I Only Stomp on Weaklings

"That’s it!"

After exchanging blows with Chen Ming, Zhou Weihao was initially cautious, defending himself tightly. But after a dozen moves, he didn’t feel too much pressure, and such a thought surfaced in his mind.

So, he boosted his sword momentum, switching from defense to offense.

For a moment, the courtyard was dazzling with sword light, enveloping Chen Ming completely.

Zhou Weihao felt that in his lifetime, he had never wielded his sword technique so freely as he did at that moment. He could fully unleash everything he had learned throughout his life.

At this point, as if blessed with insight, even some sword techniques he hadn’t mastered before came to him effortlessly.

It wasn’t until over a hundred moves later that he felt some pressure. In a careless moment, a blade was placed horizontally at his throat, marking his defeat.

Zhou Weihao was somewhat annoyed, thinking, "I shouldn’t have used that move."

At this point, Chen Ming took a step back and cupped his hands, saying, "I yield."

It was at this moment that Zhou Weihao finally came to his senses and regained his composure, realizing that the other person had been holding back all along.

"What an extraordinary person."

Even though he lost, he didn’t feel embarrassed or like he had lost face; instead, he felt a bit unsatisfied.

To hold back so seamlessly, this person truly is remarkable!

No wonder his cousin likes to come and spar with this Chen Ming so much; now he understood.

Zhou Weihao laughed and said, "Brother Chen’s saber technique is indeed impressive. I’m impressed."

By calling him Brother Chen, he was acknowledging him in his heart.

"Brother Zhou’s ’Merak Swordsmanship’ is what truly opened my eyes."

Zhou Weihao said, "Let’s spar again next time."

"It’s a deal." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

...

Chen Ming found this Young Master Zhou to be quite interesting. Last time they met, he was so arrogant, but after one exchange, he became warm and friendly, even staying for lunch.

After a few drinks, he was calling him his brother, so enthusiastically that he almost wanted to swear brotherhood right then and there.

It wasn’t until it got dark that Zhou Weihao reluctantly said goodbye, even inviting him to visit the brothels next time.

However, listening to him talk was actually quite interesting, and Chen Ming learned a lot. He found out which was the highest-grade entertainment venue in Qingfeng City and which family’s girls were the most beautiful.

He even learned what the three most famous courtesans in town were skilled at...

This guy hadn’t even lived in Qingfeng City for a month but had already explored all the entertainment venues and had his own insights.

After seeing him off at the gate, Chen Ming returned to the courtyard and opened his panel.

[Level: 36]

[Current Points: 53,221]

[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Three Yang Body Refining Skill" (Eighth Level 60,000/70,000)]

[Martial Skill: "Three Talents Fist" (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Mastery)]

In the past half month, he had gained a total of 160,000 experience points in the Six Gates’ dungeon, which was a staggering number.

And because of this, he hated Yu Xiuming even more.

Originally, in another ten days or so, he could have accumulated enough experience points for the ninth level of "Three Yang Body Refining Skill."

"Add points."

Chen Ming immediately filled up the eighth level.

[Level: 37]

[Current Points: 43,221]

[Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (Fifth Level Perfection), "Three Yang Body Refining Skill" (Ninth Level 0/100,000)]

[Martial Skill: "Three Talents Fist" (Mastery), Eight Trigrams Saber Technique (Mastery), Zhuang’s Flying Knife (Mastery), Swallow Returning Sword Technique (Mastery)]

He had leveled up.

The ninth level required 100,000 experience points. He was still nearly 60,000 points short.

Chen Ming silently calculated; if he could find a Seventh Grade Martial Artist to spar with every day, plus the 100 points from bullying trainees, that would be 400 points a day. In a month, it would be 12,000 points.

That would take five months.

Not too long.

With this thought, the stifling frustration in Chen Ming’s heart finally dissipated.

The 160,000 experience points were originally a windfall, and there was no way to earn windfall gains every day.

A few hundred points a day, that was the norm.

He thought to himself, "Next, I need to find a way to get a cultivation technique that can break through to the Sixth Grade."

...

In the days that followed, Chen Ming began visiting those Seventh Grade Martial Artists all over.

Most of these Seventh Grade Martial Artists who lived in Qingfeng City were of a certain age, fifty or sixty, or even seventy or eighty.

The younger Seventh Grade ones either ventured out, joined the Six Gates, or were hired by sea merchants to go out to sea.

The ones who stayed were the retired veterans.

These people were all veterans of the martial world, not easy to deal with. When Chen Ming first made a breakthrough and visited them, they were polite, but once the topic of sparring came up, they would talk about old injuries.

In short, drinking tea was fine, but sparring was out of the question. Their old bodies couldn’t take it.

However, this time, when Chen Ming visited, their attitudes were different; their smiles were much warmer and less perfunctory.

This was the benefit of a good reputation.

He had killed Sun Shicai in broad daylight, a solid achievement. His fame had spread.

So, when he suggested sparring, they didn’t dare refuse easily or offend him.

After all, for these "retired" Seventh Grades, reputation wasn’t that important. Even if they lost in a spar, few would dare look down on them. Their strength was there.

Moreover, losing to a young expert who had killed a Seventh Grade was quite normal, wasn’t it?

Chen Ming spent about ten days persuading one to spar with him.

Once someone led the way, it became easier afterward.

Within a month, all eight Seventh Grade members he often visited agreed to spar with him.

And indeed, these individuals are not weak, on par with Sun Shicai. Among them, three even pressured him, forcing him to exert full effort to win.

...

Gradually, summer faded into autumn.

