Cultivators Are So Weak in This World-Chapter 91 - 89. Reflection

After a night of questioning, Zhang Rongfang led his men to conduct inspections everywhere.

No results.

Early in the morning the next day, another order came from above, requiring cooperation to inspect a larger area.

Except for one team, all other teams from the Penal Department were dispatched to inspect the surrounding conditions.

"Boss, there’s no break at all these days. We have to work overtime from morning till night. Even an iron man can’t endure this,"

On the street, members of the ninth team scattered to inspect the people passing by. Chen Hansheng couldn’t help but complain to Zhang Rongfang.

The group was dressed in black team uniforms, with curved knives hanging from their waists, and a layer of tight leather armor on their bodies, topped with hard leather hats.

Zhang Rongfang did not take action personally; he just stood in the back, watching the team members inspect the passersby.

Hearing Chen Hansheng’s complaint, he shook his head.

"You’re tired, everyone’s tired, I’m tired too. But what can we do? Unless you don’t want to work anymore, otherwise, just stay put quietly."

He was also considering when to return to Mingjing Palace and choose the path of the Daoist route.

But he’s only been in this position for less than a year; thinking of getting promoted and then running away. The Penal Department would definitely not let him go.

Li Ran would not agree either.

So at least he had to achieve some merit in this position before he could speak up his request.

"Hey, why are you pushing people?"

Suddenly, a team member started arguing with a passerby in a long robe.

"What’s the rush? You poor scholar, go line up at the back!" The team member impatiently pushed the man forcefully, knocking him to the ground.

The packet of steamed bread he was holding scattered on the ground, rolling everywhere.

The man’s face was suppressed with anger, wanting to erupt but unnaturally held it back.

He busied himself picking up the steamed bread, not minding the dirt, and put them back in the bag. He stood up and silently lined up to go through the inspection checkpoint.

Zhang Rongfang glanced at the man.

"Is that a scholar?"

He noticed the man’s attire, which seemed quite gentle and weak. His physique was also more on the frail side.

This kind of physique is only seen in those who stay home to read for years without engaging in production.

"Probably. There are very few people as obvious as him now." The team member Liu Han spoke up from the side.

"In Great Spirit, Confucianism is not respected, so many from the Confucian schools have switched to Buddhism or foreign sects. Only a few hold onto their bad temper and refuse to change, still dressing and acting as they did before."

"I’ve heard of these people too. In Tan Yang, they formed some kind of book club, where they earn by providing manuscripts." Chen Hansheng chuckled.

"Manuscripts?" Zhang Rongfang asked puzzled, "What kind of manuscripts?"

"The ones sung in the brothels and music houses, with lyrics, plays, and everything. Some are quite sensational." Chen Hansheng spoke with a knowing look.

Zhang Rongfang was silent, rather surprised that Confucianism, held in high esteem in his previous life, had fallen to such a state here.

He was about to ask more.

Suddenly, fireworks exploded in midair at a distance.

The sight of red fireworks, signaling alert, was as small as a fingernail from afar.

Those from the official yamen who witnessed this scene showed slight changes in their expressions.

"Go!"

Zhang Rongfang waved his hand and quickly led his team toward that direction.

This firework is used for emergency assistance, and anyone who sees it in the vicinity must assist promptly.

In Great Spirit, there are many types of fireworks.

Lighting different fireworks at different times signifies different meanings.

Under Zhang Rongfang’s leadership, five members of the ninth team quickly made their way toward the direction of the fireworks.

The group ran down a street, reaching an intersection.

Suddenly, a fruit stand in front was overturned, apples, pears, and oranges flying everywhere.

Two tall figures crossed the fruits, fiercely fighting in front of a clothing shop.

The two were extremely fast and strong, breaking wooden stands on contact and causing the walls to fracture.

One was dressed in a dark red official robe, wielding an official knife with wide and sweeping moves.

The other held a long knife; his moves were precise and aimed at vital points, posing a threat of death or serious injury if hit.

When Zhang Rongfang arrived, two additional teams, led by their captains, had reached the scene.

