Chapter 73 - 73 73 Fate Pattern Upgrade

73: Chapter 73: Fate Pattern Upgrade 73: Chapter 73: Fate Pattern Upgrade “Thank you for the technique.” Now was not the time to practice the technique. After storing the jade slip in his chest, An Jing shifted his gaze to Huo Qing who had just breathed a sigh of relief, his look carrying a strange significance. Although he had ‘saved’ Huo Qing’s life, all he really did was simply treat his wound. The subsequent actions had little to do with rescuing him. Huo Qing invited him into the city, treated him to a meal, which was probably enough. At most, a few good deeds as a thank you, but certainly not to the extent of bestowing a secret technique. This gratitude seemed a bit too strong, didn’t it? Thinking thus, in An Jing’s view, other aspects of Huo Qing’s situation also seemed quite amiss. Huo Qing’s strength was not strong; his Essence Qi was like a thread, though nearing the level of a river, but ultimately, he hadn’t made a breakthrough. But his foundation was very solid, his body robust. Despite Huo Qing’s haggard complexion and the dark energy around him, it was due to his overly strenuous daily work—if his body were not robust, an ordinary person working as he did would probably have died suddenly. From this perspective, Huo Qing’s cultivation talent was actually quite good; it was just wasted by the gang. As Master Liu had said, he was not cut out for gang life; he was clearly the type who needed quiet study and reading to succeed, not a genius like An Jing who could cultivate under any circumstances. Huo Qing was still young, and clearly wasting his time mixing with the gang. Not to mention, if An Jing had not helped this time, he might have died in the Wilderness without a trace. Even though his parents had died early and the few uncles who had raised him were gang members, he should not be so persistent. He clearly had his own dreams and pursuits—as seen from his enthusiasm for food, Huo Qing should have a vision for his future. But for some reason, he had set them aside… Well, no matter. An Jing raised his head and seriously said to Huo Qing, “My surname is An.” With that, he continued eating, using the Qi walking routes he had just observed in Huo Qing, circulating the Essence Qi in his body to digest the food. Meanwhile, Huo Qing was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, “Yes! Brother An!” He understood An Jing’s true meaning—they need not talk of obligations; from now on, they could try to be friends. One serving of soup and pancakes was definitely not enough for An Jing, so Huo Qing paid twice more. Although his pockets were light, he could afford the little money the breakfast stall charged; consider it the cost of making a friend. “Enough.” An Jing gulped down a large bowl of soup, put down the bowl, and said to Huo Qing, “Although I saved your life, we both know it’s only because I needed you to ask about some news in the city.” “You’ve repaid this favor with the secret technique, it’s settled, you don’t owe me anything, and we can consider each other familiar friends,” He stood up, “Next, just tell me where I can sell these spoils of war—that’s all. Next time we meet, if I have good deeds, maybe I’ll treat you to a meal.” “Anyway, if destiny allows, we’ll meet again!” “That’s fine,” Huo Qing started a bit embarrassed, but it was clear he was much relieved, “Then, until next time!” “As for the spoils of war you mentioned, I actually know a store manager of a recycling hut, who is also one of my elders… What’s wrong?” He stood up, intending to bow to An Jing as a farewell and to recommend a recycling station, but he found An Jing’s expression very peculiar at that moment. Searᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, An Jing sensed… from deep within the source of his soul, the place “where the Heavenly Mandate resides,” a sudden vibration. A vibration… perhaps somewhat insignificant, but indeed real ‘feedback’! “Subdue Evil!” At that moment, An Jing murmured in his Divine Sea, incredulously, “My Fate Pattern, did it just advance?!” “Indeed, indeed!” Even the Subdue Evil Sword Spirit was shocked; located within An Jing’s Divine Sea, its perception was very clear, making it even more astonished, “What exactly did you do that could advance your Fate Pattern?” “You know, the Fate Pattern is determined by heaven, and after awakening, trying to advance its essence is incredibly difficult for most people; they just develop and utilize it to increase their cultivation level!” Increasing essence and increasing one’s cultivation level, are actually very simple. The essence of the Fate Pattern can be seen as a skill’s multiplier. For example, when activating a capability, the Fate Pattern could enhance the ability threefold while cultivation level is the value of the ability, like, say, a capability of one hundred enhanced by the Fate Pattern becomes three hundred in strength. If the essence of the Fate Pattern increases, it goes from three