Chapter 279: 《Black Tortoise Art》 Reaches Entry-Level Mastery

Bai Jingtang left.

In order to treat Monk Dalong’s injuries as soon as possible, she boarded the boat Wangchuan had arranged for her at the Hejiang Town dock and traveled downstream to Huishui County.

This time, Wangchuan did not take Bai Jingtang’s advice to heart.

The heads of the river bandits they had collected brought in quite a bit of silver from the authorities. Several Third-Rank Martial Artists were worth twenty taels of gold each in bounty. The rest were unknown figures. Together with the silver taken from their corpses, all of it was handed over to Chen Ergou and the others to divide.

He knew that Ergou and the rest would save the money to exchange for martial arts manuals.

Appropriate rewards could gather loyalty and also strengthen his subordinates. Why not?

Besides, he had the Sanjiang Branch Helm—a money-making machine that produced wealth every day. And it was Ergou and the others who kept it running. If he took all the unexpected gains for himself, it would show a lack of vision.

Still, he could understand Captain Bai.

Studios usually disliked becoming involved in gang conflicts. Their risk-averse approach also caused them to avoid some of the most profitable ventures.

Their philosophies were simply different.

If the Warring States Game Studio had arranged for even one Second-Rank Martial Artist to remain as the Deputy Helm Leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm, they would now understand the Caobang’s financial strength.

After returning to the branch helm, Wangchuan once again entered a period of secluded cultivation.

Days passed one after another.

After the beginning of summer, the weather gradually grew hotter.

By the time May arrived, Wangchuan’s 《Black Tortoise Art》 finally triggered a long-awaited system notification.

“Ding!”

“《Black Tortoise Art》 has advanced from Practice Makes Perfect to Entry-Level Mastery. Reward: +3 Stamina, +3 Spirit.”

Six attribute points were added in one breath.

Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 90/100)

(Life Profession: Blacksmith)

(Combat Profession: Second-Rank Martial Artist)

Strength 44; Attack 14–15;

Agility 53; Defense 10.6; Speed +53;

Stamina 62; HP 620/620;

Spirit 17; Internal Force 170/170.

Free Attributes: 5 (available for allocation)

Black Tortoise Art: Entry-Level Mastery.

At the current realm:

Temporarily increases Stamina by 12 points, raising HP by 120;

Personal Defense and Body-Protection Defense increased by 40%;

Temporarily increases Strength by 12 points;

Attack increased by 30%.

Next Realm: Integration

At the next realm:

Temporarily increases Stamina by 20 points, raising HP by 200;

Personal Defense and Body-Protection Defense increased by 60%;

Temporarily increases Strength by 20 points;

Attack increased by 50%.

When Wangchuan saw the attributes of the next realm of the 《Black Tortoise Art》, his blood immediately began to boil.

Twenty points of Stamina.

Twenty points of Strength.

Sixty percent Defense.

Fifty percent Attack.

Just as Captain Bai had said—

The higher the realm of an internal cultivation method, the greater the benefits.

If the first two realms were merely equivalent to adding a piece of ordinary equipment,

Then now it was equivalent to gaining one or two pieces of Green Grade equipment.

And the next realm would be like gaining an entire set of Green Grade equipment.

Looking at the 2000 experience points required for Integration, Wangchuan gritted his teeth and fell into thought.

Should he train it?

If he did, it would probably take four times as long—more than four months—to achieve a breakthrough.

That period of bitter cultivation would not even catch up to the Blood Moon Incident on the fifteenth day of the seventh month.

But if he did not train it and instead rushed directly toward Third Rank?

Once he advanced, his meridians would widen. The increased circulation speed gained from breaking through his internal cultivation method would then be balanced out by the wider meridians. The speed of completing a full circulation cycle would effectively cancel out, and he would lose part of his advantage in rapid cultivation.

For a moment, he hesitated.

At that moment, Chen Hong requested an audience from outside the courtyard.

“Helm Leader!”

“Come in.”

Only then did Chen Hong enter, bringing someone with her.

Wangchuan was slightly surprised.

The visitor was someone he knew.