"Prepare to assist!"

Zhang Rongfang carefully assessed the situation, feeling a chill in his heart.

The body technique and strength of these two were of the sixth-grade level.

He recognized the expert from the government side. It was Chief Zhang Xiangyang.

The speed and strength of these two were one aspect. More importantly, from his current perspective, the one with precise moves had repeatedly had the opportunity to decide victory multiple times.

Interestingly, this person never took action.

Now at the seventh grade, Zhang Rongfang naturally noticed the disparity.

Soon after.

Chief Zhang Xiangyang chopped the opponent’s knife away, chasing him into an alleyway.

The change was swift, leaving skilled crossbowmen no time to shoot.

Soon after, Chief Zhang Xiangyang emerged from the alley, looking disappointed.

Clearly, he lost the target.

Zhang Rongfang squinted, sensing something peculiar but said nothing.

Earlier, reminded by his subordinate Chen Hansheng, he also noticed the peculiarity of this so-called search.

Whether the chief’s recent attack was a full effort or merely an act, intentionally allowing the target to escape and avoid crossbow arrows.

This depends on what the chief was thinking.

"The person escaped. They should be nearby. Search for them!"

Zhang Xiangyang quickly ordered, instructing everyone to conduct a thorough search around the alley.

To ordinary team members, this might appear as an earnest effort to remedy the situation.

But to captains like Zhang Rongfang, Zhang Xiangyang’s actions were quite intriguing.

With that person’s body technique, searching like this would undoubtedly be futile.

After a day of diligent searching, everyone found nothing and had to take turns returning to rest.

At night.

Zhang Rongfang casually found a roadside stall selling meat pancakes with scallions to handle his dinner, and it was already past ten when he arrived home.

Due to the investigation, the usual entertainment venues around had quieted down significantly.

The neighboring residence also had a sizable courtyard, and faint sounds of plucked strings and singing, mixed with laughter from both men and women, could be heard.

Zhang Rongfang hung the wheel back on the wall, listening to the sounds from next door, creating a stark contrast with the cold silence in his own home.

He sighed silently, scooped a ladle of cool water from the jar, and drank it down in gulps.

After drinking, and resting for a while, he sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, taking off his outer clothes and pants.

Then, he retrieved a pill bottle from the drawer.

These were Blood Nourishing Pills, a blood tonic formula he concocted himself. This formula differed from the previous Hong Qi Soup.

Since it doesn’t replenish Qi, its effectiveness wouldn’t diminish.

It’s purely for enriching the blood, meaning it provides nutrients essential for blood production, which naturally wouldn’t reduce in efficacy.

After consuming a pill, Zhang Rongfang only felt like he was eating meat with a fishy stench, hard to swallow.

But he still chewed it with difficulty and forced it down.

In this world, to stand firm and live well, one must be ruthless to oneself. This bit of unpleasantness is nothing.

After taking the Blood Nourishing Pill, he took out the Golden Seal Pill from the bottom of the drawer.

He planned to test it on some animals first. Once confirmed as safe, he’d consume it himself.

As they say, one mustn’t always trust others entirely.

He put the Golden Seal Pill away again.

He calmed his mind, closed his eyes, rested, and practiced the Void Observation Skill.

After all, staying idle is doing nothing. What if practicing leads to a breakthrough? Later, if I need to increase the Void Observation Skill, wouldn’t it save some attribute points?

Time slowly passed.

The moonlight shone through the window onto the floor, and as time passed, it moved slowly.

Dong, dong, dong.

"The air is dry; be careful of fire."

The passing official outside struck a gong, chanting slogans, slowly walking by.

The official’s voice had not yet faded into the distance.

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes.

A new attribute point in his attribute panel was slowly forming.

The original three attributes finally turned into four.

"It worked!"

He stood up in surprise.

Checked the courtyard gate, doors, and windows, ensuring they were secured.

Then, he returned to the room, undressed, filled the bath with water, and sat in.

Once everything was ready.

Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes, focusing on his attribute panel.

’Zhang Rongfang — Life 22-22.

