Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

However, after thinking for a moment, Li Chuan decided to leave first.

Without him.

Below, many officers and soldiers were searching for any remaining followers of the county magistrate.

Although he is a master of internal energy transformation, he does not possess the ability to become invisible.

It's impossible to walk in so openly in front of so many people.

Even if no one could stop him, he didn't want to reveal the existence of the secret room.

Even a single Jade Skin Technique is quite valuable, so its subsequent advanced techniques must be even more precious.

Since the escape room won't run away, there's no need to rush.

As for whether it will be discovered...

There are many lighter-colored stone bricks, but there is only one in the southeast corner of the willow tree.

No one would be idle enough to break stones on the ground for fun.

With this in mind, Li Chuan concealed himself and quietly left.

……

The next day.

Li Chuan arrived at the Dan Hall.

"Good morning, Mr. Huang."

He greeted Old Huang, who was practicing his sword in the open space.

"Good morning, Li Huajin!" Old Huang sheathed his sword and looked at Li Chuan with a meaningful gaze.

It's almost as if he's saying:

You little brat, you had a secret relationship with that lady and you didn't even tell me!

Li Chuan felt uneasy under his gaze.

Although Elder Huang was polite to him on the surface, one could still see the arrogance of the people from Sanyuan Prefecture.

But now, it's an appreciation tinged with scrutiny.

It can't be...

Li Chuan's body trembled, and he quickly quickened his pace to enter the alchemy hall.

"Master Lu."

Lu Qiuhan, who was working at her desk, looked up when she heard Li Chuan's voice.

A smile appeared on that exquisitely beautiful and aloof face:

"Sit down. What can I do for you?"

Li Chuan took out the magistrate's long sword:

"I wonder if this long sword can be disposed of?"

Lu Qiuhan chuckled softly:

"According to regulations, this is something that must be handed over; it cannot be kept for personal use."

Li Chuan nodded, somewhat regretfully.

This knife doesn't look cheap; it would be a loss to hand it over like this.

But the rules are there after all.

and many more......

Judging from Lu Qiuhan's words, she had known about the existence of this long sword for a long time.

Why don't you ask yourself for it?

The next moment, he saw Lu Qiuhan raise his chin, saying with a hint of pride:

"But rules are rules, people are flexible. You've done me a great favor, so I can help you convert it into silver."

"This specially made longsword is worth about eighty taels of silver on the market, but I'll round it down to one hundred taels for you."

Li Chuan's expression was somewhat blank.

This is the first time I've heard of rounding down to get an extra digit...

Lu Qiuhan handed over a hundred-tael silver note and smiled:

"Anyway, it's not my money. If you're bold enough, I can give you a thousand taels without a problem."

Li Chuan waved his hands repeatedly:

"No need for that, one hundred taels will suffice."

A fine steel longsword worth a thousand taels of silver? Reporting this to the authorities is like treating the auditors like fools.

Seeing his expression, Lu Qiuhan couldn't help but laugh, revealing two small tiger teeth.

Who would have thought that Li Chuan, who is usually ruthless and taciturn, would have this side to him?

However, she quickly put the little tiger tooth away again.

She is none other than the esteemed Head of the Dan Hall, Master Lu.

Be serious!

"The information I gave you was incorrect; it was my dereliction of duty. I can do you a favor," Lu Qiuhan said coldly.

Li Chuan calmed his somewhat turbulent emotions and asked:

"I wonder if Hall Master Lu could help me find out about my father and my uncle?"

Two years ago, they were conscripted for corvée labor, supposedly to be sent to Sanyuan Prefecture to repair the canal.

Nearly two years have passed, and I haven't received a single letter.

Lu Qiuhan pondered for a moment:

"Not receiving a reply doesn't necessarily mean something bad has happened. The government officials won't help deliver messages, and even if they find someone to carry them, they might get lost along the way."

"However," she said with a hint of doubt, "I don't recall ever hearing of any need to repair a canal in Sanyuan Prefecture. Perhaps I'm mistaken. I'll send someone back to the prefecture to investigate for you."

After thinking for a moment, she comforted him again:

"They must be in Sanyuan Prefecture. Once you find them, with your status as a martial arts scholar, you can bring them back safely."

