Becoming a Martial Master: Starting as a Swordsmith

The strange man in the green robe shook his head, seemingly losing interest in the topic. He then turned to look at Shen Chu, his face once again bearing that ambiguous, half-smiling expression.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Take care of yourself. Live well, and I hope to see you again someday. Don't disappoint me."

Before he finished speaking, his figure swayed slightly and disappeared from the spot, vanishing into thin air as if he had never existed.

Shen Chu was left alone in the mountain valley, holding a crimson lotus flower in her hand, standing in the moonlight, speechless for a long time.

He remained silent for a moment, and after confirming that there was no further movement around him, he slowly sat down on a rock and exhaled a long breath.

He then closed his eyes again, and with a thought, brought up his system panel.

The light screen slowly unfolded before his eyes, and lines of clear text appeared in his field of vision.

His gaze swept quickly across the information for the [Swordsmith] and [Martial Artist] professions.

Then the camera focused on the newly appeared entry below the "Cultist" profession:

[Primal Aura (To be activated)]

[Status: Implanted, incubation period]

[Note: A primordial energy originating from the Yuan Gui Dao is gradually transforming the host's bones and meridians. The first stage of transformation is expected to be completed in forty-nine days. If subsequent guidance is not completed within the timeframe, the energy will reverse course and erode the host's internal organs, leading to the rupture of meridians and death.]

Current renovation progress: 1%

[Expected improvement after modification: from lower C to upper C (or higher, depending on the host's adaptation)]

Shen Chu stared at the line of words for a long time, her lips twitching slightly.

Improve physical constitution?

Jump from below point C to above point C?

That's definitely a huge temptation!

With each advancement in his physical constitution, his cultivation speed and physical attributes would experience a qualitative leap. He had already tasted the benefits of progressing from Ding Shang to Bing Xia. If he could truly jump to Bing Shang, his cultivation speed would far surpass what he had achieved before.

But the prerequisite is that he has to survive this period.

He closed the system panel, rubbed his temples, and felt a surge of inexplicable frustration.

He didn't even know the name of that strange man in the green robe, let alone where the head of the Red Lotus Sect was.

The strange man simply said, "Go find him," and then vanished without a trace, leaving no address. Where is he supposed to find him now?

Are you suggesting I wander around, holding up a sign and shouting, "Senior in green robes, I've come to find you!"?

Thinking about this, Shen Chu felt a headache coming on.

But he also knew that thinking about these things now was useless.

The only solution right now is to do as the strange man in the green robe said: first, return to Changping County, find the so-called "August 15th" flag leader, give him the red lotus, and then take it one step at a time.

As for how to find the strange man in the green robe, we'll have to wait and see.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, suppressing the agitation in his heart.

After calming down, Shen Chu began to plan her next move.

First, he had to go back to Wangchuan County to retrieve the silver-patterned meteorite iron longsword and the bundle he had buried.

That knife was a gift from Li Chengwen, and it's currently his most reliable weapon; he can't lose it.

As for the money in the bag, it's even more important not to lose it.

Secondly, he planned to go to Qingyang County to find Li Chengwen and Xu Zhibao. Although he had already been drawn into the Red Lotus Sect's maelstrom, he was still worried about Li Chengwen's situation.

Moreover, the county town is full of talented people, so it would be even better if someone could solve my problem.

Thinking of this, he was about to get up when he suddenly slapped his thigh!

Oops!

I was so focused on dealing with that strange man in the green robe that I forgot to absorb the black-faced leader!

【Fragrance Takes All Beings】can transform the demons of the Red Lotus Sect into nourishment for him, thus advancing the progress of his cultivation technique.

Although the black-faced leader had lost an arm and bled a lot, he was still a leader, and his absorption stats were definitely higher than those of the henchmen.

Before he could even make a move, the strange man in the green robe appeared, and the black-faced leader was slapped into ashes with a single palm strike, leaving not even a trace.

He clicked his tongue with a pang of heartache, but then, after a second thought and a glance at the data on the system panel, his mood improved slightly.

[Progress of Fragrance Extraction from All Beings: 88/100]

During the chaotic battle at the post station, he took advantage of the darkness and confusion to secretly harvest a lot of Red Lotus Cult members. Before he knew it, he had already leveled up his progress to 88, only 12 points away from perfection. If he could find a few more unlucky guys to absorb, he would be able to max out this skill.

Thinking of this, his frustration finally dissipated a bit.

......

The city of Qingyang is majestic with towering city gates and walls, exuding a powerful and imposing aura from afar.

The city gate was bustling with activity, vendors carrying their wares in and out, and pedestrians coming and going in an endless stream.

The sounds of horses' hooves, wheels, and shouts mingled together, creating a lively symphony of everyday life.

Sitting in the carriage, Li Chengwen looked up at the plaque above the city gate that bore the three large characters "Qingyang County," and couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

This was his second time visiting Qingyang County. The last time, he came with Master Li to discuss business. This time, however, he was personally escorting 1,500 standard-issue longswords to complete a large order that would impress his father.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but straighten his back a little.

Xu Zhibao rode alongside him, his gaze sweeping over the familiar streets and buildings, a hint of emotion in his eyes.

He originally came from the Xu Family Escort Agency in Qingyang County and had lived in this city for over a decade, knowing every street and alley by heart.

Returning to his old home as an escort officer, his state of mind was quite different from when he left.

As for the accompanying yamen runners and grooms, they were overwhelmed by the sights.

Most of them were locals from Changping County, who had never traveled far from home in their lives. This was the first time they had seen such a prosperous city as Qingyang County, and the sheer number of people at the city gate was enough to leave them speechless for a long time.

The group walked along the main road, through the bustling streets, and finally stopped in front of an official residence with a plaque that read "Qingyang County Armory".

Xu Zhibao dismounted, stepped forward and handed over the documents and credentials. After the guards at the gate verified that everything was correct, they allowed them to transport the goods into the courtyard.

The ordnance officer inspected the goods very carefully, taking out several knives to examine the blade, the body, and the quenching process one by one. After the inspection, the officer showed a satisfied expression and nodded, saying:

"Excellent, this batch of goods is of superior quality and craftsmanship. The Li family truly lives up to its reputation as a long-established brand in Changping County. Thank you for your hard work."

Upon hearing this comment, Li Chengwen was so excited he almost jumped up on the spot.