I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 141 Great increase in strength
You have defeated a Level 53 enemy and gained 8000 experience point.

You have defeated a Level 55 enemy and gained 10000 experience point.

You have defeated a Level 52 enemy and gained 7000 experience point.

You have defeated a Level 53 enemy and gained 8000 experience point.

Half an hour later, Chen Ming defeated the other four people one by one.

The five people, who were initially quite arrogant, all came to admire him.

In the martial arts world, the strong are always respected; as long as you demonstrate your strength, you will earn respect.

Next, Chen Ming didn't leave, but stayed behind to review the battle with the five of them.

It must be said that all five of them were quite strong, each with their own unique martial arts style, and all were exceptionally powerful in actual combat. The reason they lost to him was because his "Vermilion Bird Sword Technique" was superior.

The sword technique that Senior Shang taught him was quite extraordinary. He used pure Yang energy to wield this sword technique, which amplified its power even further.

This review lasted for more than two hours. He didn't take his leave until it was almost dusk.

"You're a good person, unlike those arrogant rich kids who look down on others. I consider you my friend."

Yunniang suddenly walked over and slapped him hard on the shoulder.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "It would be my honor."

"However, I'm a little dissatisfied with my loss today, so let's have another match next time."

"Let's skip to next time, let's do it tomorrow."

"That's great, it's a deal."

"It's a word."

After finalizing the sparring session for tomorrow, Chen Ming was in high spirits and then took his leave.

……

After nightfall, in a small courtyard behind Shang'an Trading Company, a very beautiful woman sat in a chair, flipping through account books.

"Young master's family."

The young man who had been following Chen Ming walked in, standing with his head down, not daring to look at him.

The woman addressed as the young master put down the account book in her hand, and pinched her brow wearily. "Yunniang and the others didn't hurt him, did they?"

The waiter replied, "No. Yunniang and the others are no match for Young Master Chen."

The young master paused in his actions. "You mean, all five of them lost to him?"

"Yes."

She was somewhat surprised, "This person just broke through to the fifth rank, yet he can defeat Yunniang and the others?"

She suddenly felt that she needed to reassess the strength of that Second Young Master Chen.

At first, she thought Chen Ming's request was completely absurd. However, since he had the token, she found it difficult to refuse and simply let Yunniang deal with him.

She knew Yunniang's temperament and her original intention was to make Chen Ming suffer a bit.

Unexpectedly, his strength far exceeded his expectations.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "He didn't make any other requests, did he?"

"No, but..."

"But what?"

"Yunniang and Young Master Chen have agreed to have another spar tomorrow."

The young master shook his head and said, "Yunniang is still as strong-willed as ever."

The man said, "I think it might be more than just that."

"explain."

"After sparring with Yunniang and the others, Young Master Chen also discussed martial arts with them for more than an hour."

The young master was somewhat surprised. "I didn't realize he had such a magnanimous heart. Alright, you can go now. Continue to follow him tomorrow."

"Yes."

……

The next day, at the same time, Chen Ming came to the courtyard again and found that not only Yun Niang, but also the other four people were there.

One of them said, "I benefited greatly from yesterday's battle with you, young master. Today, I'm going to shamelessly ask you for some more guidance."

Chen Ming laughed and said, "I couldn't be happier."

Two hours later, he had gained half of yesterday's experience points and left satisfied. Yunniang and the other four sparred with him, gaining both experience and guidance, and were equally satisfied.

So they agreed to fight again the next day.

……

On the third day, Chen Ming returned to the courtyard and found that not only were Yun Niang and the other four there, but there were two more people. Upon introduction, they were also fifth-rank cultivators who had just returned from overseas the day before. They had been brought along by Yun Niang.

As a result, he gained two more opponents to spar with.

He once again experienced the benefits of the kingly way. After his reputation for being helpful spread, people took the initiative to come and challenge him.

Of course, this is also because these people don't take winning or losing too seriously, they are more practical, and they want to improve their skills and make progress.

This is fundamentally different from the mindset of the sixth-rank martial artists he had encountered before.

