Chapter 139: New Technique

Who can tolerate snatching food from our mouths? If the slum was really taken over by Paradise Island real estate company and this pack of gang wolves, where would we, the native slum dwellers, find a place to stand? It's intolerable.

"When soldiers come, we’ll fight. If the water rises, we build dams," Li Xiaofei said, "Don't be afraid. Everyone should focus on cultivating and improving their strength. That's the most important thing."

He now held two major badges and had also become the student of Inspector Li Zhoumin. He also had a good relationship with the city leader and the military commander... All these combined made him a significant figure. He was no longer a helpless lamb waiting to be slaughtered. If someone dared to cross his bottom line, they shouldn't blame him for being ruthless.

Next, they discussed the approval of some merchants and companies proposed by Yang Cheng to enter the slum. As the security, atmosphere, and environment of the slum improved, the residents gradually were saving money. Some businessmen from the rule-of-law districts saw the business opportunity and asked the Cloudy Sky Gang for permission to move in. For them, this was also an expansion of their business.

Yang Cheng and Chu Yuntian were somewhat undecided, so they brought up this matter in the meeting.

Li Xiaofei thought for a moment and said, "We can agree. Allowing external businesses to move in can improve our living conditions. Select a few of the older streets, renovate them, and add some unique features. Charge them rent to move in and make it clear that they must follow our rules in the slum. All procedures must be legal. We welcome friends, not vampires."

"Additionally..."

Li Xiaofei added after some thought, "Encourage everyone to brainstorm and think about what other advantages we have to attract investment. Use external funds to build up our slum. Let's aim to transform this place into the Cloudy Sky District, a rich neighborhood, in no time."

Everyone became excited.

"We could promote tourism?"

"Tourism? Are you sure people would come here for that?"

"Thrilling day tours!"

"Haha, that would be unique."

"Learn about the history of the slum and experience a day in the life of the slum."

"Speaking of which, we have many well-preserved old buildings. Some of them are hundreds of years old..."

"Keep thinking."

Everyone racked their brains, coming up with wild ideas. Li Xiaofei was quite satisfied with their attitude.

He thought for a moment and said, "Alright, Old Chu, you should register a company. From now on, our Cloudy Sky Gang needs to operate more like a company, with everything done through proper legal procedures. We need to gradually shed our gang image so we can grow and move out of the slum."

Chu Yuntian quickly responded, "I'll take care of it right after the meeting."

The gang's decision-making process was always tedious and boring. After sitting for a while, Li Xiaofei found an excuse to slip away. Once he had reached home, he had sent a message to Tan Qingying, asking her when she was free so that he could return the car. But Tan Qingying had not replied.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Li Xiaofei checked the time and realized the cooldown for the Secret Time Pavilion of the Moonlight Treasure Box was about to expire.

"Treasure Box, Treasure Box, open the Secret Time Pavilion," Li Xiaofei called out.

"Woof, alright," the Treasure Box responded.

Li Xiaofei was speechless.

Damn it. This Treasure Box must really be related to that dog from the Douyin live stream.

***

Li Xiaofei cultivated the True Dragon Breathing Technique in the Secret Time Pavilion. Pale golden starforce qi swirled around him. This made him appear mysterious and profound.

The starforce qi encircling him was somewhat reminiscent of the small cosmos depicted in the manga Saint Seiya [1].

He had already consumed a bottle of fourth-generation Starforce Reagent, so the starforce qi within Li Xiaofei was rapidly increasing as he cultivated the True Dragon Breathing Technique. The pale golden aura surrounding his body became increasingly dense.

The halos began to mutate with each True Dragon Breath. Eventually, they faintly formed the shape of a vague, ethereal golden dragon that wound around Li Xiaofei's body. It bared its fangs and claws as its majestic dragon head exuded a faint sense of pressure.

Boom!

A silent explosion erupted in Li Xiaofei's dantian world as the eleventh vortex formed. He reached the eleventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

"I've finally succeeded in entering the Hidden Realm," Li Xiaofei said with a satisfied smile.

Deep roots and luxuriant leaves.

That was what Inspector Li Zhoumin had said. The stronger the foundation, the higher one’s martial achievements in the future. Li Xiaofei felt his body's condition. It was excellent. There was no sense of being overwhelmed.

He continued to examine his body while practicing the True Dragon Breathing Technique. He didn’t even notice a day passing by as the eleventh stage finally stabilized. At the same time, an unexpected mutation occurred. The starforce vortices within him gradually transformed from tornado-like whirlpools into small, winding golden dragons.

Eleven vortices turned into eleven pale golden dragons. They seemed as if they were ready to soar to great heights as they bared their fangs and claws while swiftly swimming in his dantian world and letting out silent roars. Their golden scales glimmered with a faint light. Threads of golden light emitted from their mouths, spreading into his limbs and bones. This might be a special effect brought about by the True Dragon Breathing Technique.

The golden dragons, like the vortices, were essentially the manifestation of starforce qi. But if Li Xiaofei was correct, the golden dragons might offer better cultivation benefits than the vortices. He wondered if they would provide an enhancement in actual combat.

Li Xiaofei swallowed another bottle of Starforce Reagent as he continued his cultivation. Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, another ten days passed and Li Xiaofei advanced another stage. He reached the twelfth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. His body's feedback was still good and he seemed completely capable of withstanding twelve small golden dragons.

Li Xiaofei chuckled and muttered to himself, "Thankfully, they are small golden dragons and not tadpoles, otherwise, that would be quite amusing..."

He activated his technique, letting his energy flow outward. The sound of dragon roars echoed. Twelve golden dragons circled around him, forming a layer of shimmering protection as they bared their fangs and claws. It looked incredibly intimidating.

Li Xiaofei began practicing the Great Strength Vajra Fist. He used the Threefold Divine Strength and tripled the power of the Vajra Wrathful Mountain Split as he threw a punch.

Boom!

Golden qi, visible to the naked eye, transformed into a roaring golden dragon and shot forward.

"This strike can instantly kill someone at the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Next time I face Xiong Zhigang at the fourth stage, I can hold my ground for a few moves."

Li Xiaofei was very satisfied with his cultivation results. The twelfth stage was still within the limits of what his body could withstand. He decided to continue nurturing his qi. He would keep going until his body could no longer handle more qi vortices or small golden dragons, then start breaking through.

"Treasure Box, can I draw a new technique now?" He asked.

"Woof, evaluating data... Requirements met. Please proceed with drawing a new technique."

A familiar azure vortex appeared before Li Xiaofei.

He reached his hand into it. In the next moment, he pulled out a scroll-like object.

What kind of technique manual will it be?

1. Saint Seiya, also known as Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac or simply Knights of the Zodiac, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. ☜