Chapter 21: Breakthrough! Unlocking New Ways to Earn Points
“Heehee…”
“Heeheehee…”
“Big brother, let’s play ball together…”
“Ah!”
“Heehee, come play!”
“Don’t come near me!”
“Heehee, kicking the ball!”
…
The night was deep and dark, like a ferocious beast choosing its prey.
Since the man-eating tiger appeared, the nights in River Valley Village had grown even quieter. On evenings when few people usually ventured out, every household now tightly barred their doors and windows.
Even if they heard noises outside, no one dared to check, let alone watch the commotion.
Time passed, stars shifted, and the long, silent night slipped away quietly like dew settling on leaves and grass.
Dawn broke.
A fiery red sun rose slowly, dissolving the darkness and cold, breathing vitality and energy back into the land.
After a night’s rest, the villagers began to stir—washing, eating, and heading out to work.
The village suddenly became lively.
Yet, Zhou Chen’s home remained quiet.
He had slept soundly and comfortably that night, feeling happy, and had also slept late.
The sun was high.
Warm sunlight finally sneaked into the room at an angle, brushing his face. Zhou Chen’s long, thick eyelashes twitched as he slowly opened his sleepy eyes.
“Who first awakens from a deep dream? In life, I know myself best!”
Zhou Chen stretched his neck. His chest felt heavy. Qin Hongyu lay beside him, still sleeping peacefully, her fair cheeks streaked with traces of tears, her brows soft with the bliss of sleep.
Zhou Chen glanced at his personal status panel.
[Romance Points: 1250]
“Over a thousand romance points earned in one night?”
“Holy crap!”
“Has Fengxia been gilded?”
Zhou Chen was dumbfounded, surprised by Ji Fengxia’s impressive performance.
His consciousness shifted to Ji Fengxia, still sound asleep in the Romance Mirror. He suddenly noticed her soul body had grown more condensed and powerful.
“Qi Refinement, Level Four?”
“She even broke through?”
They had a great time last night. Both he and Ji Fengxia gained some benefits from the Romance Mirror, so he hadn’t paid much attention.
But unexpectedly, Ji Fengxia had broken through afterward.
She had already been at the peak of Qi Refinement Level Three; with his assistance and the support of the precious Romance Mirror, her breakthrough was reasonable.
“So, I have a powerful subordinate now?”
The more Zhou Chen thought about it, the happier he became—not only had his Romance Points surged, but he also had a strong enforcer.
After the excitement subsided, Zhou Chen reflected on the experience. The reason for such a large gain in Romance Points wasn’t just Ji Fengxia’s first time and high cultivation, but perhaps also Qin Hongyu’s involvement.
He had practically given his all, splitting himself into two.
Flying!
“The item has a bonus. Could it be that the more I play, the more points I earn?”
Though he had no proof, Zhou Chen felt this was likely true.
He would experiment more in the future!
“How should I use all these Romance Points?”
Looking at his personal panel, Zhou Chen pondered, allocating 240 points to the Concealment Technique, and putting the rest into the Archery Technique.
In an instant,
The Concealment Technique advanced two levels.
[Concealment Technique Level Six (0/320)]
Countless cultivation experiences surged through his mind. It felt as if he had trained tirelessly for ten years, braving storms and hardships, breaking through two realms in succession.
His control over his aura became more perfect. Even those five realms above him couldn’t see through him.
With his current Body Refinement, Level Two cultivation, even experts at Body Refinement Level Seven or Qi Refinement Level Seven could not discern his true power.
“Could it be that no one in Qinghe County can see through my Concealment Technique at this stage?”
Zhou Chen felt elated. At least officially, he hadn’t heard of anyone in Qinghe County above Body Refinement Level Seven.
After all, Zhang Long, the county officer, had only just reached Body Refinement Level Three.
“Add points to Archery Technique!”
He poured the remaining 1,010 Romance Points into Archery Technique. Though Concealment was important, strength was fundamental.
In that moment,
Zhou Chen felt as if he were holding the Sunset Bow, training day and night. His cultivation grew steadily, his muscles strengthened, reaching a staggering strength of at least five thousand jin!
He came back to himself, feeling his muscles twitching with explosive power, as though a single punch could shatter the heavens.
His entire being radiated a fierce and terrifying courage.
Zhou Chen activated the Concealment Technique, quickly suppressing his aura and returning to an ordinary appearance — like a young nobleman unfamiliar with martial arts.
“Ugh!”
“Good man, please spare me…”
Qin Hongyu, still half-asleep, murmured softly, turning her body but as if pinned down.
Zhou Chen looked down at Qin Hongyu’s rosy cheeks, her long eyelashes fluttering, and shook his head with a smile.
He had just invested a thousand points into Archery Technique; his Body Refinement realm was already halfway complete. His muscles had grown strong and resilient, with some parts showing remarkable changes.
No wonder Qin Hongyu, deep in sleep, almost woke up startled!
“If I keep gaining Romance Points at this rate, won’t I finish Body Refinement by tomorrow and step into Level Three?”
Filled with anticipation, Zhou Chen glanced at Qin Hongyu, then at the sky outside. Should he get up to cook or keep sleeping?
“Something’s happened!”
“Zhang Er’ge’s family is in trouble, it’s terrible!”
“My god, first the man-eating tiger, and now this? How are we supposed to live?”
“Quick, go fetch the village chief!”
“And Chen’er too!”
“Chen’er is our village’s bravest warrior now!”
Noisy voices rang out from afar. Zhou Chen, with his keen hearing, frowned. Looks like his lazy morning would be over.
He immediately got up, glanced at his protesting brother, and could only shake his head helplessly before dressing.
“Ugh…”
Qin Hongyu softly hummed unconsciously. Zhou Chen took a pillow for her to hug, covered her with a blanket, then grabbed his bow and arrows and left the room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Just as he stepped outside, urgent knocking came from the door.
Wild Dog shouted, “Chen’er, are you up? Something big happened in the village!”
“Coming!”
Zhou Chen opened the door to see Wild Dog, panic-stricken, and frowned.
“What’s going on?”
“Chen’er, it’s Zhang Er’ge’s family. All six of them are dead, and their heads were taken off and rolled around. It’s horrifying…”
Wild Dog shuddered uncontrollably as he recalled the scene.
“I’ll go check it out!”
Zhou Chen strode out with Wild Dog.
Zhang Er’ge was a hunter in the village. Zhou Chen had even gone hunting with him before, helping carry game.
Zhang’s family had two elders, two children, and the couple themselves—six people in all.
Before long,
Zhou Chen and Wild Dog arrived at Zhang’s home.
A crowd of villagers surrounded the area but parted to let Zhou Chen through.
Zhou Chen was renowned in River Valley Village for his hunting skills, able to carry down wild boars weighing four to five hundred jin alone. He was the village’s recognized top warrior, with some fame.
When Zhou Chen saw the scene, he gasped sharply, his stomach churning.
Zhang Er’ge’s yard was soaked in blood.
Six bodies lay scattered haphazardly, blood staining the ground, with intersecting blood trails crisscrossing the earth.
It looked as if a bloody ball had rolled across the yard.
But Zhou Chen and everyone else knew there was no ball—it was blood trails formed by human heads being rolled around. The murderer not only killed but kicked their heads like a ball!
It was utterly cruel.
Not human!
“Master, there’s a sinister aura!”
Ji Fengxia awoke faintly in the Romance Mirror. After sensing the scene, she spoke into Zhou Chen’s mind:
“The killer is likely not human!”
…