After reaching the Peak of Qi Condensation, your overall strength greatly increased.
The total amount of True Qi in your body expanded by more than ten times.
True Qi attached to your hands, feet, and weapons could unleash even greater power.
Having reached this point, you finally had a bit of confidence.
In the fifteenth year, a plague suddenly struck the village.
Overnight, more than thirty villagers died.
Shan Jiao Village was filled with immense fear.
The fishermen struggled for a bit, then decided to leave the village, after all, this was a plague!
It was contagious and deadly.
You also packed up, preparing to move somewhere else.
Your life was important, everything else was superficial.
Before leaving, you went to visit the Village Chief's family, who had taken good care of you.
But you discovered that everyone was dead.
The Village Chief and his wife, Xiaohu and his wife, and the young Bai Ge who hadn't grown up.
This world had changed too much.
Having spent ten years together, you had deep feelings for the Village Chief's family, and couldn't help but shed a few tears.
"Everyone, take care."
Carrying your bamboo hat and long saber, you left Shan Jiao Village.
A few days later, at a post station, you saw over a dozen well-equipped soldiers.
From their conversation, you learned that they planned to hunt down all the villagers who had fled and deal with them collectively.
In these times, the plague was terrifying.
Once it was discovered, they would kill village by village!
It was precisely because of this that the people of Shan Jiao Village fled desperately.
You couldn't figure out where the plague came from, nor did you have any intention of interfering with official matters, so you quietly left.
You traveled north, and three months later, arrived at the northernmost small city in South Xia.
The weather here was cold, with constant biting winds. People wore thick fox fur coats and heavy clothing, and every household burned firewood for warmth.
Although you had True Qi, you couldn't withstand this kind of cold head-on.
After adapting for a while, you decided to settle down here.
As it was a border city, and located in a remote corner, it was very secluded. No one would come here for ten days or half a month.
You bought a small, uninhabited courtyard and settled down there.
Afterwards, you gave your neighbors a few taels of silver, hiring them to chop firewood and deliver meals for you.
You, on the other hand, devoted all your efforts to comprehending the Tai Bai Ice Heart Skill, seeking to break through to the next stage, the Inner Strength realm.
Inner Strength.
True Qi transforms into Earthly Fiend Aura, which can circulate spontaneously, protecting the entire body. Not only that, but like True Qi, it can also attach to the body surface, increasing attack and defense, but the effect is much greater than that of True Qi.
In the eighteenth year, you had completely grown accustomed to life in this northern city.
Every day, without fail, you chopped firewood for warmth, practiced martial arts, and ate meals.
The next day.
You exerted all your strength, frantically circulating your True Qi in the cultivation room you had built.
Gradually, a cloud of white mist rose from your body, like boiling water.
Accompanied by a gentle sensation throughout your body.
Bang!!
A farting sound rang out, and your cultivation naturally broke through, stepping into Inner Strength.
The continuously flowing True Qi all transformed into Earthly Fiend Aura. A portion continued to circulate, while another portion came to your body surface, automatically protecting you.
After breaking through to Inner Strength, you clearly felt your body was much warmer, and you were much more comfortable in all aspects.
"I'm stronger."
You were very satisfied with your current physical state.
The next day, you received a guest.
At that time, you were chopping firewood outside your courtyard. He kicked open your gate: "You are Wang Tiedan!"
You picked up your axe and carefully sized up the other person.
Wang Tiedan was your alias in Shan Jiao Village. How did he know?
The newcomer was wearing a fox fur coat, was strongly built, and had a powerful presence.
You couldn't see through his cultivation level.
Was he a master???
"Good sir, you must have the wrong person."
You chuckled and continued chopping firewood.
"Wrong person? That's unlikely."
"Wang Tiedan, this official has already obtained all the evidence of your escape from Shan Jiao Village."
"Shan Jiao Village is the origin of the plague. Over the years, no less than a hundred thousand people have died because of the plague. If others knew your background, your life wouldn't be this comfortable."
You frowned slightly: "Sir, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
If the other party wanted to scheme against him, they could have just reported him directly. But now they were clearly threatening him, so there must be something else.
"Smart."
The strong man took out a piece of paper: "Wang Tiedan, this lists all the evidence proving your identity. If you want to live, do something for me."
You put down your axe and walked over.
"Speak."
"Help me kill someone!"
You narrowed your eyes, continuing to look at the other person.
"Explain in detail."
The man breathed a sigh of relief and quickly explained his situation.
He was the City Lord of Yunhe City, thirty li to the south.
Three days ago, his daughter was kidnapped by the nearby Wulong Stronghold and taken up the mountain. Before he could rescue her, his daughter was defiled and beheaded by those bandits.
He used every method he could, but there was no way for him to get revenge.
Because the Wulong Stronghold Chief was a Martial Artist at the Peak of Qi Condensation, and he also had thousands of Body Tempering elites under him. Even the entire Yunhe City was no match for them, let alone him, a mere City Lord.
After all, he was just an ordinary person, without martial arts himself, only having a rough understanding of some combat techniques.
By chance, he learned about you. After some investigation, he finally understood everything.
After listening to everything the man said.
You clenched your fist and asked: "City Lord, Wulong Stronghold has countless experts. Killing the Stronghold Chief won't be easy."
"You haven't told anyone else about this, have you?"
"No, this matter is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."
"Not even many people in Yunhe City know that I came here."
The man quickly said: "Wang Tiedan, I just need you to help me kill the Stronghold Chief!"
"Once this matter is concluded, I will naturally resolve your worries."
You nodded.
The next moment, you threw a punch.
Bang!!!
The man flew out directly, his body hitting the stone wall behind him.
Picking up your axe, you walked over step by step.
"I don't like being threatened."
Looking at the City Lord's terrified eyes, you raised your axe: "With no cultivation whatsoever, how dare you come and threaten me? And cut off all your own retreat paths?"
"I don't know if you're truly stupid or just brainless."
The City Lord spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to speak.
You brought the axe down.
Splat!
After simply cleaning up the nearby traces, you once again packed your luggage.
In any case, this place was no longer safe.
It was better to move somewhere else.
Late at night, you changed your clothes and quietly left the small city.
Then you traveled north all the way.
This time, you planned to go to North Qin.
Qin and Xia were one in the south and one in the north, separated by a snow-covered mountain called Taibai Mountain in the middle. As long as you went to Qin, you could change your identity and continue living without any burdens.
You held hope for this.