25: The Art of Stealth, The Art of Shadow Blade

About half an hour later, Jiang Lan held two Martial Skills in his hands.

"Stealth Technique" and "Shadow Blade Art."

He had almost scoured the entire second floor of the Scripture Pavilion to find these two Martial Skills.

As for the others, they were either unsuitable or he simply didn't like them.

Sitting on a small stool nearby, Jiang Lan carefully began to read "Stealth Technique."

His gaze gradually became absorbed.

Simply put, the Stealth Technique achieves the effect of making it difficult for others to discover him by controlling his breathing, footsteps, and utilizing the surrounding environment.

This was already enough for Jiang Lan.

What he lacked now was precisely this.

Moreover, once he learned it, he could further enhance the effectiveness of the Stealth Technique by infusing Lifespan into it.

Jiang Lan's attention returned to the Stealth Technique.

After a while.

【Martial Skill "Stealth Technique" has been learned.】

Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow, set aside the "Stealth Technique," and then picked up the "Shadow Blade Art."

He had already generally understood the Secret Manual before, otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen it.

The Shadow Blade Art is a hidden weapon technique.

Upon Major Achievement, he can imbue his True Qi into hidden weapons, making them faster and more concealed.

And most crucially, it increases their lethality.

Hidden weapons are all about a single, fatal blow, leaving the enemy no chance whatsoever.

Jiang Lan's gaze was focused.

【Martial Skill "Shadow Blade Art" has been learned.】

Closing the Secret Manual, a smile appeared on Jiang Lan's face.

Before him, a virtual light screen appeared... 【Name: Jiang Lan】

【Cultivation: Qi Gathering Realm Third Level】

【Cultivation Technique: Three Yuan True Nurturing Skill】

【Martial Skills: Blazing Sun Demon Suppression Blade (Minor Achievement), Flood Dragon Swim (Beginner), Stealth Technique (Beginner), Shadow Blade Art (Beginner).】

【Remaining Lifespan: One hundred sixty-seven years】

【Can infuse Cultivation Technique skills with Lifespan to improve strength.】

【Can increase Lifespan by suppressing or slaying demons.】

..."Stealth Technique and Shadow Blade Art, thirty years each."

Text appeared on the light screen.

【Year 1: Your Martial Dao Realm has reached the Qi Gathering Realm, and your progress in Cultivating the Stealth Technique is rapid. Your Realm has advanced to 'Proficient'.】

【Year 2: The Stealth Technique Realm has advanced to 'Mastered'.】

【Year 3: You diligently Cultivate, and the Stealth Technique Realm has advanced to 'Peak Perfection'.】

【Year 5: Very smoothly, your Stealth Technique Realm has advanced to 'Return to Simplicity'.】

【Year 6: You continue to delve deeper, hoping for further advancement in your Realm, but you are always unable to find a clear path.】

【Year 17: You have an Epiphany and, based on the Stealth Technique, comprehend a brand new Qi concealment method. You name it 'Hidden God Art'.】

【Year 22: With Cultivation, your Hidden God Art becomes increasingly proficient, and its Realm advances to 'Initial Glimpse'.】

【Year 30: Your Hidden God Art Realm has advanced to 'Minor Achievement'.】

A large amount of text scrolled on the light screen.

In just a moment, countless memories flooded Jiang Lan's mind.

It was as if he had truly spent thirty years meticulously studying the Stealth Technique.

No, it should now be called the Hidden God Art.

Based on the Stealth Technique, the effectiveness of the Hidden God Art had improved immeasurably.

If the previous Stealth Technique merely used certain methods to make himself less easily discovered, then the current Hidden God Art completely integrates him with the environment.

Jiang Lan was confident that even if he followed a Martial Artist of the same Realm at this moment, he might not be discovered for a while.

One must know that every time a Martial Artist's Realm advances by one level, the changes brought about are immense, and the five senses also become increasingly sensitive.

At Jiang Lan's Realm, he could hear the sound of a bird flying a hundred zhang away clearly.

A hint of joy appeared in his eyes.

This Hidden God Art would likely be put to use very soon.

Just then, lines of text scrolled on the light screen again.

【Year 1: Your progress is swift, and the Shadow Blade Art Realm has advanced to 'Proficient'.】

【Year 2...】

【Year 4...】

【Year 6: Your Shadow Blade Art Realm has Breakthrough to 'Return to Simplicity'. You wish to continue delving deeper, but you have a feeling that the Return to Simplicity Realm is the limit of the Shadow Blade Art.】

【Your Shadow Blade Art Realm has reached its Peak, with no further advancement possible. Twenty-four years of Lifespan have been returned.】

Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Martial Skills also have a Realm limit?

He had never thought of that before, only assuming that as long as he had enough Lifespan, he could continue to advance.

But now it seemed that was not the case.

However, Jiang Lan didn't dwell on it.

This level was already sufficient.

Standing up, Jiang Lan walked directly down the stairs and to the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion.

"Leaving, kid?"

At the entrance, the old man looked at Jiang Lan with a smile.

"Yes, sorry for the trouble, Uncle Huang."

"It's nothing, come again often!" the old man continued.

Jiang Lan nodded in acknowledgment, then walked towards the Wuwei Hall.

A moment later, he reached the entrance and gently knocked on the door.

"Knock knock knock."

"Enter." Inside the Wuwei Hall, Chen Heguang's voice sounded.

Jiang Lan pushed the door open and entered the room.

"You're here. How did the case interrogation go?"

Seeing it was Jiang Lan, Chen Heguang lowered his head again, looking at the scrolls in his hand as he spoke.

"The person shouldn't have been killed by him, but..."

Chen Heguang looked up, "But what?"

"Behind him, there should be someone else."

"Who?" Chen Heguang narrowed his eyes, put down the scrolls, and asked, "Did you get it out of him?"

Jiang Lan shook his head slightly.

Chen Heguang understood.

"He wouldn't speak even with torture?"

Jiang Lan chuckled, "If he can disregard the lives of his entire family, what good would torture do? Moreover, the death of Zhao Guisheng earlier was also quite strange."

The reason he didn't plan to return to the Interrogation Room after he came out earlier was partly because he was in a hurry to go to the Scripture Pavilion.

The other reason was Zhao Guisheng.

"The prisoner killed by the Tiger's Accomplice? Wasn't he manipulated by the tiger demon of Black Wind Mountain?"

Hearing Jiang Lan's words, Chen Heguang seemed a little confused.

Jiang Lan shook his head again, then said:

"At first, I thought so too, after all, he was the one who told me about the tiger demon on Black Wind Mountain. But after encountering that tiger demon, I felt it shouldn't be him..."

"A feeling?"

"Yes." Jiang Lan said, "If the Tiger's Accomplice was manipulated by the tiger demon, there must be a reason. It couldn't be for no reason, right?"

"That's right." Chen Heguang nodded.

Jiang Lan continued:

"If it was manipulated by the tiger demon, then there are only two possibilities: first, the tiger demon was worried about its existence being exposed; second, it already knew that its existence had been exposed.

"It sounds a bit convoluted, but that's not important. Because no matter which one it was, that tiger demon would likely have mentioned this matter after seeing this clothing. Even if it didn't mention it, it should have shown some reaction."

Chen Heguang understood.

"So, he neither mentioned it nor showed any reaction? As if he knew nothing about it at all?"

"Yes, so I think someone else is manipulating the Tiger's Accomplice to commit the crime."