Chen Ping'an was very satisfied with the residence sent by the Red Bear Gang. It was a two-courtyard house, the front courtyard was perfect for practicing martial arts, and the back courtyard could be transformed into a small garden, just right for Chen Er'ya to pass the time.
Besides that, the residence also had four large rooms in total. One kitchen, one hall, one storage room with a small half-room attached, and one master bedroom.
With the residence being so large, Chen Er'ya alone couldn't manage it all. Even if she could, Chen Ping'an wouldn't feel at ease.
Coincidentally, the Zhenfu Division's interrogation regarding Spring Rain Pavilion was nearing its end. Although Spring Rain Pavilion served as a stronghold for the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, the vast majority of its inhabitants were ordinary people who were unaware of its true nature.
After repeated questioning and scrutiny, some individuals were confirmed to have clean backgrounds and were released from prison.
Among them was a courtesan from Spring Rain Pavilion, Shaoyao.
Although these individuals were released, they still carried slave contracts. So, even after being released, having lost Spring Rain Pavilion as a source of income, their lives might not necessarily be better.
The day Shaoyao was released from prison, Chen Ping'an spoke with her for a long time, and ultimately, she was brought home by Chen Ping'an to serve as a maidservant in the household.
In addition to Shaoyao, Chen Ping'an also found a stewardess and housekeeper specifically for cleaning the residence and cooking.
Now that he was a Petty Officer Candidate, Chen Ping'an naturally wouldn't let himself and Chen Er'ya suffer. With his current status, having a housekeeper and a maidservant in the household was perfectly legitimate.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi and Blood Fifth Stage Perfection
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Gongmen Thirteen Blades Perfection, Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training Major Achievement (185/200)
......
"Phew!"
Looking at the panel floating in the Void Realm before him, Chen Ping'an concluded his Cultivation and let out a long breath.
"185 points of Cultivation experience. At the current rate, in another three days, Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training can be Cultivated to the Perfection Realm. At that time, it will be when I Break through to the Qi Blood Sixth Stage!"
Qi Blood Sixth Stage!
A Realm that even Shen Shikang had not reached!
Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training Perfection meant that Chen Ping'an would not have suitable martial arts to continue practicing and Breaking through his Realm.
For this, Chen Ping'an had already prepared.
He hadn't been idle these past few days; he had already inquired about subsequent Cultivation Techniques.
Since Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training belonged to a mid-grade Cultivation Technique, the Cultivation Technique he practiced afterward should ideally be a high-grade Cultivation Technique.
To obtain a high-grade Cultivation Technique, the most correct path for Chen Ping'an would have been to exchange it from the Zhenfu Division's Merit Treasure Vault. However, unfortunately, he had just been promoted to Petty Officer Candidate and had no accumulated merit under his name. This path could only be abandoned.
Therefore, after several days of inquiry, Chen Ping'an decided to visit Ruyi Treasure Pavilion.
Ruyi Treasure Pavilion was the largest Treasure Pavilion in Weishui County City.
Rare Medicinal Pills, valuable medicinal herbs, iron armor weapons, martial arts Cultivation Techniques, strange and unconventional items, and other objects could all be found in Ruyi Treasure Pavilion.
According to Chen Ping'an's understanding, Ruyi Treasure Pavilion was not unique to Weishui County City. There were branches of Ruyi Treasure Pavilion throughout the entire Azure Dragon Province. It was said that there was an extremely powerful force supporting it from behind.
Ruyi Treasure Pavilion was located in the Inner City of Weishui County City.
This was also Chen Ping'an's first time setting foot in the Inner City of Weishui County City. There was a river between the Outer City and the Inner City. When entering the Inner City, Chen Ping'an observed that many people who wished to enter the Inner City needed to pay a certain amount of silver.
Although the amount was not large, for most people, there was a deep barrier between the Inner City and the Outer City.
Chen Ping'an did not pay. After showing his Zhenfu Division waist token, he smoothly entered the Inner City.
Compared to the Outer City, commerce in the Inner City was more prosperous. There were many people coming and going, all full of vigor, with a different kind of spirit on their faces.
Having done enough research beforehand, Chen Ping'an easily arrived at Ruyi Treasure Pavilion.
Ruyi Treasure Pavilion was a five-story building.
"Young Master, I am a maidservant of Ruyi Treasure Pavilion, my name is Xiaoxue. What are you looking to buy?"
As soon as he stepped into the Treasure Pavilion's entrance, a pretty maidservant greeted him.
It must be said that Ruyi Treasure Pavilion's service was quite human-centered.
No wonder their business could grow so large!
"I want to look at Cultivation Techniques, good ones."