In the blink of an eye, the heat gradually dissipated, and the weather cooled down day by day.

This afternoon, when Chen Ming had just returned home from outside, he heard the gatekeeper, Old Li, say, "Second Master, Young Master Zhuang and Young Master Deng are here."

Young Master Deng?

Chen Ming felt a sense of delight; Deng Ziyang had returned?

He entered the house and went to the backyard. Sure enough, he saw Deng Ziyang in a blue outfit sitting on a stone bench, stubble covering his chin, his face weathered, and his skin much coarser.

Almost unrecognizable from his previous dandy image.

"Brother Chen, long time no see."

Deng Ziyang also saw him, stood up, and came out to greet him, his eyes exceptionally bright, with a hidden brilliance, radiating strong confidence.

Chen Ming exclaimed happily, "Indeed, we haven’t seen each other for months, and Brother Deng’s charisma has surpassed before."

It’s evident that these few months of experience outside greatly benefited him.

Traveling outside truly hones a person.

Zhuang Xiaotian said, "I met the big brother on the street this morning, almost didn’t dare recognize him. The change is too drastic."

Deng Ziyang touched the stubble on his chin and sighed, "I left for merely three months, yet surprisingly, Brother Chen’s strength has reached such heights. As soon as I returned to town, I heard about Brother Chen’s feat of angrily slaying Sun Shicai at the Admiral’s Mansion gate."

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I thought my big acquisition from traveling outside would allow me to catch up with Brother Chen. Who knew, I’m still far behind."

"Big brother, are you saying—"

Zhuang Xiaotian detected the hidden meaning behind his words, his eyes widened in disbelief, "You’ve reached Seventh Grade already?"

Deng Ziyang replied calmly, "Precisely."

"This... this is just too..."

Zhuang Xiaotian was tremendously shocked, momentarily speechless.

Chen Ming took merely half a year to progress from Eighth to Seventh Grade, which was already astonishing.

Deng Ziyang’s trip outside, in three months, directly jumped from Ninth to Seventh Grade, which is simply unbelievable.

Chen Ming was also surprised, asking, "Brother Deng, what unexpected fortune did you encounter on this trip?"

Deng Ziyang nodded, "Well, I have finally caught up with Brother Chen’s footsteps."

Yet he didn’t explain the nature of his fortune.

Chen Ming and Zhuang Xiaotian naturally wouldn’t ask; regardless of how close the relationship, it’s impolite to inquire about such fortuitous events.

Reuniting after a long time, it naturally calls for drinks.

After three rounds, Deng Ziyang briefly recounted his experiences over these three months, nothing particular, just accidentally entering a mysterious forest, unable to find the way out, trapped inside for two months.

Presumably, his fortuitous encounter happened within that mysterious forest.

That day, both Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian drank till drunk.

Chen Ming kept them over to stay the night.

Deng Ziyang felt happy.

While Zhuang Xiaotian felt disappointed. Among the three sworn brothers, his cultivation was now the weakest, still Ninth Grade. Second brother Guan Peng had long reached Eighth Grade, and now big brother Deng Ziyang returned, transforming into Seventh Grade.

How could he not feel disheartened?

Chen Ming didn’t know how to console him, so he pretended not to notice.

...

Early the next morning, Deng Ziyang and Zhuang Xiaotian left.

Chen Ming called over the two apprentices of Old Liu.

These two are not lacking in aptitude and have solid foundations. After focusing on martial arts at his house for two months, they’ve successfully broken through to Ninth Grade.

Chen Ming said solemnly, "Two months have passed, yet your master hasn’t returned. I fear..."

Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda’s eyes turned red upon hearing this, their hearts pure yet not foolish. Naturally, aware of his implied meaning.

"According to Old Liu’s last words, I should establish a gravestone for him. You shall accompany me."

The two replied respectfully, "Yes, Second Master."

...

Chen Ming took the two youths and rode by carriage out of the city, heading straight toward a nearby mountain.

That mountain is called Black Moon Mountain, rumored to possess mystical qualities — once inside the mountain’s bounds, you cannot see the moon.

Because of this peculiarity, countless myths and legends surrounded it for millennia.

Old Liu’s master, the previous Hall Master of Wu Martial Arts Hall, is buried within the mountain.

Since crossing over, Chen Ming hadn’t left Qingfeng City, making this his first trip here. However, since it was daytime, he couldn’t verify the legend as the moon is naturally unseen.

Wu Bofu and Liu Zhongda were familiar with the way since they annually trekked up the mountain to honor their ancestral master.

Upon entering the mountain, the path grew steep, forcing them to abandon the carriage and continue on foot.

As martial artists, no mountain path daunted them. After hiking for about half an hour, they finally found the grave site at a mountain hollow.

Surveying the gravestone indeed bore the name of Elder Wu’s Hall Master.

Next to the grave stood another stone monument, uncarved, presumably the "feng shui treasure land" Old Liu prepared for himself.

Chen Ming declared, "Here we are."

The two youths began to dig with spades.

Chen Ming approached Elder Wu’s grave, offered incense and candles, and since they were here, got the two apprentices to also pay respects to their ancestral master.

Halfway through digging, Wu Bofu suddenly exclaimed, "Second Master, there’s something below."

Liu Zhongda added, "It’s an iron box."

Chen Ming went over to inspect, seeing a mud-covered, pitch-black box in Liu Zhongda’s hands. Realizing, he said, "It must be left for me by your master."

PS: Requesting five hundred monthly votes; aiming for the top ten new book monthly vote leaderboard. The next Chapter will be released before midnight.