24: Chapter 24: Seizing the Heart

【????】

【Your body shivers.】

【What's going on?】

【There is actually someone above!】

【When did they appear? You didn't even notice.】

【However, judging by the voice, the other party seems to be a woman, and it's quite sweet.】

【You are still lost in thought when, the next moment, a surge of Aura suddenly spreads out, suppressing you completely: "Are you not coming up yet?"】

【"Making a guest wait for so long is not polite."】

【You take a deep breath, walk to the exit, leap, and rush up.】

【Judging from the pressure just now, this woman seems quite strong.】

【The feeling she gives you is very similar to Tieshan.】

【With your long hair draped over you, you stand outside and see the woman before you at first glance.】

【She is dressed in a golden martial outfit, tied with a white belt, wearing a high ponytail, holding a sword, and looking at you with a smile.】

【"You were already in seclusion when I arrived here. Nine months have passed, and it's finally over. You truly are patient."】

【The woman in golden clothes looks at you with interest.】

【You cup your hands in a salute and bow slightly: "I have kept you waiting, Senior."】

【The situation is stronger than the person; you don't mind yielding.】

【The woman laughs again, and the next second she suddenly appears by your side. A streak of red light surges from her hand, slicing across your neck.】

【You immediately feel a chill.】

【The other party's technique is excellent; only the skin is broken, and a tiny bit of blood flows out, but your health bar doesn't drop at all.】

【Facing her threat, your heart beats a little fast, but on the surface, you remain very calm: "Whatever you wish to do, Senior, this Junior will certainly comply."】

【You remember this woman.】

【Damn it.】

【In future simulations, you must kill her every time!!】

【The light on the woman's hand disappears. She sighs, extends her index finger, presses lightly on your wound, and gets a bit of blood on it.】

【Then she puts it into her mouth, savoring it carefully.】

【"A young Martial Artist, truly profound."】

【But soon her expression changes: "Your blood is poisonous?"】

【She looks at you in surprise, licks her lips, and quickly understands: "It's not the blood that's poisonous; it's your skin that's poisonous."】

【Your expression remains unchanged, and you say solemnly: "This Junior was born this way..."】

【The woman shakes her head: "It doesn't matter."】

【"I have waited for you for nine months, and I only want to ask you one thing."】

【"Please ask, Senior."】

【"Who killed Chen Xingyun?"】

【Hearing her words, you heave a sigh of relief. It seems the other party is not specifically targeting you.】

【Therefore, you answer seriously: "It was a Martial Artist named Tieshan."】

【"That day, this Junior was preparing to join the Luoyun Sect when I suddenly saw Tieshan arrive through the air..."】

【You describe it simply.】

【The woman listens, her expression becoming increasingly ugly.】

【"Tieshan, Tieshan, it was actually you."】

【"A mere defeated opponent, a piece of trash I could have crushed with a single finger back then, actually killed Senior Brother Chen."】

【She clenches her fists, her body full of Killing Intent.】

【You say in a low voice: "Senior, this Junior did not see Sect Master Chen fall; perhaps..."】

【The woman shakes her head, suddenly becoming dejected: "There are no 'perhapses.' As long as Senior Brother did not achieve a Breakthrough to become a Martial Artist, he had no chance of surviving..."】

【"Martial Dao True Intent creates a world of difference."】

【After speaking, the woman looks at you again, smiles reluctantly, and hands you a token: "From now on, I want you to carry this. No matter what you do, do not let it leave you by more than three zhang."】

【"If one day I do not find you by tracking the heavenly fire token, the people of Catching Heart will hunt you to the ends of the earth, tear you into ten thousand pieces, and ensure you never reincarnate!"】

【You ignore the other party's threat but notice two words.】

【Catching Heart.】

【The assassin in the last simulation was from Catching Heart.】

【Is this woman from Catching Heart?】

【You swallow a mouthful of saliva, quickly put away the token, and take a rough look. You discover that the token is pitch black all over, with a circle of carved characters on it.】

【Looking at its shape, it seems to be: 'To the ends of the earth, Catching Heart will surely kill.'】

【You touch it twice; the texture is not bad.】

【"Rest assured, Senior. From now on, this thing will never leave me."】

【You put away the token and say obediently.】

【The woman nods, looks at you with a smile one last time, turns around, and disappears directly.】

【The speed is very fast; you can't see how she left at all.】

【The gap is too big.】

【Fiddling with the heavenly fire token in your hand, you sigh faintly: "This situation is quite interesting."】

【"However, with this thing, perhaps I can make use of it."】

【You think to yourself.】

【Then you also leave this place.】

【Simulating up to now, your gains are not bad.】

【You have obtained two skills, have Cultivation Technique on your person, several Sword Techniques, and you don't need to risk going to collect resources in the short term.】

【Although there is no Advanced resource assistance and the Cultivate speed is slow, your Aptitude has already been improved by the Three Yin Worm, so you don't care about this.】

【Moreover, you have the trouble of Catching Heart on your back.】

【Therefore, you decide to find a place to Cultivate bitterly for the remaining time and spend the rest of this life peacefully.】

【As for exactly where, you also have an idea.】

【A few months later, you travel with all your might and arrive at a small city; this place is called Qingshan City.】

【The name differs from your hometown, Qingyun City, by only one character.】

【After arriving here, you spend money to buy a courtyard and a set of blacksmithing equipment, and then settle down peacefully.】

【You have always been short of weapons, especially good weapons.】

【This time, having changed your Cultivation Technique, you need a heavenly halberd, so you will be even more short of them.】

【Therefore, you decide to forge one yourself!】

【Your requirements are not high; as long as it's durable, that's fine.】

【In these few simulations, you have also accumulated many Materials. There are a few pieces of cold iron that are quite rare; if you operate well, it's quite promising.】

【Just like that, in the small city, you Cultivate the Overlord Halberd, spend some time blacksmithing every day, and practice other Sword Techniques on the side.】

【After all, your Dao Aptitude for the sword will only get stronger and stronger; practicing the sword will yield twice the result with half the effort, and you can better improve your combat power.】

【At the same time, you haven't abandoned things like hidden weapons and archery.】

【Just like that, it is the end of the fifth year.】

【On this day.】

【You have finished forging it.】

【Looking at the freshly forged heavenly halberd in your hand, you are overjoyed.】

【You pick it up and weigh it twice, becoming more and more satisfied: "It weighs two thousand catties, the blade is very sharp, and the feel is not bad."】

【You say "good" several times in a row, and finally, you perform the Overlord Halberd again. The sound of wind arises, mixed with a whistling sound; the Aura is magnificent, carrying quite a bit of the Overlord's intent.】

【In the sixth year, you absorb new Sword Techniques, and every aspect grows slightly.】

【Your height reaches two point two meters, your shoulders are broad, and your muscles are full; walking on the road, no one dares to make eye contact with you.】

【Combined with that constantly changing hair, just by squinting your eyes slightly, you give people a feeling that you could burst into violence and kill at any moment.】

【You stand in front of the mirror and stroke your chin: "Why am I growing to look more and more ferocious?"】

【You used to be quite handsome.】

【Now you are both ferocious and handsome, looking exactly like a villain boss.】

【In the seventh year, you make a Breakthrough to the eighth level of the Innate Realm and absorb new Sword Techniques again.】

【Your Physique and True Qi are enhanced and higher, but compared to before, it is not obvious; you are still quite gratified.】