Today, Chen Ping'an was dressed in casual clothes, and his identity was not discernible from his appearance.
"Okay, I understand. Young Master, please follow me."
Xiaoxue smiled and responded, then led Chen Ping'an upstairs.
As they walked, she explained to Chen Ping'an, "The first floor primarily displays ordinary items; the truly rare and expensive ones are kept upstairs."
"Understood."
Chen Ping'an nodded.
It was evident that Ruyi Treasure Pavilion's training was very thorough. As she led Chen Ping'an upstairs, Xiaoxue quickly understood Chen Ping'an's expectations.
"Young Master, your budget is quite sufficient, so how about we go directly to the third floor? There are some excellent mid-grade Cultivation Techniques and high-grade Cultivation Techniques there."
"Good, then let's go to the third floor to take a look."
Now that Chen Ping'an's pockets were bulging, he felt much more confident. With the gifts from various forces, the greetings from his colleagues, plus his previous savings, the silver he could now spend had reached one thousand two hundred taels.
Chen Ping'an originally thought he could choose a satisfactory martial arts Cultivation Technique. But after seeing the prices of the high-grade Cultivation Techniques in Ruyi Treasure Pavilion, he deeply felt his poverty.
Willow Leaf Sword Art, high-grade Cultivation Technique, one thousand eight hundred taels.
Qilin Blade Art, high-grade Cultivation Technique, one thousand six hundred and fifty taels.
Poison Dragon Drill Fist, high-grade Cultivation Technique, one thousand five hundred taels.
Profound Nether Frost Palm, high-grade Cultivation Technique, two thousand taels.
......
Currently, Chen Ping'an had Cultivated four Cultivation Techniques: Iron Cloth, Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, Flying Locust Stone, and Gongmen Thirteen Blades. For the next Cultivation Technique he would practice, his first choice was a Cultivation Technique with considerable destructive power.
Ideally, it should follow a graceful, agile, and unrestrained path.
This way, when fighting, others would know what it truly meant to be a peerless Young Master, as beautiful as jade.
If he couldn't afford his first choice of Cultivation Technique and couldn't take the graceful, agile, and unrestrained route, then he would have to find a Cultivation Technique that was impressive and looked powerful.
However, ideals were full, but reality was bony.
After much searching, Chen Ping'an found that his budget could only afford one horizontal hard Cultivation Technique: Golden Bell Cover!
Golden Bell Cover, high-grade Cultivation Technique, one thousand two hundred taels.
"Isn't this a joke! My budget is just enough, and it forces me to take the brute path again!"
Looking at the prices, Chen Ping'an almost broke down.
His mood was so indignant, he was practically suffering from liver Qi stagnation.
Iron Cloth and Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training. These two belonged to external hard Cultivation Techniques. Although their self-preservation ability was not bad, they did not look good when fighting.
They were simply brute force.
No!
The brute among brutes!
Gongmen Thirteen Blades had finally managed to pull back a little.
But now...
He had to Cultivate Golden Bell Cover again!
Would this ever end?
Chen Ping'an was on the verge of tears.
"Should I go look at mid-grade Cultivation Techniques instead?"
Chen Ping'an couldn't help but entertain the thought.
With his budget, if he were to choose among mid-grade Cultivation Techniques, the options would be much wider.
There would be sword arts, spear arts, palm arts, everything imaginable.
However...
When it came time to choose, Chen Ping'an hesitated.
No matter how you put it, a high-grade Cultivation Technique was still a high-grade Cultivation Technique!
To be honest, Golden Bell Cover was not inferior to those sword or blade arts. It was just that horizontal hard Cultivation Techniques generally required more suffering and hardship to practice. Therefore, among high-grade Cultivation Techniques, Golden Bell Cover was much cheaper than other sword, blade, or palm arts.
"Forget it, Golden Bell Cover it is!"
Considering the cost-effectiveness, Chen Ping'an decided to bite the bullet and accept it.
Golden Bell Cover was an advanced Cultivation Technique of Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training. Unlike Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training, Golden Bell Cover emphasized both internal and external Cultivation, not just simple external defense.
For example, while Thirteen Taibao Horizontal Training could make one's physique strong, it was easily countered by some soft and subtle Cultivation Techniques.
Golden Bell Cover was completely different; it also had extremely strong defensive capabilities against soft and insidious Cultivation Techniques.
It could be said that if Chen Ping'an could master Golden Bell Cover, his life-saving ability would truly reach a terrifying level.
"When I have a sufficient budget later, I must learn a Cultivation Technique that is as graceful as an immortal."
"No more brutes! Absolutely no more brutes!"