Black Goose City, a small courtyard in the southern part of the city.
Curlicues of cooking smoke rose from the middle of the courtyard.
"Big Brother Wang, come, have some dishes!"
Qin Zheng enthusiastically pushed the dishes toward Wang Er.
The latter was the first person to show kindness to him after he had traveled through time.
At that time, Qin Zheng had nothing at all and was destitute, constantly at risk of dying.
Naturally, Wang Er was not coveting his possessions.
Hence, Qin Zheng's principle of treating others with kindness was reciprocated naturally.
At this moment, Wang Er had also lost his earlier restraint.
Previously, having learned of Qin Zheng's achievements and that he had been summoned by Ji Changyin, he thought Qin Zheng was bound for great success.
This simple soldier naturally did not dare to seek Qin Zheng's association.
However, Qin Zheng's attitude did not change because of this, which gradually put Wang Er at ease.
The meal lasted until after the moon had risen, only then did Wang Er, belching contentedly, bid goodbye and leave.
After he left, Qin Zheng tidied up and then sat back down in the courtyard, gazing up at the moon, lost in thought.
According to Ji Changyin, the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique was indeed a rare and godly technique.
After all, merely reaching the first level had endowed him with the strength of one thousand jin.
Yet, it was also because this martial art was too potent that Qin Zheng felt a sense of regret.
The essence of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique he had acquired was incomplete and not perfect.
Though forcefully refining it through the Merit Scroll could increase his strength, it was unable to enhance his physique simultaneously.
Therefore, under the enhancement of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, Qin Zheng's strength was far superior to others in the same realm.
But his internal organs still remained at the primary phase of the Skin Refinement Realm.
At this moment, the thousand jin of force brought by the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique actually became a burden due to his weak organs!
Thinking of this, Qin Zheng's conscience delved into the Heart Sea to check the contents of the Merit Scroll.
[Qin Zheng]
[Lifespan: 70 (17)]
[Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique (First Level), Jinchan's Escape (Entry Level), Ghost Head Saber Technique (Perfection)]
[Merit: One Liang Nine Qian]
[Current Martial Arts · Jinchan's Escape can be enhanced, requires Five Qian of Merit, enhance?]
[Current Martial Arts · Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique can be enhanced, requires One Liang, enhance?]
Qin Zheng willed it and said aloud, "Enhance Martial Arts · Jinchan's Escape."
Instantly, Five Qian of merit was deducted from the Merit Scroll, and Qin Zheng felt his mastery over this Qinggong improve markedly.
Meanwhile, on the Merit Scroll, the suffix of this Qingong had changed from 'Entry Level' to 'Minor Accomplishment'.
However, to continue enhancing it, it would now require Eight Qian of merit.
Qin Zheng hesitated.
His remaining merit was only One Liang Four Qian.
If he enhanced the Qinggong again, he would not be able to enhance the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique.
Yet, enhancing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique could potentially increase his strength to two thousand jin!
With his current physical state, he didn't know if his body could withstand that power!
Qin Zheng thought for a moment then withdrew his conscience from the Heart Sea, deciding to postpone the decision.
He took out a book from his bosom, the Black Evil Palm, which he had obtained from Wei Feng!
He still had another choice!
Qin Zheng flipped through the book, focusing intensively on its content.
A moment later, as he reached the last page, new writing appeared on the Merit Scroll.
...
The next day, Qin Zheng still went early in the morning, carrying the Ghost Head Greatsword, to the execution ground.
He decapitated three prisoners, harvesting Seven Qian of merit.
The anticipated action did not unfold.
This relieved Qin Zheng slightly, as each delay of a day allowed him to accumulate some merit, which he used to enhance himself.
He then returned home and practiced the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, stimulating his blood and qi, nourishing his physical body, and his internal organs.
However, although this also refined his physical body, the speed was not satisfactory to Qin Zheng.
His current shortcoming was that he urgently needed a martial arts Inner Strength!
With the capabilities of the Merit Scroll, he believed that even Inner Strength could be enhanced.
That would quickly nourish his physical body's inner structure and elevate his realm.
In this way, Qin Zheng's physical body could keep up with the speed of his martial arts improvement.
Otherwise, if his physical body did not match his martial arts, it could very likely lead to the situation Ji Changyin had mentioned, consuming the body's essence!
...
On the third day, Qin Zheng still carried out his duties as an executioner.
He beheaded six heads and collected one tael three qian of merit.
Afterwards, he returned home to practice martial arts, stimulating his qi and blood, and strengthening his physical body.
Late in the evening, a constable came knocking, informing him to head to Tong'an Town, twenty li outside Black Goose City by the morning of the Dragon hour.
This jolted Qin Zheng's spirits, understanding that Ji Changyin and the others had found Shi Dian's whereabouts and were preparing to take action!
He nodded, turned around, and went back to his house to check his current situation.
[Qin Zheng]
[Lifespan: 70 (17)]
[Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique (First Layer), Black Evil Palm (Minor Achievement), Jinchan's Escape Technique (Perfection), Ghost Head Saber Technique (Perfection)]
[Merit: one tael two qian]
[Current Martial Arts·Black Evil Palm can be enhanced, requires eight qian of merit, do you wish to enhance?]
[Current Martial Arts·Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique can be enhanced, requires one tael of merit, do you wish to enhance?]
Within two days, he had reached Perfection in Qinggong and achieved Minor Achievement in Black Evil Palm.
Qin Zheng also did not plan to leave the remaining one tael two qian of merit for Black Evil Palm.
This martial art was not bad, but compared to the enhancement of Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, it was insignificant.
The practice over the past few days had also given Qin Zheng a comprehensive understanding of his physical physique.
This body, although lean, naturally had not a small amount of strength, and the power that his physical body could bear could probably still be increased somewhat.
Thus, Qin Zheng hesitated no more, silently uttered in his mind, "Enhance Martial Arts: Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique!"
Instantly, one tael of merit was deducted.
A powerful force emerged out of nowhere within his body.
This time, Qin Zheng could feel a noticeable burden appear in his body.
His muscles began to cramp, and his bones ached, as the rapidly increasing power made it difficult for his body to handle momentarily.
Especially the pain coming from his internal organs made him kneel involuntarily, his head drenched in sweat as he endured this transformation.
After a moment, the severe pain disappeared, and the changes in his body also stopped.
Only then could Qin Zheng gasp heavily, drawing in fresh air to exchange the waste air inside his body.
"It seems that the Skin Refinement Realm can only support the enhancement of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique to the second layer, no more can be enhanced!"
Qin Zheng's eyes were bloodshot, and his expression slightly fierce as he spoke.
Afterward, once his body had calmed down, Qin Zheng washed up and tidied himself.
He lay down to rest until dawn was about to break, then got up and strapped the Ghost Head Greatsword wrapped in coarse cloth onto his back.
Then he opened the door and strode resolutely toward the outskirts of Black Goose City.
After reaching Perfection in Qinggong, Qin Zheng's strides were very light.
And often, a single step he took was nearly the distance of five ordinary steps.
He didn't know how effective it would be for escaping, but it was certainly good for traveling quickly.
Before long, Qin Zheng had walked out of Black Goose City and headed straight for Tongguan Town, which was ten li away.
During this time, Qin Zheng also carefully felt the power within his body.
Two thousand jin of force, a power that not even a Sinew Refining Realm martial artist who had broken through three major barriers could possess!
Feeling this surge of overwhelming power, Qin Zheng felt much more at ease.
Under this power, as long as Shi Dian had not made a breakthrough, there would surely be no danger to himself!