Skills:

Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual - Third Grade.

Leg Technique - Third Grade.

Fist, Palm, Claw: First Grade.

Limit-Breaking Skill: Shrinking Step Heavy Mountain.

Unbroken Limit: Flame Emperor Talisman (Beginner)

Available Attributes: 4.’

’Life attribute is still 22.... Previous poisoning has recovered, which means, this is the price of practicing multiple martial arts?’

Zhang Rongfang understood.

Low-grade martial arts damage the body without nourishing it, pursuing only destructive power, strength, and speed, causing normal life decline.

Fortunately, he can directly use attribute points to enhance recovery.

’Now, let’s first max out the Flame Emperor Talisman.’

The Flame Emperor Talisman is the strongest offensive talismanic skill in the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual, enhancing the power of Limit-Breaking Skills.

Moreover, it is part of superior martial arts, and breaking limits doesn’t harm the body, boosting the entire Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual.

This is an overall strength enhancement; maxing it out first is wise.

As for the Golden Roc Secret Record, Zhang Rongfang carefully weighed it and still chose the Flame Emperor Talisman.

Compared to the Flame Emperor Talisman, if only one layer of the Golden Roc Secret Record is practiced, the improvement to oneself is likely not significant.

Settling his mind.

Then, Zhang Rongfang focused on the Flame Emperor Talisman, imagining pressing it with force.

Immediately, the plus sign behind the Flame Emperor Talisman vibrated continuously, and four attribute points rapidly disappeared to zero.

And the words behind the Flame Emperor Talisman all became blurred.

Memories of practicing the Flame Emperor Talisman surged into Zhang Rongfang’s mind.

His muscles and bones began to slowly adjust, some subtle traces of practicing the Flame Emperor Talisman slowly appeared on his body.

The skin on both palms thickened, forearm muscles slightly bulged.

The outline of the back swelled into another layer.

No significant changes elsewhere.

Overall, Zhang Rongfang felt his strength improved by about two levels, not much.

Instead, his body, heavier, somewhat affected his agility.

Looking at the changes in the attribute panel, he felt slightly disappointed. The improvement from seventh grade to eighth grade was not as great as he imagined.

The display in the attribute panel also changed.

’Flame Emperor Talisman (Limit-Broken)’.

Without a Limit-Breaking Skill, the Flame Emperor Talisman’s enhancement seems still focused on Heavy Mountain.

"Is that it?" Zhang Rongfang quickly wiped himself dry with a towel.

His skin barely sweat, and it was all over.

Now he realized that after high grades, the improvement between grades really isn’t so great.

Putting on clothes again, he went outside to the courtyard, slowly posing.

Then he threw fists and palms quickly, sweeping horizontally. Kicking and elbowing, chaining foot stomps.

A set of talismanic skill moves, performed with vigorous momentum, hidden malicious energy.

He hadn’t felt it before, but now striking moves, Zhang Rongfang immediately sensed something wrong.

His entire body’s Qi and Blood were like an inflated balloon, giving a slight tingling sensation when mobilized.

With just a bit of practice, he felt a surge of strength.

His heart stirred slightly, quickly beginning to study the unmastered Soul-Stabilizing Talisman.

But barely starting the Soul-Stabilizing Talisman’s Qi and Blood tempering method, a slight stabbing pain flashed through his chest.

"....Sure enough..."

Zhang Rongfang recalled what Ye Bai mentioned about the limit of his body.

Eighth grade, truly my limit?

His expression was somewhat unpleasant.

Looking at his current attributes again.

Life attribute still unchanged, still 22.

’Now, martial arts can no longer be practiced, perhaps the key breakthrough lies in this life attribute?’

Just breaking the limit of the Flame Emperor Talisman, now he couldn’t use attribute points to try again.

Everything would have to wait another ten days.

’Eighth grade.....now I can at least be considered a master in the city. I can finally be somewhat at ease.’

Though his body reached its limit, breaking through to eighth grade still brought Zhang Rongfang the joy of a good night’s sleep in his room.