One month later, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Nanshan Town was still silent, but a courtyard was already filled with the whistle of a blade. An agile figure moved in tandem with its edge, each slash and form revealing a surging Power.

BANG!

Finally, with a final slash, the wooden man target, which was wrapped in several layers of thick hemp cloth, snapped in two!

The cross-section of the wooden man target was smooth, as if the blade had met no resistance at all.

The blade was just an ordinary Iron Saber, but the Power behind it was on a completely different level!

Chu Mu sheathed his saber and stood still, regulating his breath for a moment. The sharpness in his eyes gradually subsided as his gaze shifted from the saber in his hand to the Light Shepherd Panel in his vision.

[Name: Chu Mu]

[Skill: Basic Blade Technique (Entering the Hall and the Room) 396/2000]

[Body Refining Technique (213/1000)]

[Alchemy: Dragon and Snake Soup: Entering the Hall and the Room (435/1000)]

[Spiritual Radiance Value: 100.1%]

His gaze swept over the data on the Light Curtain Panel for a moment before it faded away.

Chu Mu took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the flow of Qi Blood within his body. With every inhale and exhale, a surging sense of power welled up, sharp and clear.

’It feels as if a single punch could shatter a mountain!’

Of course, Chu Mu knew this was just an illusion.

But it was also undeniable proof of his Cultivation results over the past month.

His progress in one month was several times greater than what he had achieved in the previous few months of stagnation!

On the Light Curtain Panel, it was reflected as a change in numbers, but in reality, it was this illusory, surging sense of power!

He knew it was an illusion, yet the feeling kept surfacing. This was because his Qi and Blood Cultivation had progressed too quickly this past month—so quickly that he was starting to lose control of his explosive increase in strength!

An increase of just over one hundred points in his Skill Level on the panel translated to an inhuman, monstrous change in his body.

He had the strength to lift a cauldron. A casual punch could unleash a thousand pounds of force, and this wasn’t just a simple measure of strength.

Rather, his entire body—his muscles, bones, skin, and even his internal organs—had all ascended to a new level. It wasn’t just an increase in raw power.

That thousand pounds of force was merely a result of his somewhat chaotic control over his Power after the explosive surge in his Qi Blood.

In other words, a thousand pounds of force was just the starting point. Once he adapted to his surging physical attributes and regained fine control over his Power, he would undoubtedly be able to unleash even greater strength.

Chu Mu pinched the flesh on his arm, then scraped it hard with his fingernail, but it only left a white mark.

His skin, which should have been extremely fragile, now felt noticeably tougher. Although it wasn’t yet impervious to blades and spears, its ability to withstand blows had greatly increased.

’To gather such great power within oneself...’

’Few charms in this world could compare.’

Chu Mu savored the sensation, already somewhat intoxicated by it.

After a long while, Chu Mu seemed to come back to his senses. He sheathed his saber, then picked up the still-steaming Dragon and Snake Soup and drank it all in one go.

And with that, the day’s Qi and Blood Cultivation began.

The bowl of medicinal soup and the Essence Qi accumulated overnight all erupted during his Qi and Blood Cultivation.

His Qi and Blood Cultivation was already in the fast lane, and he could feel his Cultivation progressing almost constantly. Because of this, what should have been a dull and tedious process had, for Chu Mu, become something filled with a bit of fun and anticipation.

Chu Mu’s eyes were slightly closed, immersed in his Qi Blood.

Wangcai lay listlessly in front of the room’s door, occasionally opening its eyes to glance at Chu Mu and giving its tail a lazy wag.

Time ticked by. Not until the first rays of the morning sun fell upon Chu Mu did he slowly open his eyes.

The listless Wangcai instantly shot up as if it had been given a command, scrambling to Chu Mu’s side and circling around him.

"Hahaha, you little mutt, you’re more punctual than an alarm clock!"

Chu Mu grabbed Wangcai’s soft, floppy head, ruffled its fur a few times, and burst out laughing.

Then, Chu Mu walked into the kitchen and poured the reheated leftovers into a dog bowl. Wangcai, who had been circling him excitedly, immediately stared at him, drool dripping from its mouth.

Chu Mu couldn’t help but chuckle again. He set down the bowl, and Wangcai immediately began to gobble down the food with loud smacking sounds. From time to time, it would look up at its master, as if afraid he might suddenly disappear.

"Brother Mu!"

"Brother Mu, have you eaten breakfast? I brought you some noodles from Youkelai."

The voice came from outside the gate, which was then pushed open as an excited Xu Yuan walked in.

Just as Chu Mu was about to speak, he abruptly looked up. He saw a flash of sword light streak across the morning sky, followed by a figure in white who shot past overhead like a phantom.

Immediately after, a series of urgent whistle blows tore through the morning tranquility.

This sudden series of events made the string that had been pulled taut in Chu Mu’s heart tremble violently.

’Something has really happened!’

"Brother Mu!"

Xu Yuan’s expression turned grim, and he quickly looked toward Chu Mu.

"Don’t panic."

Chu Mu took a deep breath, trying to suppress the dread in his heart, and walked into his room as if nothing had happened.

He put on his Inspector Armor, hung his Sword at his waist, and then felt his chest.

The two Jade Slabs, along with what little money he had left, were all safely tucked away.

Chu Mu glanced around the room. The once-full bookshelves were now empty, and the medicinal herbs in the cabinet were gone.

Aside from the house itself, which was hard to sell, all his other sellable belongings had been liquidated one by one over the past month.

His gaze swept around one last time, finally settling on the Copper Mirror on the table.

The immaturity in his face was long gone. His former scrawniness had been replaced by a lean, powerful build.

With his upright posture, clad in the Inspector Armor, and his hair tied up in a bun, he looked even more valiant and heroic.

Chu Mu touched the hard Inspector Armor, and the uncertainty in his eyes slowly faded away.

"Let’s go!"

Pushing the door open, Chu Mu looked at the anxiously waiting Xu Yuan in the courtyard, his voice calm.

Seeing Chu Mu’s composure, Xu Yuan seemed to be influenced by it, and much of his own anxiety appeared to dissipate.

"Brother Mu, I did just as you said. I sold everything at home that I could, and I have all the money on me..."

As if to relieve his own unease, Xu Yuan began speaking eagerly before Chu Mu could even ask.

"Don’t be nervous. It’ll be okay."

Chu Mu comforted Xu Yuan, and at the same time, he comforted himself.

’If we really have to leave, we can go at any time.’

’There are about a thousand Inspectors in Nanshan Town. With so many people, one more or one less really wouldn’t be noticeable.’

"WOOF WOOF WOOF..."

Just as Chu Mu stepped out of the courtyard gate, urgent barking erupted behind him. He turned to see Wangcai, who had been eating in the kitchen, suddenly dashing toward him.

The pup rubbed against Chu Mu’s leg, whimpering, its eyes filled with a pitiful expression as it looked up at him.

Chu Mu’s heart inexplicably trembled. He forced a smile and ruffled Wangcai’s head. "Alright, you can come. Just don’t get lost!"

As if it understood Chu Mu, the once-pitiful Wangcai instantly grew excited, circling him and rubbing against him enthusiastically.

This little interruption seemed to relax Chu Mu’s heavy mood considerably.

Two men, one dog.

They blended into the crowd of Inspectors gathering on the street at the sound of the whistles, heading unhurriedly toward the Inspection Office.

...