55: One step away

Just as those two cowards were secretly plotting to harm someone, Chen Heng was sitting at his desk, preparing for Optimization.

On the table was an extra-large porcelain basin, filled to the brim with qi and blood decoction.

Chen Heng sniffed the qi and blood decoction and couldn't help but frown.

"As expected, it's not as good as the medicine from my own pharmacy."

Compared to the medicinal ingredients in his original pharmacy, these ingredients could only be called ordinary.

"When I have time, I should buy the medicinal ingredients myself."

There was nothing he could do; the medicinal ingredients in his former pharmacy were all the best of the best, so their efficacy was naturally excellent.

The medicinal ingredients bought from other pharmacies were just grabbed at random; as long as they worked, it was fine.

After clicking Optimization, the full basin of qi and blood decoction was reduced to less than half.

In fact, having this much left was already beyond Chen Heng's expectations; he had originally thought there would only be a thin layer at the bottom of the basin.

"Hoo..."

Chen Heng exhaled, then began to breathe deeply.

Then, he pinched his nose and poured the remaining half basin of blood refining powder into his mouth.

Instantly, white steam began to rise from Chen Heng's entire body.

His originally compressed muscles also broke free, transforming into the state he would only use during full-force combat.

This half basin of blood refining powder added fifteen years of cultivation and a full nine hundred points of Qi and blood to Chen Heng.

He was only one step away from Transcendent Realm!

"I see it, I see my Martial Dao..."

Chen Heng muttered to himself, his eyeballs trembling incessantly, as if he were deranged.

"It's not the Dao of Kings, nor the Dao of Hegemons, this is..."

Until the very end, Chen Heng's Martial Dao remained shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

This layer of mist appeared fragile, yet it was incredibly dense.

Chen Heng now only lacked an opportunity, an opportunity to see through the mist.

After about half an hour, Chen Heng re-compressed all his muscles, and his mental state returned to normal.

"Just a little bit more..."

Chen Heng's face was full of regret; he had thought he could achieve a Breakthrough to Transcendent Realm tonight, but he was still just short of the final step.

"Tomorrow, I'll have Xiao He brew all the remaining medicinal ingredients. I still underestimated the amount of medicine needed for a Breakthrough to Transcendent Realm."

Opening the System panel, Chen Heng glanced at his attributes.

Name: Chen Heng

Qi and Blood: 4107

Cultivation: 55 years

Internal Skill: Nine Revolutions Longevity Art (Second Revolution), Five Elements Five Organs Diagram (Netherworld Heart Fire Perfection)

External Skill: Indestructible Vajra Divine Art (Major Achievement), White Tiger Geng Metal Saber (Minor Achievement), Eight Extremes Fist (Initiation), Dragon Tiger Strength (Maximum seven times)

"After reaching Transcendent Realm, I need to Optimize both White Tiger Geng Metal Saber and Eight Extremes Fist to Major Achievement."

After experiencing the Major Achievement of Indestructible Vajra Divine Art, Chen Heng finally understood how vast the gap between Minor Achievement and Major Achievement was.

"Time is almost up, I should go show my face on Goulan Street."

He glanced at the night sky; the moon was already high.

No matter what, Goulan Street was his property, a goose that laid golden eggs.

Even if Chen Heng was unwilling to manage things, he still had to show his face at times like this.

"Young Master, are you going out?" Xiao He stood obediently at Chen Heng's door, peeking her head out to look at him.

"Yes, I'm going to Goulan Street." Chen Heng tied his loose long hair into a ponytail and put on his black long gown.

This long gown was brought to him by Qi Longhu through someone else; a fierce White Tiger was embroidered on it.

"Woo..." Xiao He pouted her small mouth, somewhat reluctantly tidying Chen Heng's clothes.

"Young Master, I understand if you have those needs, but please be careful not to catch the pox..."

Before Xiao He could finish her extremely resentful words, Chen Heng pinched her lips with two fingers.

"Little Girl, what are you thinking at such a young age?"

Chen Heng was a bit speechless; this Little Girl had become increasingly uninhibited since leaving Fulai County.

When she was in Fulai County, her face would turn as red as a monkey's butt whenever such things were mentioned.

Now, she could say such things without changing her expression.

"That Goulan Street is my property, Young Master. Except for going there once to eliminate an Anomaly, I haven't shown my face there since."

"No matter what, I have to let the people of Goulan Street get to know me, right?"

"Oh." Xiao He nodded, her small face still puffed up with anger.

Mm, like a steamed bun.

"Then Young Master, please be careful and don't drink too much again."

Xiao He's small face, which had been puffed up like a steamed bun, deflated, and her eyes held fear and worry.

The last time Chen Heng returned from drinking at the pleasure boat, he had been unconscious, which had terrified Xiao He.

"Mm, don't worry." Patting Xiao He's little head and casually ruffling her neatly tied hair, Chen Heng walked out of the small courtyard.

As Chen Heng's back disappeared from sight, Xiao He's face instantly turned red with a 'poof'.

"Why did I say such shameless things!"

"So embarrassing..."

Goulan Street, which had been deserted a few days ago, was now exceptionally bustling.

Indeed, humanity's primary motivation is lewdness.

Those men and women who had been pent up for over half a month were all spending lavishly on Goulan Street.

Standing at the entrance of Goulan Street, Chen Heng even felt as if the street before him was covered in a pink haze.

"Oh! It's Master Chen!"

A sharp-eyed Madam saw Chen Heng and immediately exclaimed.

"Master Chen is here?"

"Where, where?"

"Sisters, come quickly, Master Chen is even more handsome than the legends say!"

The Prostitutes and Madams all ignored their customers, craning their heads out of windows to gaze at Chen Heng.

That morning, only a few people had truly seen Chen Heng's true appearance; the rest had only heard rumors.

"How about it, This Old Lady didn't lie to you, did I? Isn't Master Chen especially handsome?"

A Prostitute pinched her Maidservant's face, looking smug.

"Watch closely, see how This Old Lady gets Master Chen into bed tonight!"

The Prostitutes eagerly rubbed their hands together, drooling over Chen Heng.

Although Chen Heng himself didn't feel anything, his status in the entire Qiyang City could be said to be high-level.

In the hierarchy, he was second only to the gang leader and hall masters.

For these Prostitutes, being able to sleep with Chen Heng for one night would increase their value a hundredfold!

That was someone favored by Vice Envoy Chen.

If the money was too little, they would absolutely not let you touch them.

"Big Brother!" A young man immediately ran over when he saw Chen Heng.

This person's name was Sang Xilin, a blade-wielder assigned by Chen Heng to manage Goulan Street.

"Big Brother, you're finally here. These Prostitutes pester me every day, wanting to see you."

Sang Xilin stopped abruptly in front of Chen Heng and bowed with clasped fists.

"How are things?" Chen Heng didn't care about the Prostitutes' enthusiasm; he only cared about the street's profits.

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"Business is incredibly booming!" Sang Xilin was overjoyed whenever he talked about this.

"Ever since Big Brother you killed that Anomaly, Goulan Street resumed business that very day."

"The commotion, it made my heart itch."

"Very good." Chen Heng nodded, scanning the most popular brothels.

"Big Brother, if you want to have fun, I recommend Qingyun Tower. Their courtesan is a top-tier beauty; you can't even see her face without two hundred taels of silver."

Sang Xilin rubbed his hands, pointing to the most luxurious brothel on Goulan Street.

"How's their wine?" Chen Heng would rather spend two hundred taels of silver on wine than a single tael on a courtesan.

To Chen Heng, wine was a drink for relaxation.

Beauty, however, was a bone-scraping steel knife that would only wear down his will.

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