49: Subversive power

In the kitchen, Zheng Jinfeng was cutting vegetables with a blank expression, not stopping for a moment.

Every furnishing and ingredient in the kitchen reminded her of him.

This stove was built by Chu Feiyue back then, this pot was bought by Chu Feiyue at that time, and these vegetables were bought by her yesterday, intending to cook for him today... Zheng Jinfeng really wanted to cry, but she knew she couldn't; her great revenge was not yet avenged, so she couldn't collapse.

She even felt a bit resentful towards Chu Feiyue, why didn't he let her use the crimson talisman? Why didn't he just stop fleeing and die together?

Before this, she had imagined Chu Feiyue's death countless times, but she never expected it to be like this.

Liu Ling'er noticed Zheng Jinfeng's unusual state, walked over, took her hand, and said, "Sister-in-law, if you want to cry, just cry it out. Keeping it bottled up isn't good."

Zheng Jinfeng shook her head: "No, I don't have time to cry. Ling'er, after dinner, will you teach me how to cultivate to better control my elemental energy, okay?"

"Okay." How could Liu Ling'er bear to refuse? Finding something to do might help Zheng Jinfeng recover from her sadness faster.

"Xiao Shen!"

Xiao Shen arrived at the kitchen door but didn't go inside. He saw Liu Ling'er, so he called out to her.

"Xiao Shen?" Liu Ling'er's eyes widened, then she quickly ran out, plunged into Xiao Shen's arms, and burst into tears.

Chu Feiyue's death was too sudden, and she was also worried about Zheng Jinfeng's mental state, so she hadn't been able to truly vent. Everything suppressed in her heart poured out the moment she saw Xiao Shen, and her tears wouldn't stop.

It's great, it's great, he's fine.

Xiao Shen quickly hugged her back. Facing a woman's tears, he was a bit at a loss. He originally opened his mouth to say 'don't cry,' but in the end, he said nothing, just gently patted Liu Ling'er's back.

Xiao Shen's embrace was very warm. Liu Ling'er didn't even want to leave. After her emotions were released, she wiped away her tears, looked up at Xiao Shen, and asked, "Are you hurt?"

Xiao Shen shook his head and said, "I'm fine. Do I look like I'm hurt?"

Liu Ling'er was a little shy, so she pulled away from Xiao Shen's embrace and asked again, "Those people were very strong, the lowest was Level 4. How did you escape?"

"Well, I defeated them." Xiao Shen blinked, as if he was talking about something commonplace.

Liu Ling'er was astonished: "But your strength... Everyone said that all your cultivation was taken by Xiao Yue. Is that true?"

"It's true." Xiao Shen nodded.

"Then how could you defeat them?" Liu Ling'er was even more confused.

The reason Xiao Yue could become a Level 7 Martial Artist overnight was because he stole Xiao Shen's cultivation. So, logically, Xiao Shen, whose cultivation was taken, shouldn't be able to cultivate. How then could he defeat those mercenaries who were Level 4 Martial Artists?

Moreover, the leader, 083, had strength exceeding Level 4 and was likely a Level 5 Martial Artist.

Even Liu Ling'er wasn't confident she could defeat him in a one-on-one fight. How did Xiao Shen do it?

"Do you know there's a mysterious train in the forest?" Xiao Shen didn't answer her question; instead, he asked.

Liu Ling'er covered her mouth in surprise: "You've also ridden that train?"

Xiao Shen was equally surprised: "So you've ridden it too. If I had known, I would have waited for you by that train."

Xiao Shen took out the ticket he bought the first time he rode the train.

Liu Ling'er looked at it: "001? So you're that 001!"

At that time, Chu Feiyue and Wang Dapeng told her that their numbers when they first rode the train were 002 and 003. Liu Ling'er wondered who 001 was then, and she never expected it to be Xiao Shen.

Xiao Shen nodded and said, "When did you ride the train?"

Liu Ling'er spread her hands and said, "It was very late when I rode the train; the numbers were already in the fifties."

She hadn't connected the train with Xiao Shen's strength yet, but when it came to this point, she suddenly had an idea: "You mean your current strength is related to that train?"

"Mm." Xiao Shen nodded and said, "One could even say that my current strength reaching this level is all due to that train."

"Is that train that powerful?" Liu Ling'er continued to be shocked, "Then what level are you now? You couldn't have returned to Level 7 so quickly, could you?"

Liu Ling'er's judgment was based on the strength of those mercenaries: several Level 4s, plus a 083 who might be Level 5. For Xiao Shen to escape their encirclement, he would need to be at least Level 6.

However, Xiao Shen's next words overturned her understanding.

"Not high, just Level 3." Xiao Shen said lightly.

Liu Ling'er: ???

"Level 3? Are you sure you didn't misspeak?"

"Yes, the Qi Vortex isn't enough, I can't advance to Level 4. I've been stuck at Level 3 for several days now." Xiao Shen said this with an annoyed expression, as if he was genuinely bothered by it.

Liu Ling'er took a deep breath: "Wait, let me get this straight first. Stuck at Level 3 for several days... You've only been missing for just over a month now. You've risen to Level 3 that quickly?"

"It is indeed much faster than when I cultivated back then. In fact, this is all thanks to that mysterious train. You've ridden it too, so you should know its miraculous qualities." Xiao Shen said.

Liu Ling'er nodded: "I know. Cultivating on the train allows one to absorb abundant spiritual energy, but in such a short time, can it really take you from having no Qi Vortex to Level 3?"

"Perhaps it's because of my new Qi Cavity." Xiao Shen calmly dropped another bombshell.

Liu Ling'er: ?!!

"You awakened a new Qi Cavity??"

Liu Ling'er felt her understanding being overturned again. She had never heard of anyone awakening two Qi Cavitys!

"Is it still the Jade Dragon Acupoint?" Liu Ling'er asked tentatively.

She thought this time she definitely wouldn't be shocked again. Xiao Shen had said so many things that overturned her understanding that she was already numb; any further shock would be met with immunity.

But after Xiao Shen finished his next sentence, she still couldn't help but show an astonished expression.

"No, it's a top-grade Qi Cavity, called Dragon Taming Palace." Xiao Shen said.

Liu Ling'er: ???!!!... A top-grade Qi Cavity!

It really is a top-grade Qi Cavity!!!

Xiao Shen already possessing the high-grade Jade Dragon Acupoint before was shocking enough; she never expected him to awaken a top-grade Qi Cavity.

What is the concept of a top-grade Qi Cavity?

In the entire 155 Fortress, there are only a few people with a mid-grade Qi Cavity, and only the current Xiao Yue possesses a high-grade Qi Cavity.

Liu Ling'er thought, even in the first 100 Walls, there probably aren't more than ten Martial Artists who possess a high-grade Qi Cavity.

As for a top-grade Qi Cavity... she had never heard of anyone possessing one before this.

She even thought the concept itself was made up.

Yet Xiao Shen was now telling her that his Qi Cavity was a top-grade Qi Cavity??!