Chen Xuan selected a steel knife from the family's weapon shop, weighing eight jin four liang, four feet long, and three fingers wide. It was somewhat similar to the horse-cutting knife from his previous life, and Chen Xuan particularly liked the style of the horse-cutting knife. It could chop and slash while also incorporating sword-like techniques.

As a man, Chen Xuan naturally preferred more imposing weapons. He also wanted to learn swordsmanship, but Lao Li vetoed it.

Swordsmanship required talent; hard work alone wasn't enough. Only swordsmanship geniuses could fully utilize the potential of a sword. Some people were born for the sword. They were the only ones worthy of wielding it.

Furthermore, owning a sword was a symbol of identity. Many noble young men liked to carry famous swords to demonstrate their noble status.

But Chen Xuan didn't need status; without strength, everything was meaningless.

The knife was the king of weapons, the embodiment of courage. It was created for killing. In battles between armies, most soldiers charged into the fray with knives.

So Lao Li had Chen Xuan choose a knife, not for any other reason but for killing.

In the past six months, Chen Xuan had perfected the Wind Thunder Fist his father taught him, delivering a powerful blow with a thunderous sound.

Chen Xuan also asked Lao Li to teach him an offensive martial art, but it was rejected. Lao Li said they didn't need too many martial arts for now. Practicing too many would delay other training. Energy was limited, and knowing when to focus was crucial. Lao Li said he would teach Chen Xuan martial arts when he reached the Post-Heaven Seventh Rank.

Returning to the courtyard, both his father and mother were there. His father recounted today's events, ensuring that at least Chen Xuan had the ability to protect himself when he went out. This reassured his mother a bit.

"Dad, Mom, you're both here!"

"Xuan'er, you're back!"

"Is everything okay today?"

"No problem, Mom, am I not fine? The Wu family went too far today. I was just standing up for the family!"

Chen Xuan's father walked over, "When are you planning to leave?"

"Tomorrow!"

"Let's have dinner together tonight. Ling, make a few more dishes that Xuan likes!" Chen Xuan's mother instructed.

That night, the family had a reunion dinner. Chen Xuan's mother kept advising him, making him feel overwhelmed. Even though he was just going out for a few days, his parents seemed to be treating it like a life-and-death separation.

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Actually, Chen Xuan didn't know that his parents had almost lost their son once. That kind of feeling wasn't something ordinary parents could understand. Some people only realize the value of something after they lose it. Chen Xuan's parents had experienced a separation so deep that no one understood it better than them.

Back in his room, sitting cross-legged on the bed, Chen Xuan communicated with Lao Li using his spiritual sense.

"Lao Li, what realm was the middle-aged man from the Wu family today?"

"Post-Heaven Ninth Rank!"

Lao Li's voice sounded.

"Although your true strength is comparable to Post-Heaven Sixth Rank, in front of Post-Heaven Ninth Rank, they could crush you with just one finger!" Lao Li didn't forget to dampen Chen Xuan's spirits.

Although Lao Li always discouraged him, Chen Xuan knew it was for his own good. Strength needed to be improved.

"Lao Li, can't the energy from the Soul Stones help me improve my true strength quickly?" Chen Xuan asked.

"It's not that it can't, but your current realm is too low to fully utilize the power of the Soul Stones. When you reach the Spiritual Martial Realm, you can use the power of the Soul Stones to improve rapidly, but it won't be much. At most, it will only help you reach the late True Martial Realm. The Soul Stones are used to enhance the soul. Your soul power now can rival the Post-Heaven Ninth Rank. You brat, you're still not satisfied."

"What role does the soul play?"

"You can't feel it now, but when you reach the Spiritual Martial Realm, you can project your soul outward. For ordinary Spiritual Martial Realm warriors, being able to project their soul within a two hundred meter range is good enough. Your soul perception in the Spiritual Martial Realm is estimated to be at least five hundred meters, meaning you can sense everything within that range!"

"Lao Li, you just mentioned the True Martial Realm. What is that realm?"

"You brat, don't you have enough questions? Knowing so much won't benefit you. When you reach that stage, you'll understand naturally. Ambitious!" After saying this, Lao Li ignored Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan retracted his spiritual sense and continued to meditate. Training was like sailing against the current. If you didn't advance, you would retreat. Every night, he practiced the Swallowing Heaven Technique tirelessly. Although there were no signs of a breakthrough to the Sixth Rank, Chen Xuan's true strength grew stronger every day.

The vigorous true strength flowed through Chen Xuan's meridians, and his blood circulated within them like surging waves. Chen Xuan enjoyed the feeling of possessing such immense power.

Chen Xuan conducted a self-test. With full force, he could punch out eight hundred jin, enough to kill a cow with a single blow. The normal strength of a Post-Heaven Fifth Rank should be around five hundred jin, but Chen Xuan's strength reached eight hundred jin, comparable to the Post-Heaven Seventh Rank, which was also related to the martial arts he practiced.

Although Lao Li didn't say what level the "Swallowing Heaven Technique" was, Chen Xuan could feel that this technique was at least at the top level, or even a Heavenly-ranked technique.

Lao Li may not have said what the "Swallowing Heaven Technique" was, but Chen Xuan could feel that this technique was at least at the top level, or even a Heavenly-ranked technique.

Lao Li still arrived on time. When the sky brightened, Chen Xuan packed his bag, took a few spare clothes for changing, carried his long knife, and changed into a set of sturdy clothes. He looked dignified and elegant. Although he was only thirteen years old, Chen Xuan was already one meter seventy tall.

"Xuan'er, are you all set?"

"Mom! I'm all set!"

"Be careful when you go out. If you encounter danger, don't be reckless. If you can avoid it, avoid it. Don't do anything foolish to be a hero!" Chen Xuan's father came over and advised him.

"I got it, Dad. You can rest assured. I'll be fine!" Chen Xuan said impatiently.

Chen Xuan had been in this world for half a year, always staying in the family. Finally, he could go out now, and his excitement could be imagined.

Stepping out of the courtyard gate, Chen Xuan could hear his mother's faint sobs, but he didn't look back. A thousand miles journey begins with a single step, and mothers always worry about their children. This principle was not only useful in his previous life but also applied in this world.

In this world, only one's mother would love their child unconditionally, without expecting anything in return, even if their child was an eternal villain. In the eyes of a mother, their child was still the best. That was maternal love.

After leaving the family gate, Chen Xuan headed towards the Sunset Mountains. The Sunset Mountains were located south of Hongling Town, filled with swamps and beasts. However, there were also many precious medicinal herbs and many loose cultivators, family disciples, and sect disciples who came here for training.

In the Sunset Mountains, beasts were rampant, and a slight carelessness could lead to becoming a beast's meal. Many loose cultivators formed teams to kill beasts in the mountains, thereby obtaining beast cores and earning money.

But high risk also meant high rewards. Killing a Level 1 beast could fetch a hundred taels just for the core. The fur, bones, and tendons of the beasts were all materials for alchemy.

Everyone who came here to train was at least at the Post-Heaven Fifth Rank. Otherwise, they would be eaten by beasts before they even entered. Killing a Level 5 beast could fetch at least ten thousand taels for the core alone.

Two hours later, Chen Xuan stood on the edge of the Sunset Mountains, exhaling a breath. From now on, my brilliant days begin.