Chapter 101: The Strange Commission
Chapter 101: The Strange Commission
The next day, despite going to bed late the night before, Chen Chuan woke up at his usual time without any issues. He was accustomed to this routine, and with just a few rounds of his breathing technique, he quickly adjusted his state to its peak.
Starting today, he planned to temporarily set aside his sword training at the practice hall and focus on addressing the shortcomings in his body, as instructed by He Xiaoxing. This was the foundation of everything.
Only by reinforcing and solidifying the foundation could he build upon it.
For over twenty days, he quietly practiced in his dormitory, meticulously correcting each weakness and oversight in his cultivation.
Besides his own efforts, Cheng Zitong also came to assist him, discussing various cultivation issues. As Cheng Zitong was his mentor, his experience far surpassed Chen Chuan's. Even if he couldn't immediately identify the problems, he could provide valuable insights based on his knowledge.
Chen Chuan felt that he had gained a lot during this time. Although he couldn't make precise comparisons, he could sense that he was significantly stronger than before.
The most noticeable improvement was in his transmuted organs, which had become more robust after nearly a month of training. This clearly indicated an increased capacity to withstand damage and exert greater force.
Chen Chuan approached his desk and picked up a notebook, flipping through its pages.
It had been ten days since his meeting with He Xiaoxing when this notebook arrived in the mail, with no return address. According to Cheng Zitong, it seemed that He Xiaoxing had already reached a new location.
The notebook, not too thick, was filled with valuable insights and guidance for Chen Chuan's future cultivation. Every word was essential, offering practical advice.
The Qi Point Breathing Technique, for instance, was a method to examine oneself, and the notebook listed numerous techniques, each tailored to different situations.
While many practitioners used the Qi Point Breathing Technique, it contained the wisdom of countless senior cultivators. However, determining which technique was most suitable for oneself required either personal experimentation or guidance from a teacher. He Xiaoxing's instructions proved to be an effective solution.
Before following this method, Chen Chuan hadn't realized the extent of his flaws. With its help, he was able to identify and address each deficiency in his cultivation.
Cheng Zitong had explained to him that the First Limit, known as "Building Sinew Bridges and Framing Bone Beams" in the old era, was actually divided into two stages.
The first stage focused on strengthening the transmuted sinews, while the second stage involved allowing the transmuted sinews to infiltrate the bones and even transform some of the skeletal muscles.
Many power techniques relied on the support of the bones, and different techniques required the reinforcement of specific bones. However, Chen Chuan's technique demanded the enhancement of all bones, which would likely take more time.
This didn't deter him, as he knew that he had more time to train than most.
Many training regimens required recovery periods, resulting in intermittent practice with limited daily durations. Additionally, the use of stimulants required gradual adjustment.
Chen Chuan, however, didn't face these constraints. Any damage could be endured by his second self, allowing him to train continuously as long as his second self could withstand it. If he pushed to the extreme, he could even reduce his sleep time, although this wasn't necessary at the moment.
In the distance, he heard the commotion and cheers from the ongoing Second-Class Student Tournament, which had been taking place since the latter part of this month and would continue until the end of the year. The semi-finals and finals, however, wouldn't commence until after the new year.
These matches were exclusive to Second-Class Students, as First-Class Students didn't engage in such public confrontations. While Second-Class Students learned techniques more akin to normal athletics, First-Class Students focused on pure martial prowess.
Wei Chang'an's words about the path of First-Class Students being geared towards enforcers proved entirely accurate. Moreover, from his conversations with Cheng Zitong, Chen Chuan sensed that these students might have additional roles for the upper echelons, but his current position didn't grant him access to that level of information.
This brought him to the topic of the Infinite Defense License, which he realized had another purpose—to participate in law enforcement when needed by the state. Obtaining this license might open doors to the upper echelons.
Whether it was the license's inherent function or the potential for upward mobility, Chen Chuan was determined to acquire it.
After that day, he made further inquiries about the license. He discovered that it was categorized into three levels: Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A licenses were granted for life, but this was out of reach, as they were directly awarded by the state and not attainable through exams alone. When the upper echelons decided to bestow a Class A license, the examination was merely a formality.
Class B licenses could be applied for and taken at any time, provided the necessary conditions were met. They were valid for ten years after passing the exam, and a re-examination was required after that period. The difficulty level was relatively high.
Class C licenses were easier to obtain but were only valid for two years, requiring re-examination every two years. Furthermore, if one failed to pass the Class B exam twice consecutively, subsequent attempts would incur substantial fees, increasing with each additional attempt.