times to three point three times; with the same cultivation level, it can now exert three hundred and thirty percent of the power. While increasing cultivation level is to go from one hundred to a thousand, then, with the Fate Pattern, it becomes three thousand in strength. It is easy to increase cultivation level, and in the beginning, it’s mostly about increasing cultivation level. But when cultivation could increase no further, only by delving into the nature of the Fate Pattern could one improve one’s power more effectively and efficiently. “Is it because I saved Huo Qing?” An Jing couldn’t figure it out either. Could it be that Huo Qing’s death was supposed to signify the end of some great disaster? Would his survival then lead to some earth-shattering calamity? So by saving him, did the Heavenly Dao sense this and enhance his Fate Pattern? Clearly, that wasn’t the case. For a while, An Jing was so disturbed by this anomaly that even Huo Qing noticed something was amiss. Luckily, Huo Qing didn’t have time to keep focusing on An Jing’s odd behavior. For his troubles had also arrived. “Qing? You’re actually still alive?!” From down the street, a middle-aged man’s voice came in shock and confusion. An Jing and Huo Qing both turned their heads, only to see a stout middle-aged man so chubby he was almost obese, looking at Huo Qing with a mix of disbelief and incredulity: “Heavenly Father! I heard from Old Jing and the others that you were shot and fell from a vehicle. I can’t believe you’re still alive!” Several armed guards who looked fierce and rugged, all wearing cloaks covered with soot and singe marks, stood behind the man. They wore white tiger patterns on their clothes, identifying them as members of the Day Tiger Gang, with not insignificant ranks and who had participated in last night’s gang shootout. “Big Spear!” Huo Qing turned around excitedly, seemingly eager to step forward and greet the man. Yet An Jing narrowed his eyes slightly. Perhaps to others, this man’s shock and elation might seem purely joyful because Huo Qing was alive. But An Jing could tell that the man’s shock was indeed surprise, tinged with fear and relief, as well as a sense that a mistake had been rectified. This feeling… “Stop right there!” With a shout, An Jing raised his hand, activating the Condensing Qi Finger, and instantly, the chopstick he was holding shot out like a bullet, whistling through the air straight towards the hand of a stout man’s guard who was secretly drawing a dagger from his bosom. Click, the dagger was knocked out of the guard’s hand, and Huo Qing, who had been about to walk up and hug the man, also suddenly stopped in his tracks, his pupils constricting. “Big Spear Uncle, what… what does this mean?!” He stepped back, astonished, looking at the guard whose knife An Jing had knocked out and who now frowned deeply: “Dao, what are you doing with a dagger?” Huo Qing knew everyone around him. But now, every familiar face seemed so unfamiliar. “Idiot.” An Jing stepped forward, his voice cold: “Can’t you see? They want to kill you!” “What has happened?” From the noodle stall, Master Liu and his daughter-in-law also came out, upon seeing the standoff between An Jing and Big Spear, they also exclaimed in shock: “Big Spear, what do you mean by this? What has Little Huo done wrong to warrant such drastic measures?” He stepped forward, seemingly trying to mediate: “We are all villagers here, is there anything we can’t talk about? Why the…” Before he could finish speaking, Master Liu fell to the ground, his head hitting a rock, with blood flowing. “Too much nonsense, gang matters are not for you to intervene in!” Impatiently pushing him to the ground, the man known as ‘Big Spear’ turned his expression fierce and menacing: “Huo Qing, you’re in trouble! The deficit in the gang’s resources has been discovered!” “If you were dead, it would have meant the debts died with you, but since you’re alive, you’ll come back with me to the gang to face your punishment!” “What are you joking about…” Huo Qing was clearly clueless about what trouble he had caused, while behind Big Spear, the guard who had initially drawn the dagger stepped forward, already reaching out towards Huo Qing’s chest. Obviously, these people had no intention of taking Huo Qing back alive… they meant to kill him on the spot! Later, whether Huo Qing was portrayed as having been killed while fleeing in guilt or as having committed suicide by shooting himself seven times in the back, it would all be up to them to say. But, the moment before the opponent showed clear hostility, An Jing had already made his move! Bang! In one step, An Jing moved like teleportation between Huo Qing and Big Spear’s guard. His right fist clenched, surging with Piercing Armor True Strength. The next instant, before anyone could react, the overpowering Inner Breath and iron fist, tougher than hardened steel, thunderously smashed onto the guard’s face, which was covered by an armor mask!