Li Chuan clasped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Hall Master Lu. When shall we depart for Sanyuan Prefecture?"

"Tomorrow, I'll leave tomorrow."

Tomorrow...

Time is a bit tight, but there's still time.

Li Chuan nodded and turned to leave.

Lu Qiuhan picked up his pen and wrote "this long sword" on the book, but did not add the words "one hundred taels".

This property belongs to the government; how could we possibly have to pay money to redeem it?

……

After returning home, Li Chuan told his family that he was going to the Heavenly Blade Sect.

Although they were reluctant to part with it, they were also incredibly proud.

This is not like Li Dahai, who was captured and forced to do hard labor in Sanyuan Prefecture.

Instead, they honorably and openly joined the sect!

Five schools and seven sects.

Just hearing that name is incredibly impressive!

To give his family something to look forward to, Li Chuan thought for a moment and then said:

"I've used my connections to inquire, and it's possible that Father and Uncle are still alive. My trip to Sanyuan Prefecture will allow me to find out more about them."

"If they are still alive, I will bring them back so that the family can be reunited."

After leaving behind a 100-tael silver note, Li Chuan set off for his next destination.

……

Songfeng Martial Arts School.

After listening to Li Chuan's description, Liang Xingzhou's expression was complicated:

"The Heavenly Blade Sect... that's known as the place where the Heavenly Blade Sect is invincible. When I was young, I also longed for the opportunity to join them and learn a true skill."

"Unfortunately, I didn't have that opportunity in the end, but it's alright, you fulfilled this wish for me."

"However, the intricacies of this mansion are like the ravines and gullies of this outer city, varying in depth and shallowness, so we must be careful."

Liang Xingzhou is usually not a talkative person, but this time he talked on and on for a long time.

Li Chuan was also deeply moved.

Although his master had poured all his efforts into Qin Feng.

After accepting him as his true disciple, he indeed protected him for a long time.

Otherwise, with his hidden strength, he would probably have been completely devoured by those with neutral strength long ago.

Although they are poor and cannot afford to offer very good treatment.

However, he also managed to scrape together six Blood Strengthening Pills from his own elixir quota.

"Wait a moment." Liang Xingzhou got up and went into the inner room to search for a while.

When he came out, he was carrying a black box.

When you open it, you'll find a smooth, round crystal that radiates a deep blue luster.

Even from a distance, one can sense the mysterious and powerful aura contained within.

Liang Xingzhou explained:

"This was taken from a corpse that had just reached the elixir stage when I was wandering the martial world in my early years."

"Although I don't know exactly what it is, it must be quite valuable."

"You were my true disciple, yet I couldn't give you any decent treatment..."

"You may take this crystal."

Liang Xingzhou smiled and said:

"The Heavenly Blade Sect has encountered an extraordinary opportunity. We should devoutly offer our swords and make a name for ourselves within the sect."

"Let those arrogant disciples of the major sects see that even a commoner from Anning County can be extraordinary."

"Your family members need not worry about their safety. As long as I live, I will protect them."

Li Chuan accepted the black box and solemnly performed the disciple's salute:

"Thank you, Master!"

……

That night.

Li Chuan arrived at the south of the city in the dark.

The construction that had been in full swing was halted due to the death of the county magistrate.

Now, it's completely empty.

Li Chuan cautiously surveyed the surroundings, making sure no one was watching from the shadows before returning to the foot of the willow tree.

After prying up the sixteen stone bricks, there was a square stone cover covered with moss underneath, and a hidden mechanism next to it.

After Li Chuan opened the mechanism, the stone cover slowly moved.

Soon, a narrow passage, just wide enough for one person to walk through, came into view. It seemed to be lit up and not dark.

Li Chuan first threw a chicken down, and after a while, when he didn't hear the chicken squawking, he jumped down.

After closing the stone lid, Li Chuan discovered that there was a hidden world underneath, which was not as narrow as the entrance.

On the wall hung an ever-burning lamp made of slow-burning fuels such as whale oil, mermaid ointment, pine resin, and beeswax.

The wick contains white phosphorus, which reignites upon contact with oxygen.

Legend has it that it can burn for decades!

"But...aren't these things used in ancient tombs?!"