Those sixth-rank officials in Qingfeng City are getting old and can no longer advance, so they've given up and are more concerned about their reputation.

These fifth-rank officials are relatively young and have room for improvement.

Secondly, they live a life of constant danger and know that empty fame is meaningless; only strength is real.

Therefore, they all cherish the opportunity to spar with masters and receive targeted guidance afterward. This is an opportunity that they would normally beg for, so how could they miss it?

……

From then on, Chen Ming went to that small courtyard every day to spar with a group of fifth-rank martial artists.

At its peak, there were sixteen people, which shows how many experts were hidden within the Shang'an Trading Company.

After a month, the number of people dwindled until only three or four remained. Those who had left had all gone out to sea.

Another half month passed, and the last few people also went out to sea.

Chen Ming has finally ended this period of frantically grinding for experience points.

Before we know it, autumn is approaching again.

The day was July 15th. Chen Ming bid farewell to his elder brother and sister-in-law, boarded a carriage, left the city gate, and headed straight for Jiangzhou City.

He was accompanied by Feng Siyuan. The number one restaurant in the world was going to re-establish the Qingyun Ranking, and he certainly didn't want to miss such a lively event.

"Finally, Qingfeng City has produced someone qualified to participate in the Qingyun Ranking competition." During a rest and meal on the way, Feng Siyuan said with a sigh, "You don't know, in the past twenty or thirty years, our Qingfeng City has not even had anyone qualified to compete for the ranking, let alone make the list."

Chen Ming said, "It can't be that bad. The Azure Cloud Ranking only restricts applicants to those under twenty-five, but it doesn't restrict their cultivation level."

"Without a fifth-grade cultivation level, one doesn't even qualify to compete for a spot on the rankings. If any sixth-grade cultivator dares to participate, they'll only be ridiculed."

"Actually, if we include the maritime merchants of Qingyun City, the number of fifth-rank martial artists is probably not inferior to that of Jiangzhou City."

Feng Siyuan was taken aback and said, "If you put it that way, there's nothing wrong with it. However, all the fifth-rank officials of the various maritime merchants have to go to sea with the ships, and very few of them stay in Qingfeng City."

Chen Ming asked, "Is it that chaotic overseas? Do they need so many experts to protect them?"

"Those island nations overseas are full of barbarians, utterly lacking in manners and shame. If there aren't skilled warriors in the fleet, they'll dare to rob you directly. Only by thoroughly defeating them will they obediently do business with you."

Therefore, although the seven major maritime merchants have many experts, they are scattered across their overseas fleets, with very few remaining in Qingfeng City.

Feng Siyuan said, "Brother, I've placed a huge bet on you this time. I hope you can successfully climb the Qingyun Ranking, then I'll be rich."

Chen Ming knew that for large-scale events like this, which only happen every few years, there would definitely be betting operations. He just didn't know how they would operate.

After finishing their meal, they continued on their journey.

Chen Ming sat in the carriage, silently recited a command, and opened the control panel.

【Level: 55】

Current points: 0

[Techniques: Iron Horse Stake (Fifth Level Perfection), Two Elements True Skill (Fifth Level 823356/1500000)]

[Martial Arts Skills: Three Talents Fist (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang Family Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Return Sword Technique (Mastery), Vermilion Bird Sword Technique (Mastery), Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens (First Level 1952/100000)]

[Secret Technique: The Art of Disguise (Mastery)]

His current strength is a huge improvement compared to two and a half months ago.

The Vermilion Bird Sword Technique has been mastered.

The progress of the fifth level of "Two Elements True Skill" is also more than halfway complete.

This is the source of his confidence in participating in this Azure Cloud Ranking competition. It's no exaggeration to say that his current strength is more than ten times greater than when he first broke through to the fifth rank.

He now hopes that as many people as possible will participate in this competition. If he's lucky, he might be able to accumulate enough experience points to break through to the fourth rank after this competition.

P.S.: It's almost the end of the month, so please use your monthly tickets if you still have any left.

(End of this chapter)