Martial Arts Sainthood Begins with the Tiger-Taming Fist

"A cloud hairpin?"

Chen Mo thought for a moment and remembered, "Yun Heng went to the Sword Forging Pavilion today. The Yun Zan you mentioned should be his sister?"

Xu Yan nodded. "That's it. That Yun Zan is a disciple of Snow Mist Peak in Nine Swords Mountain."

"Is she also a disciple of Nine Swords Mountain?"

Chen Mo was slightly surprised, and then asked, "It seems that there's no overlap between the five peaks of Nine Swords Mountain?"

Tan Yuan explained, "It's not that there's no interaction; it's just that newly initiated disciples mainly focus on practicing the basics of martial arts and swordsmanship, which can be done on their respective peaks. After you undergo the skills test, you'll need to collaborate with other peaks on missions."

Chen Mo nodded in understanding. No wonder Qin Yang and Tong Lu were rarely seen; they must usually be carrying out missions with other mountain peaks.

Linzhi Peak alone has thirteen martial arts academies. If all the peaks are added together, who knows how many young talents and stunning beauties there are?

Thinking this, Jiang Xiaoyun exclaimed in admiration:

"I never expected that Junior Brother Chen not only has talent in alchemy, but also in sword forging. He may become the face of Fang Academy in the future."

Chen Mo was flattered and didn't know what to do with his hands. After thinking for a moment, he said, "We're just getting started, Senior Sister. It's far from the point where we need to talk about talent."

Xu Yan smiled and said, "Although it's just the beginning, her talent is already showing, and..."

She paused for a moment, then said, "Tang Tian is very strict, but he has a good eye. Since he thinks highly of you, it means you are indeed capable. However, you need to seize this opportunity from the Yun family. You might be able to enter the internal examination of the Sword Forging Association through this."

"Internal examination, what is that?" Chen Mo asked.

Xu Yan explained, "Before the Sword Forging Conference begins, the Sword Forging Pavilion will gather some people who are expected to be in the top ten to get a feel for them. In a sense, this is also a form of recognition."

Chen Mo nodded, "Then I'll give it my best. I'll go take a look at the Yun family's blueprints first."

After finding an excuse, Chen Mo returned to the old mine.

He took out the blueprints and examined them carefully, and had a general idea of ​​what the sword was like.

But he had a month to spare, so he wasn't in a hurry. Before he could start forging the sword, he still needed to refine the Li Huo Xuan Gong and the Tai Chen Ying Huo Pian.

After all, sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting.

These two techniques are his true reliance.

……

Ten days later.

Chen Mo focused on refining his understanding of martial arts techniques and practicing swordsmanship.

In addition, Iron Light Skill has already been mastered to a minor degree, and Dragon Capturing Strength and Tiger Subduing Fist are already close to mastery. Although these two are no longer the focus, I will take this opportunity to master them to a major degree.

When one reaches the pinnacle of mastery, the progress bar of comprehension stops changing, and there is no "perfect" state as imagined.

"Could it be that only those with the highest comprehension achieve mastery? Or is it that not all cultivation techniques have a perfect progression?"

He pondered it for a moment, but then stopped worrying about it.

During these ten days, he chose three days with heavier smog to go to the entrance of Wind and Thunder Valley. He used iron ingots to lure the scaled foxes, killed three of them, roasted them, and ate them to strengthen his physique.

Besides that, whenever he had free time, he would pick up the sword blueprints and the materials for forging the sword, and compare and contrast them back and forth.

Now, Chen Mo has a thorough understanding of every detail in the blueprints and is ready to begin forging the sword.

He focused his consciousness, and a bewitching flame rose from his palm.

The various materials are placed one by one on the stone rack and roasted with palm fire until they turn a rosy red, then proceed to the next step...

……

And right at this moment.

In the bushes near the entrance to Wind and Thunder Valley.

