"Hehe..."
"Hehehe..."
"Big brother, let's play ball together..."
"Ah!"
"Hehe, come and play!"
"Don't come over here!"
"Hehe, let's kick the ball!"
...
The night was deep, like a fierce beast waiting to devour its prey.
Ever since the vicious tiger devoured people, the nights in Dahe Village became even quieter. The nights, rarely active to begin with, saw every household tightly shutting their doors.
Even when they heard movements outside, they would lock windows and doors instead of going out to investigate, let alone to watch the spectacle.
As time passed, the long night quietly slipped away like water in the white frost that slowly formed on the grass and leaves.
The night ended, and the day began.
A round, fiery sun slowly rose, dispelling the night's shadows and cold, bringing life and energy to the earth.
After resting overnight, villagers gradually woke up, washed up, ate, and went out to work.
Suddenly, the village became lively.
The Zhou family remained very quiet.
That night, Zhou Chen slept soundly, comfortably, happily, and similarly late.
The sun was well up in the sky.
The warm sunlight finally snuck into the room due to its angle, landing on his face, tickling him. Zhou Chen's long, dense eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his drowsy eyes.
"Who will realize the great dream first? I alone know!"
Zhou Chen twisted his neck; his chest felt heavy. Qin Hongyu embraced him, still asleep soundly, her pale cheeks marked by traces of tears. She slept contentedly, with a sense of blissful allure between her brow.
Zhou Chen focused on his personal status panel.
[Wind and Moon Points: 1250]
"I actually earned over a thousand Wind and Moon Points overnight?"
"What the heck!"
"Has Fengxia turned to gold?"
Zhou Chen was dumbfounded, not expecting Ji Fengxia to be so impressive.
He directed his mind to observe Ji Fengxia sleeping soundly within the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, and suddenly noticed her spirit was more condensed and powerful.
"Fourth-Layer Qi Refining?"
"She even broke through?"
Last night they had great fun; both he and Ji Fengxia could obtain some benefits from the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, so he wasn't worried.
Unexpectedly, Ji Fengxia also broke through later.
However, Ji Fengxia had been at the peak of Qi Refining Third Layer before, and now with his assistance and the aid of such a treasure as the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror, the breakthrough was reasonable.
"Can I consider having a strong underling now?"
As Zhou Chen pondered, he became happier, not only did his Wind and Moon Points increase significantly, but he now had a strong enforcer.
After settling down.
Zhou Chen reflected on his experience; last night's harvest of Wind and Moon Points was not solely due to Ji Fengxia being first and of high cultivation, but perhaps also because of Qin Hongyu.
Zhou Chen could be said to risk everything, splitting himself into two.
Fly fly!
"Using props provides bonuses, and last night I earned so many Wind and Moon Points. Is it possible that the more varied the play, the more points gained?"
Zhou Chen, although lacking evidence, felt he might be right.
He could experiment more in the future!
"How should I spend all these Wind and Moon Points?"
Looking at the personal panel, Zhou Chen thought for a bit, allocating two hundred and forty points to the Breath Concealment Technique, and the rest to the Yi Arrow Skill.
In an instant.
The Breath Concealment Technique ascended two levels.
[Breath Concealment Technique - Sixth Layer (0/320)]
Countless cultivation experiences surged to his mind, as if Zhou Chen had practiced diligently for ten years, overcoming storms and continuous breakthroughs in two realms.
He controlled his breath with ease, so much so that even someone with cultivation five stages higher than his wouldn't be able to see through him.
With his current cultivation in the Second-Layer Body Refining and Flesh Refining, even formidable figures at the Body Refining Seventh Layer or Qi Refining Seventh Layer couldn't discern his true cultivation.
"Given my current level of the Breath Concealment Technique, nobody in Qinghe County should be able to see through me, right?"
Zhou Chen felt great, as he had yet to hear of a cultivator above Body Refining Seventh Layer in Qinghe County.
