realm. At that point, my defense, strength, and even my Gang Qi would likely undergo a qualitative leap!’