Xiao Chi, along with two disciples from the Su Academy, dug out a skeleton from the Scaled Fox Cave.

The burly Xiao Chi stared intently at the skeleton, and after a moment said in a deep voice:

"This skeleton... its frame is quite similar to Xiao Ming's physique..."

"Does that mean it's Xiao Ming?" someone nearby asked.

Xiao Chi neither confirmed nor denied it, saying, "I can't be completely certain, but there's at least a 90% chance."

He suddenly glanced sharply to the side, "Cao Tai, where was Xiao Ming when you last saw him?"

Cao Tai replied from the side, "At that time, he left Chengyun Pavilion and walked eastward towards Linzhi Peak. After that, I didn't see him again."

Xiao Chi pondered for a moment, "This place is located in the valley east of Linzhi Peak. You were the last person to see him. Judging from the time of death of these skeletons, it should be between half a month and a month. All the conditions basically match, so the skeletons are most likely Xiao Ming. In that case..."

His gaze suddenly sharpened. "The murderer has also been to the valley, and even frequently travels between Linzhi Peak and the valley. Because there are no traces of scale foxes in the scale fox caves nearby, they were most likely killed by humans. And the person who killed the scale foxes is very likely the murderer who killed Xiao Ming."

At this moment, a strange look appeared in Cao Tai's eyes, and he said, "As far as I know, there is an old mine on the easternmost side of Linzhi Peak, and the person guarding the mine now seems to be..."

"Who is it?" Xiao Chi asked in a deep voice.

"It's Chen Mo from Fangyuan."

"Hmm? That hidden force that defeated you last time?" Xiao Chi asked suspiciously.

Cao Tai nodded reluctantly.

When Xiao Chi saw Cao Tai confirm, he did not immediately call for a fight, because Cao Tai and Chen Mo had a grudge, and it was not impossible that the other party would take this opportunity to deliberately point the finger at Chen Mo.

When Xiao Chi besieged Shen Qi in Fenglei Valley, it was a carefully planned and well-assessed operation, not a reckless act.

Now, Chen Mo, who is at the Dark Force level, is able to kill Xiao Ming, who is at the mid-stage of the Transformation Force level?

Xiao Chi was filled with doubts.

The air fell silent for a few moments.

After a moment, he said, "Let's go and meet that Chen Mo first. He does have a chance to make a move, but as for whether he has the ability to do so... we'll find out when we get there."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Chi led the way towards the old mine, followed by the respectful Cao Tai and another young disciple.

Before long, the three entered the old mine. Xiao Chi said to the two beside him, "I'll go in alone. You two stay here and look for any clues."

Cao Tai and the other person nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Chen Mo, who was just beginning to complete the quenching process, vaguely sensed that someone had broken in and immediately had a bad feeling.

He immediately stopped what he was doing, put away the half-finished sword, and pondered deeply...

A short while later.

"Bang!"

The door was suddenly pushed open.

After Xiao Chi pushed open the door, the first thing he looked at was Chen Mo's reaction.

Chen Mo stood up in surprise, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Chi, and said, "Elder, have you come to collect this month's ore?"

Xiao Chi paused for a moment, then nodded. "Hmm, has anything unusual happened at the mine this month?"

After he finished speaking, he kept a close eye on Chen Mo's expression.

Chen Mo pondered for a few moments and calmly replied, "There was nothing unusual. I only occasionally heard people passing by the mine at night, but I don't know where they went. My strength is too weak to go out and investigate."

"Oh? Someone passed by the mine? What day was it?"

"It happens every three to five days, but I can't remember the exact dates."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chi frowned slightly, then said sternly, "Then as the mine supervisor, you are incompetent!"

Chen Mo hurriedly replied, "Yes, disciple will definitely improve my strength as quickly as possible in order to deal with this situation."

Xiao Chi turned around, then suddenly turned back. "Chen Mo, do you know I'm Xiao Ming's cousin, Xiao Chi?!"