Chapter 5: Vajra Demon Subduing Fist, Level 4

The remote Shengyun County was now becoming more and more lively.

Even the common folk buying and selling on the streets could tell that something was different about Shengyun County.

Many people dressed like Jianghu People loitered in every corner of the county. Each of them wore the fierce expression characteristic of the Jianghu.

Upon seeing them, many of the townsfolk gave them a wide berth, not daring to look them in the eye.

Lately, Shengyun County had grown increasingly crowded. The Government Office had also begun to patrol more frequently, ensuring no incidents would occur when the great tomb opened.

Ever since that incident in the village, no more Fox Demons had appeared to cause trouble. While this was a relief to Chief Zheng and his men, it also made them more cautious.

The reason was simple: the less likely it seemed for something to go wrong, the more likely a major disaster was to strike.

It was like the calm before a storm, when the weather is as still as the surface of a placid lake.

In all of Shengyun County, the most idle person, ironically, was Shen Bai.

Every day, Shen Bai repeated the same structured routine.

Eat, open the shop, and grind his Divine Powers’ Skill Levels.

His self-discipline was almost frightening.

And ever since he let Qin Shuang watch the shop for the first time, Shen Bai had been happily grinding away, even during the day.

Qin Shuang, for her part, seemed to have accepted her fate, willingly watching the shop for Shen Bai each day.

But as time went on, Qin Shuang suddenly felt that this mysterious and powerful man before her was, at times, quite ordinary.

Any other man with such strength would have probably made a huge name for himself in the Jianghu by now.

But this man was content to tirelessly practice his various abilities.

In Qin Shuang’s eyes, the sight of Shen Bai practicing in the courtyard held a mysterious and profound allure. It made one want to pull up a small stool and just sit there watching him practice his Fist Technique.

Qin Shuang also suddenly realized that this kind of ordinary, daily life was actually quite nice.

Unfortunately, she was also a smart woman and knew this was just a false tranquility before the great tomb opened.

Once the tomb was unsealed, a storm of blood and violence would surely follow.

"Here’s today’s breakfast."

Shen Bai placed the steamed buns, wrapped in oiled paper, on the counter.

Qin Shuang immediately trotted over, unwrapped the paper, and, with a blissful expression, stuffed a bun into her mouth and began to chew it delicately.

This was a small request Qin Shuang had made. She was too lazy to go out for breakfast, so she asked Shen Bai to bring it for her. The price was that she would continue to help watch the shop.

In truth, Qin Shuang would have watched the shop even if he didn’t, but that damned pride of hers made her stubbornly insist on this arrangement.

Shen Bai felt it was no trouble at all, so he just brought breakfast for her.

"Keep up the good work. Just give me a shout if a customer comes."

After patting Qin Shuang on the shoulder, Shen Bai headed for the courtyard.

Qin Shuang nodded vigorously while eating her bun, putting on a show of looking very serious.

’Time to begin.’

Arriving in the courtyard, Shen Bai took a deep breath, circulated the Qi in his body, and began to throw punch after punch.

Each fist was accompanied by a brilliant, piercing golden light that illuminated the entire courtyard.

Waves of Buddhist chanting echoed through the small courtyard, enough to make anyone who heard it feel as if they could attain enlightenment on the spot.

But within the chanting was an undercurrent of killing intent, as if a Furious Vajra had descended upon the mortal world.

As Shen Bai continuously threw his fists, the Skill Level of his Vajra Demon Subduing Fist rose rapidly.

After this period of intense grinding, Shen Bai’s Vajra Demon Subduing Fist finally reached Level 4.

Shen Bai’s expression remained impassive as he let his vital energy and blood boil and his Qi drain.

Even he could feel how quickly his energy was being consumed.

But he didn’t stop. He continued like this for nearly a full hour before finally retracting his fists and letting out a long breath.

A plume of white vapor, carrying a scorching heat, escaped from his mouth.

This was the Qi condensed from the vital energy he had built up from his non-stop practice, now bursting forth.

As Shen Bai exhaled this breath, the familiar smoke appeared before his eyes.

The smoke swirled and gradually coalesced into words, hovering in front of him.

’Finally, Level 4.’

A look of excitement flashed in Shen Bai’s eyes.

After such a long, intense grind, he had finally pushed this Divine Power to Level 4.

As Shen Bai had this thought, the words before him dissolved into smoke, then transformed into lines of Information that drilled into his mind.

Shen Bai closed his eyes to absorb it all carefully.

A phantom image appeared in his mind’s eye.

The figure wore a Kasaya, its face indistinct, and stood in a bamboo forest.

The bamboo swayed with the wind, making a pleasant rustling sound like a musical instrument.

At that moment, the Kasaya-clad figure finally moved.

Each punch carried a sense of compassionate salvation, yet also felt like the advent of a Furious Vajra.

Then, golden Buddha’s Light enveloped the figure’s hands.

This time, the golden Buddha’s Light had changed.

Fist Seals shot out from its hands. Each Fist Seal carried an immense weight, piercing through the bamboo forest ahead.

With just one punch, the Fist Seals made of golden Buddha’s Light annihilated the entire bamboo forest before it.

A moment later, the figure retracted its fists and stood motionless.

Behind the figure, waves of Buddhist chanting seemed to be offering salvation to the world.

Gradually, the phantom image faded away.

Shen Bai opened his eyes. ’I’m so close to reaching the level of the second treasure.’

The Qi in his kidneys was now close to Perfection. He was just one step away from a breakthrough.

Furthermore, reaching Level 4 with the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist had granted Shen Bai even more powerful effects.

The boost from the first three Attributes was immense, to say the least.

Fist Technique allowed Shen Bai to use stronger fist-based arts, Buddha’s Light provided greater attack power, and as for Power Dao—when Shen Bai used the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist, a single punch was enough to shatter mountains and split stone.

But most worthy of mention was the final Attribute: Fist Gang.

The so-called Fist Gang was similar to the Sword Qi of the Blood Sword Dance; it was also a ranged attack.

Every punch could now project the full might of the Vajra Demon Subduing Fist.

’So now I have a ranged attack not only with Weapons, but with my Fist Technique as well,’ Shen Bai thought, rubbing his chin.

’Next Divine Power to grind is the Bright Jade Evil Body.’

He now had two Divine Powers at Level 4. He only needed one more to reach Level 4, and he would be able to step into the realm of the second treasure.

After a moment of thought, Shen Bai prepared to practice the Bright Jade Evil Body.

But just then, the sound of hurried footsteps interrupted his plans.

Shen Bai looked toward the courtyard gate and saw Qin Shuang rushing in.

"Didn’t I ask you to watch the shop? Did a customer arrive?" Shen Bai asked.

Qin Shuang glanced around, then leaned in close and said, "Some Jianghu People came to the pawnshop. They’re asking for you by name."