Translator: CinderTL
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After delivering a speech to reassure the public, Chang Hong hurriedly left.
If not for the fact that nearly a hundred people had died—causing an impact too great for him to ignore—he wouldn't have bothered dealing with the Jin family's mess at all.
As Chang Hong departed, the aftermath was handled in an orderly manner.
Watching the corpses being carried out of the Jin family's estate, the security personnel from Taishan Security couldn't help but glance at Cui Yuan, who had been demoted from minister to team leader. Each of them was filled with admiration:
"Luckily, Captain warned us to stay outside and not get involved. Otherwise..."
"So many Inner Strength experts fell today—more than we can count with both hands. Even Director Mo and Captain Fang didn't make it. If we had charged in, we'd all be dead in a single sword strike."
Many of them were still shaken.
"This was too brutal! I've lived for over forty years, and I've never seen someone so ruthless before. Nearly a hundred lives, killed just like that... How could he be so heartless? Just thinking about it will give me nightmares!"
Some were utterly terrified.
However, a young man among them spoke up in disagreement:
"Why wouldn't he do it? Imagine if your family had been persecuted to death, you lost your job, and someone even tried to run you over. After barely surviving, that same person still put out a bounty on your head, determined to kill you. If you were in his shoes, about to die anyway, would you hesitate to fight back?"
His eyes gleamed with a trace of satisfaction as he continued:
"If you're willing to risk your life, you can even drag the emperor down from his throne! If you ask me, he did the right thing!"
Cough! Cough!
Cui Yuan quickly cleared his throat to interrupt the young man.
"Watch your words. We do not condone violence."
As security personnel responsible for protecting their clients, it was highly inappropriate to gloat over such a tragedy.
Besides...
Li Chunjun had also killed some of their own brothers from Taishan Security. Regardless of the circumstances, that was something they could never openly approve of.
"So many people died... and they were all influential figures in Guangzhou City. This is a case for the history books."
Someone sighed.
"The main problem was the outrageous bounty offered by the Jin family. It tempted too many people. Instead of running for their lives when they saw Li Chunjun, they thought they could use him as a stepping stone for their own success."
"Tempted by money? A stepping stone?"
Cui Yuan sneered.
"Money and power mean nothing if you're dead."
Shaking his head, he continued, "This is beyond what ordinary people like us should be involved in. From now on, if you ever see Li Chunjun outside, pretend you didn't. Given his thirst for revenge, if he survives..."
He didn't need to finish his sentence—everyone present nodded in agreement.
Thinking about what had happened to the prosecutor and the Jian Academy, many felt a chill run down their spines.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
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It wasn't just Taishan Security personnel—many others who had narrowly escaped death were also warning those around them to keep a low profile.
This incident was too massive. It would not end here.
A storm was brewing among the upper ranks of Guangzhou City.
As for how the city's elites would handle the situation, no one knew. But the middle-class and professionals were already paralyzed with fear.
Jin Guangming and Mo Lei were both major figures, yet the killer had slaughtered them without hesitation. If even they weren't spared, what chance did lesser individuals have if they got caught in the crossfire?
A hefty bounty was tempting—but only if you were alive to spend it.
With this realization, the massive search net that had been spread across Guangzhou City to hunt down Li Chunjun suddenly shrank.
Even those who were forced by duty to continue searching found ways to slack off, avoiding real efforts.
Guangzhou...
Had entered the eerie calm before the storm.
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Inside an apartment.
Li Chunjun carefully maintained the treasured sword he had obtained from the Jian Academy.
Even the best swords would wear down after cutting through too many people.
If not properly maintained, a weapon failure at a critical moment could be fatal.
After a while, he examined the blade closely.
"It's almost time to replace it."
Metal swords were sharp but prone to breaking. Only Qi-imbued swords, forged from the essence of the world itself, could remain indestructible.
The contents of the Sword Cultivation Foundation Art surfaced in his mind.
To transition into a true sword cultivator, the first requirement was reaching the Innate Realm.
Innate Realm...
Innate Realm...
"Unity of the internal and external, all meridians unblocked, the energy circulating through the body—that's the practice of the Integration stage. When the energy circulates completely, special formations and environments can be used to guide the essence of heaven and earth into the body, opening the bridge between heaven and earth. This allows the essence of heaven and earth to enter the body and be refined into sword energy."
Once the first sword energy is condensed, it marks the beginning of the sword cultivator's journey.
However, his current level is only that of the perfected external training.
Forget about the unity of internal and external—his internal organs have yet to be fully refined.
"I possess this level of combat strength. From an ordinary person's perspective, it would seem like innate divine strength."
Li Chunjun pondered.
He had exceptional talent, but his martial arts realm still remained at the perfected external training level.
What he was unsure about was whether, if he continued to advance in level, his body would undergo a transformation and evolve the ability to absorb the essence of heaven and earth through his pores and acupoints.
He believed it was possible.
However, reaching this level would likely require reaching level 11, 12, or even higher levels 13 or 14.
By the time others were using true qi, sword energy, or magical power, he would still be relying on physical brute strength, and the gap in combat strength would only grow.
"Realm, combat power..."
Li Chunjun's sword let out a hum, and with a swift motion, he struck forward.
The technique from the Nine Heavens Thunder Sword Technique made this strike thirty percent faster than if he had relied solely on brute force.
"Martial arts... entering the beginner stage," he muttered.
Practical combat was the best way to practice.
Moreover, his enhancements were meticulous, covering aspects such as memory and comprehension.
He could clearly feel that when practicing swordsmanship, he was able to make rapid progress, often understanding one concept and applying it to others.
"Not just memory and comprehension..."
Li Chunjun seemed to hear a sound.
Following the sound, his peripheral vision caught sight of a mosquito flying past.
In that moment of focus, he could even "see" the mosquito's wings beating rapidly.
"Whoosh!"
With a quick flick of his sword, the mosquito was pinned to the wall.
The precision in using every muscle in his body allowed the strike to contain just enough force to kill the mosquito, without penetrating the wall by even a millimeter.
This astonishing hearing, vision, and reflexes...
Were beyond what an average Integration stage expert of the same level could achieve.
It was also the reason he was able to quickly enter the beginner stage of swordsmanship.
Unfortunately...
Even with these advantages, he still couldn't defeat Integration realm experts of the same level.
Against opponents one level below, it would be a fight to the death.
Against those two levels below, it would be a battle of dominance.
As for opponents of the same level...
He simply couldn't win.
He was too young.
"Swordsmanship, body refining method..."
Li Chunjun stood up.
Life level was important, but cultivation realm and swordsmanship were equally important.
By refining all three—body, sword, and cultivation—he could truly lay a solid foundation and gain the confidence to face any danger, even reshape the world.
The medicine for internal lung strengthening was ready in the kitchen.
He extracted the essence from it, waited for it to cool slightly, and then swallowed it.
After taking the medicine, he quickly activated the Chiyang Body Refining Art to refine his internal organs, working on strengthening his lungs.
At this moment, he had yet to begin the internal lung strengthening process.
However, with his life level, it was different.
It was like the difference between a penniless person trying to earn a million and a wealthy person with a billion in funds attempting to earn the same million—the efficiency was incomparable.
External training or internal strengthening—both were merely ways to help Li Chunjun better utilize the combat power of his body, which had been enhanced to level 10.
(End of the Chapter)
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