Taotao.

It was the first time he had seen Taotao wearing ancient clothing. The contrast with her usual delicate, modern style was striking. Now dressed in a green dress and holding a Hundredfold Steel longsword, she looked like a graceful young heroine who had just entered the Jianghu.

“Helm Leader.”

“This is Xiao Tao,” Chen Hong introduced.

“She has now become a full-fledged Martial Artist and wishes to join our Sanjiang Branch Helm.”

“Helm Leader.”

Xiao Tao bowed respectfully to Wangchuan. The familiar words she had once intended to say suddenly failed to come out. She appeared extremely reserved.

Ever since she learned that Wangchuan’s monthly income exceeded one million, she had felt an unconscious restraint and no longer dared to contact him casually.

Now that she understood more about 《spirit realm》, the more she knew, the more fearful she became.

She also realized that those who could command the winds and rains in this world were certainly not simple people.

She would never again ask Wangchuan to help her take out the trash.

Even standing before him now, a single glance from him made her feel as if she had been completely seen through, filling her with awe.

Wangchuan nodded.

“All right. Let her follow you. Her monthly salary will follow the standard for full-fledged Martial Artists.”

“Thank you, Helm Leader.”

“Thank you, Helm Leader!”

Both of them bowed.

Chen Hong led Xiao Tao out of the Helm Leader’s courtyard.

Chen Hong looked frustrated and whispered,

“What were you doing just now? Aren’t you usually quite talkative? Why didn’t you chat more with your old acquaintance?”

“Sister Hong, I don’t know why, but whenever I see the Helm Leader, I start sweating all over. My legs are still trembling.”

Xiao Tao looked pitiful as she spoke the honest truth.

Chen Hong nodded.

“Come to think of it, the Helm Leader’s aura as an expert has grown stronger and stronger. Even with my First-Rank Martial Artist cultivation, standing in front of him makes my heart pound, as if I’m standing beside a tiger. What cultivation method is this?”

“Sister Hong, are you saying this is related to the cultivation method?”

Xiao Tao’s eyes widened in shock.

“Of course.”

Chen Hong replied without hesitation.

“When I escorted goods before, I’ve seen Second-Rank and Third-Rank Martial Artists. Second Rank is usually manageable, but when facing Third Rank, the pressure becomes intense. Strange… the Helm Leader is only Second Rank. Why does he feel even more terrifying than a Third-Rank Martial Artist?”

The two women continued chatting as they walked away.

What they did not know was that Wangchuan heard every word clearly.

Only now did he realize something.

After breaking through to Entry-Level Mastery in the 《Black Tortoise Art》, his senses had become far sharper.

Now even sounds from outside the branch helm could be heard distinctly. If he focused slightly, he could even hear noises from the dock beyond the compound, though they were somewhat blurred.

This breakthrough of the 《Black Tortoise Art》 had indeed brought tremendous changes.

“The oppressive aura of a martial artist…”

Wangchuan lowered his head and pondered carefully, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

“Since I already possess the combat strength of a Third-Rank Martial Artist, even if I advance to Third Rank, I still won’t immediately obtain a Fourth-Rank martial arts manual…”

“Old Seven is still only the acting hall master of the hall. That means the Caobang is still observing the Sanhe Commandery hall. And the hall is filled with Yin Xingtian’s people, which suggests that Yin Xingtian will most likely return. At a time like this, no one would want to see a new Third-Rank Martial Artist emerge.”

Wangchuan had heard quite a bit about the situation within the Sanhe Commandery hall.

The two Deputy Hall Masters were almost on equal footing with Old Seven.

That alone spoke volumes.

He had no desire to become the target of everyone’s attention.

“I should continue cultivating the 《Black Tortoise Art》.”

Wangchuan sighed and ultimately decided to continue training his internal cultivation method.

Seclusion.

Back into seclusion.

However, this time he discovered that after the breakthrough, the circulation speed of the 《Black Tortoise Art》 had increased again.

The time required to complete one full circulation cycle in the bath pool had been reduced from five minutes to four minutes.

In one hour, he could now gain one experience point.