This system seemed to serve as a form of tax collection for influential families, as they would either need to ensure their members obtained Class B licenses or continuously invest in Class C licenses, which could become a significant financial burden over time.
Chen Chuan felt that if he was going to take the exam, he should aim for the B-class license. The C-class license not only cost money but also had limited use for individuals due to its short validity period. By the time he obtained the license, he might already be looking for ways to benefit himself or plan for the future.
He was well aware of the obstacles ahead. If he didn't want to follow Shen Zheng's path, he needed more than just brute force. He had to do a lot of work outside the arena and utilize all available resources.
Fortunately, he still had enough time to prepare, but physical strength was the top priority. He needed to push his first limit to its utmost, and then consider other matters.
After flipping through his notebook for a while, he put it down and returned to his training.
As noon approached, Cheng Zitong arrived at the dormitory and found Chen Chuan. He said, "It's almost the end of the year. I was planning to let you adjust and wait until next year to assign you a mission, but now someone has pulled strings to get to me."
Cheng Zitong continued, "I took a look, and this mission isn't too dangerous as long as the executor exercises caution. So, I'm giving it to you to consider. If you think you can handle it, take it. If not, I'll decline on your behalf later."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I was about to come to you, Teacher. Students need a lot of training, and we can't just sit and wait for resources."
Cheng Zitong laughed, "That's not a problem. The school's rewards this year don't include you, who else would they give them to? You made the headlines this semester. As for this task, it's almost a sure thing, so I won't elaborate further. Since you've decided to take it on, let's talk about the details."
He took out a stack of documents from his briefcase and said, "Take a look."
Chen Chuan flipped through the documents, and after a few pages, he was surprised, "Is this true? I thought it was just a midnight story or a movie gimmick."
Cheng Zitong smiled, "While there may be some exaggeration in the rumors, it is indeed real. If you take on this task, you'll witness it firsthand. I've only seen it once myself."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Teacher, I'm also very interested. I'll go and check it out today."
Cheng Zitong said, "Be careful and don't take it lightly." He stood up and said, "It's the end of the year, and I have a lot to do. I'll be off. The contact card is in the documents. You can call the manager yourself."
Chen Chuan said goodbye, saw Cheng Zitong off, and then thoroughly reviewed the documents to ensure nothing was missed. He took out the contact card, went to the public telephone outside, and made a call using the number on the card.
The call was quickly connected, and after a brief conversation, the other party said they would send a car to pick him up. Chen Chuan went to the cafeteria for lunch, returned, freshened up, changed his clothes, and then took the Snow Lady Sword from the sword rack.
He thought for a moment, went to the writing desk, opened a drawer, and took out the "Wuji" pistol that Cheng Zitong had given him some time ago. He also retrieved the bullet box, loaded the bullets into the magazine, and inserted it into the pistol.
However, he didn't put the gun in the holster but directly placed it in his shoulder bag. The pistol was just a backup for him, as his primary combat power came from the Snow Lady Sword.
After preparing, he left the dormitory, carrying the Snow Lady Sword as he walked out of the school. A car was already waiting in the front square, and it honked as it saw him coming.
He approached the car, and as the door opened, a person emerged, bowing and saying, "Are you Mr. Chen? Manager Huang sent me to pick you up."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Thank you."
"No problem, please get in."
Chen Chuan got into the car, fastened his seatbelt, and the car started, heading south towards the city center.
Apart from the central area, the south of the city was the most prosperous region, home to nearly half of Yangzhi City's population. Most of the wealthy residents lived here, creating a stark contrast with the northern part of the city. The south was relatively more vibrant and bustling.
After driving for about twenty minutes, the car stopped at a place called Orchid Fragrance Cinema. Chen Chuan saw a large advertisement featuring a heavily made-up woman with her eyes closed, blowing on a dandelion, and the fluffy seeds floating away, creating a poetic atmosphere.
The cinema was quite large, and although the building wasn't particularly tall, it stretched at least three hundred meters long.
The driver drove the car directly into the cinema's arch-shaped entrance, parking in an internal parking lot. Chen Chuan, holding the Snow Lady Sword, stepped out and surveyed the surroundings.
The passersby inside the cinema noticed him and couldn't help but stare, their eyes widening with curiosity and a mix of tension and surprise.
They all knew that only those from Wu Yi Academy, with a firearms license, could openly carry weapons.
The driver, however, rushed out first, standing tall and saying, "This is Manager Huang's guest. Make way, please." He then proudly said, "Mr. Chen, this way, please."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