After all, even Zhang Long, the County Captain, had just reached Body Refining Third Layer.
"Yi Arrow Skill, add points!"
All the remaining one thousand and ten Wind and Moon Points were spent on Yi Arrow Skill; although the Breath Concealment Technique is important, power is fundamental.
In that moment.
Zhou Chen seemed to be holding the Luoxia Bow, practicing day and night, his cultivation increasing, and body strength growing, reaching at least five thousand jin of enormous power!
Returning to his senses, Zhou Chen felt his muscles tremble, filled with explosive power, as if he could break the sky with one punch.
He exuded an intimidatingly fierce aura.
Zhou Chen operated the Breath Concealment Technique, quickly gathering his aura, reverting to an ordinary appearance as if he were a young noble ignorant of martial arts!
"Ugh!"
"Good man, please stop, have mercy..."
In her dreams, Qin Hongyu seemed to sense something, murmuring to herself, twisting her body, as if pinned down.
Looking down at Qin Hongyu's rosy cheeks and trembling long eyelashes, Zhou Chen shook his head with a smile.
He had just added points to Yi Arrow Skill, almost halfway through Flesh Refining Realm, making his muscles tough and strong, with significant changes in certain areas.
No wonder Qin Hongyu, who was sleeping deeply, almost woke up!
"If the speed of acquiring Wind and Moon Points continues, won't I complete Flesh Refining tomorrow and step into Body Refining Third Layer?"
Filled with anticipation, Zhou Chen looked at Qin Hongyu, then at the sky outside, wondering whether to get up to make breakfast or continue sleeping?
"Something's happened!"
"Something's happened at Zhang the Second's house, it's terrifying!"
"Oh my god, we just had a vicious tiger killing people, and now this happens, how do we live!"
"Quick, get the village chief!"
"And Brother Chen!"
"Brother Chen is now our village's top warrior!"
Noise arose from afar; Zhou Chen's exceptional hearing made him frown, it seemed that he couldn't sleep in anymore!
Zhou Chen quickly got up, glanced at his protesting "old brother," and could only helplessly shake his head and put on clothes.
"Ugh..."
Qin Hongyu unconsciously let out a soft hum, Zhou Chen took a pillow for her to hold and covered her with the quilt, picking up the bow and arrows as he left the room.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As soon as he stepped out, urgent knocks came from outside.
Wild Dog shouted: "Brother Chen, are you up? There's big trouble in the village!"
"Coming!"
Opening the door, Zhou Chen saw Wild Dog's terrified face and frowned:
"What's happened?"
"Brother Chen, it's Zhang the Second's house, his entire family of six is dead, and their heads have moved; it's terrifying..."
Wild Dog spoke, unable to stop shivering at the thought of the scene he saw.
"I'll take a look!"
Zhou Chen led Wild Dog in big strides towards Zhang the Second's home.
Zhang the Second was a hunter in the village; he had gone hunting with Zhou Chen before, helped carry prey.
There were two elders, two children, and the couple in Zhang the Second's family, exactly six people.
In no time.
Zhou Chen and Wild Dog arrived at Zhang the Second's home.
Villagers crowded around, making way for Zhou Chen upon seeing him.
Zhou Chen was acknowledged as the top warrior of Dahe Village, having the reputation of carrying wild boars weighing four to five hundred jin down the mountain alone.
When Zhou Chen saw the scene, he couldn't help but gasp, his stomach churning.
Blood covered Zhang the Second's yard.
Six bodies lay scattered around, blood staining the ground, and there were numerous crisscrossed blood marks on the floor.
As if a blood-covered football rolled across the ground.
But Zhou Chen and everyone knew there wasn't a football; those were blood marks from human heads rolling, meaning the murderer played with the victims' heads like balls after killing them!
Such cruelty!
Inhuman!
"Master, there's yin energy!"
Ji Fengxia in the Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror awakened and sensed the surroundings, speaking into Zhou Chen's mind:
"The murderer might not be human!"
...